‘Philoctetes’ redux coming to the Epidaurus Festival
The Epidaurus Festival begins tonight with a political play at the Little Theater. Heiner Mueller’s «Philoctetes,» a radical remake of Sophocles’ ancient tragedy of the same name, transfers the main characters – Philoctetes, Odysseus and Neoptolemus – to the devious and cynical society of today. The play was completed in 1964 and premiered in Munich in 1968. German director Matthias Langhoff, a close associate of Mueller’s, suggested to the Greek Festival that Mueller stage «Philoctetes» with Greek actors. The three main roles will be played by prominent Greek actors Lefteris Vogiatzis, Minas Hadzisavvas and Christos Loulis. In a recent interview with To Vima newspaper, Langhoff explained that this is Mueller’s first adaptation of a story from Greek mythology. He explained that it is a commentary upon daily life and the great movements of the 20th century, as well as on the consequences of violence. For tickets: Greek Festival, 39 Panepistimiou, tel 210.327.2000.
