Long Island City’s theater scene delivers Greek classic ‘Antigone’
Antigone at the Secret Theatre, Hunters Point, Long Island City
You don’t need to go to Broadway, or even Brooklyn, to see great theater. Hunters Point boasts two excellent theaters, The Chocolate Factory whose new show, Red Metal Mailbox – [ ], is opening tomorrow night, and The Secret Theatre, whose latest production with The Queens Players, Sophocles’ Antigone, directed by Greg Cicchino, liQcity attended this past weekend.
The two theaters couldn’t be more different in terms of vision, approach, and repertory. While The Chocolate Factory excels in presenting new experimental and multimedia work, The Secret Theatre presents classics from the theater repertory, whether it’s Vampire Lesbians of Sodom, produced beautifully last fall with just the right proportion of kitch, or the classic Hamlet, coming up in April.
Within a few minutes of the Secret Theatre’s Antigone, I was gradually drawn into Sophocles’ moral universe: a world where the will of the gods cannot be defied, a world of strong egos, of self-righteousness, of arrogance, betrayal, and tragic grief. We 21st-century New Yorkers may see a world with many conceptions of right and wrong, without one firm moral center, but there is still a part of our psyche that sees the world the way Sophocles does.
Antigone at the Secret Theatre, Hunters Point, Long Island City
The challenge for a theater company, in presenting such an old work, is to break through the audience’s layers of skepticism and cynicism, without letting us feel manipulated. In the end, the simplicity and boldness of this production succeeded marvelously; in the acting and direction there was artifice without any duplicity. All of the six actors playing supporting roles doubled as members of the chorus, who chanted in rhyme in between scenes to narrate parts of the story; they put masks on to play particular characters, and took them off to rejoin the chorus.
The acting was superb across the board, revealing the Queens Players to be a very strong company. The stand-out performance was Katie Braden, who managed to capture the message and tragedy of the whole play within a few brief minutes.
Antigone has only one week left at The Secret Theatre–go see it! $15, March 25-28, 8pm, The Secret Theatre, 44-02 23rd Street, 718.392.0722
- The Secret Theatre [website]
–Posted by Sami Abu Shumays
Send your Long Island City arts listings to arts [at] liqcity [dot] com
I think we’re all looking forward to shoving that $15 drink up your ass, funnyman. Get a life.
No. 2, posting that tired comment is all that sad man (and I’m sure he is a man) has to look forward to every morning. He reminds me so much of this loser who used to hang out on one of the corners on Vernon. Every time I ran into him (and I would resort to hiding behind parked cars), he’s say, “Working hard or hardly working?” This went on for years. he still lives at home in his mom’s basement, and he might even still be standing out on Vernon right now — maybe he’s the $15 drink man?
I’m pretty sure that frustrated comments like those of #2 and #3 are all that “sad man” looks forward to every morning.
Once again, internoobs, google the word “meme.”
I have no idea what all this twittering about $15 drinks in the comment boxes following Sami’s review is but thanks for giving the erroneous impression that we sell $15 drinks.
We don’t.
Its disappointing to me that a great blog site like this one with helpful insightful reviews and news is occasionally infected with score settling. It suggests that the area is packed with ‘nimbys’ which is not a true reflection of our great community.
Anywhoo, since starting an LIC based acting troupe 41/2 years ago, The Queens Players, and then building The Secret Theatre almost two years ago I have tried in my own small way to enrich the life and culture of the area. It has eaten through my savings and despite our best efforts there are many in LIC who have never visited the theatre. In the years since starting this adventure I have produced, directed, appeared or written over 32 mainstage shows.
I offer a discount of $5 dollars off the normal price of $15 on the remaining 4 shows of Antigone to readers of this posting to encourage some of you to leave the admittedly comfy climes of Vernon to come and slum it near Courtsquare. To ensure the discount please ring our box office 718 392 0722 to reserve seats and mention LIQCITY.
Richard [not anonymous] The Secret Theatre.
what’s wrong with a $15 cocktail? they’re usually quite delicious. Unless they suck.
Thanks for the tip, LIQ, I went to see Antigone last night and was so pleased. I will definitely be going back to the Shadow Theater. What a stress free evening: stroll over, spend 15 bucks, be entertained, home by 9:30. Thanks.
Hey Anonymous!
Thanks for recommending our show at The Secret Theatre! Unfortunately you called us The Shadow which is a great name for a theatre but its not ours!
If you want to know more please go to our website http://www.thequeensplayers.com and sign up for info, discounts and more. Once again many thanks to LIQcity for helping to spread the word.
#1 can eat #2
I bet your face is better after a $15 drink
i always loved watching theatrical shows and i enjoy them a lot. the pictures are well taken as well.
Send tips, feedback, and death threats to info [at] liqcity [dot] com
I bet that show would have been even better after a $15 drink.