Antigone (Anouilh play)

Antigone (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃tiɡɔn]) is a tragedy play by Jean Anouilh, inspired by the play of the same name by Sophocles.

Performance history

Original production

Antigone was first performed in Paris at the Théâtre de l'Atelier on February 6, 1944, during the Nazi occupation. Produced under Nazi censorship, the play is purposefully ambiguous with regard to the rejection of authority (represented by Antigone) and the acceptance of it (represented by Creon). The parallels to the French Resistance and the Nazi occupation are clear, however. The original cast included Monelle Valentin (Antigone), Jean Davy (Créon), Suzanne Flon (Ismène), and André Le Gall (Hémon); the staging, decor and costumes were by André Barsacq.

British première

Antigone received its British première by the Old Vic Theatre Company at the New Theatre, London, on 10 February 1949. The production was produced by Laurence Olivier (who also played the role of Chorus) and had the following cast:

Chorus – Laurence Olivier

Antigone – Vivien Leigh

Nurse – Eileen Beldon

Ismene – Meg Maxwell

Haemon – Dan Cunningham

Creon – George Relph

First Guard (Jonas) – Thomas Heathcote

Second Guard (a Corporal) – Hugh Stewart

Third Guard – George Cooper

Messenger – Terence Morgan

Page – Michael Redington

Eurydice – Helen Beck

Productions and adaptations

Actress Katharine Cornell produced and starred in a 1946 production at the National Theatre in Washington, D.C. Sir Cedric Hardwicke played the role of King Creon. Also performing were Bertha Belmore, Wesley Addy, Ruth Matteson, George Mathews, and Oliver Cliff, and Marlon Brando (as the Messenger), Michael Higgins (The Third Guard). The production was staged by Cornell's husband Guthrie McClintic. The translation was by Lewis Galantière.