Imagine it is 300 BCE and you are sitting on the skene (stage) of the Greek Theatre Epidaurus. It is a warm June day and the theatre has no performances scheduled so you have the whole amphitheatre to yourself. You are meeting a friend, an actor at the theatre, who wants you to audition for a role in the upcoming performance of Oedipus Rex. You are hot and your sandaled feet are dusty and you grow thirstier and thirstier as you await the arrival of your friend who is running late, as usual. Just as you make the decision to move to the row of trees flanking the theatron (seating area), he comes walking down the parados. Hello! You stand up to meet him.
create a conversation between you and your actor-friend, like this:
Me:
Friend:
Me:
Friend:
Feel free to assign names.
You will ask the questions and your friend will provide answers about Oedipus Rex. You might ask him some questions, too.
You should discuss the themes of the play, like foreshadowing and religious prophecy, as well as concepts like the dying god, dramatic irony, Greek theatre in general, Sophocles, the design pattern of plays, Dionysus, religion, mythology and entertainment. Please don’t limit your conversation to the plot. All own words, no quotes. Conversation should consist of at least 12 substantial exchanges per person (24 total). “Acknowledgement responses” like “Interesting! Tell me more!” or “I don’t think I understand” don’t count toward a “substantial exchange”, so you may find that you go above 24 total if you are working with a lot of banter and dialogue.

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