Oedipus: Broadway at Its Best

As the saying goes, if it’s not one thing, it’s your mother. 

That’s never been truer than in Sophocles’ Greek tragedy Oedipus, in which the title character kills his father and marries his mother.

The current Broadway revival, adapted and directed by Robert Icke, sets the story in an unspecified country on election night. When the polls close, Oedipus waits with his staff and family at campaign headquarters to see if he’s won. As the night wears on, the truth comes out.

First staged on the West End and told in real time, this two-hour, intermission-less adaptation moves like a freight train. As a director, Icke elicits wonderfully physical performances from his actors (who perform in modern dress; no togas here).

Mark Strong portrays the title character's strength and pain as a leader with many personal demons who must now bear the weight of a nation. His visceral reaction to learning his true parentage is a sight to behold.

As Oedipus’ wife/mother, Jocasta, Oscar nominee Lesley Manville brings down the house with a climactic monologue. She won an Olivier for this role in London; here’s hoping a Tony follows.

Among the supporting cast, shout-out to John Carroll Lynch in his Broadway debut. He’s been a reliable character actor for decades in movies like Fargo and Shutter Island; when you see him on screen, you think “Oh yeah, that guy!” He’s confident and self-assured as the ambitious campaign manager Creon.

Another strong Broadway debut comes from 90-year-old Anne Reid as Merope, Oedipus’ adoptive mother. She moves about the stage with the strength of a woman half her age and expertly pulls at the heartstrings.

Oedipus is a must-see, featuring a brilliant cast. Engrossing from the start, it’s Broadway at its best.

Running at Studio 54 through February 8