While being in different formats,
Oedipus the Opera version does fufill the expectations of the text.
In fact it goes beyond text and creates several different layers to
the characters. One thing that is very vibrant about Oedipus the
opera is that there is a rock solid man constantly performing
throughout the opera in the background. He gives the character of
Oedipus depth by being the inner Oedipus. This character becomes an
improvisation to the play and becomes someone whos actions speak
louder than words. By the end of the play, once Oedipus's lineage is
revealed, the inner Oedipus becomes naked, bare with the truth
shining through the cracks of his costume. This was the true
difference between the two because it creates depth and ulterior
meaning to 2d words. Oedipus the text gives more detail to the story,
and includes very deep and conflicting situations between Oedipus and
his peers who change his character through the story. We are deprived
of some interactions with minor characters in the Opera, and are
immediately shifted to Jocasta's suicide and left with little
interest of what we missed out on. The text is very long with flowery
words, and does seem to draw a reader away from interest, this Opera
uses the text in an artistic way to keep a viewer engaged. The text
is revered for its' conflicting topic of incest and draws in
interested readers, but the Opera is the one that successfully keeps
viewers interested in the story line.
I loved the first half of this. In fact, that was probably enough. The last half felt like you just wanted to pad some words...the fault you attributed to the play itself. But, again, I loved your focus on the "interior" Oedipus.
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