By GINA KINSLOW
GLASGOW — Glasgow Children’s Theater’s Bunche of Players will present the Greek tragedy “Antigone” this weekend at the Liberty District — Ralph Bunche Community Cen-ter.
Written by Sophocles, “Antigone,” is the first in a three-part series.
“It’s sort of about the princess who dares to defy the king to bury her brother,” said Katie Daniels, director. “She does this for a lot of reasons and one of them is the fact it is dishonoring to the gods, as well as to her brother, to leave him unburied.”
Daniels explained that the Greeks believe if Antigone’s brother wasn’t buried, his soul would not cross into the underworld.
“So she really felt compelled to do it and she was sentenced to death for it,” Daniels said. “She knew she would be sentenced to death for it before she did it. She was really brave, and in my opinion, it’s a story that still goes on today of whether you should obey the laws of man or God. Which comes first, your duties to your authorities or to what you believe is morally right?”
Daniels is making her directing debut with “Antigone.”
“It’s going a lot better than I was afraid it would go,” she said. “I spent a lot of time freaking out the month before the show ... , but it’s really going great.”
The cast features eight actors ranging in age from 12 to 18.
Portraying Antigone is 15-year-old LaDevany Franklin, who is somewhat familiar with Greek mythology, “... but I’ve never been part of a Greek tragedy, so it’s really cool,” she said. “I hope a lot of people like it.”
Anthony Munroe, 12, plays the role of Creon of Thieves, who is Antigone’s uncle.
Being in a Greek tragedy, he said, has been tough.
“Some of the lines are things I would really never say,” he said. “It’s kind of been a little tough learning the lines.”
Carlos Torres, 13, is Haimes, who wishes to marry Antigone to keep her from being imprisoned.
While Torres enjoys portraying characters in comedies, he said taking part in “Antigone” has been fun.
Lauren Shelton, 13, plays Tyra, a character close to her own age. The only downside of portraying Tyra, she said, is that she’s always bringing bad news.
Being involved in “Antigone” has been a cultural experience for the actors.
“This show has been a full program experience and a full cultural experience, and we are planning on giving that to the audience as well,” said artistic director Eddy Sakowicz. “We’re going to start out with a prologue with a harpist and during intermission we will have belly dancers dancing as well.”
Showtimes are 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $7 each. In the event of bad weather, the play will be presented next weekend.
