The Infernal Machine

@NYU Fall 2018 

He shall kill his father and marry his mother”

This is the story of Oedipus retold once more but…

He shall kill his father and marry his mother”

This is the story of Oedipus retold once more but…

by Jean Cocteau

translated by Albert Bermel

directed by Sophie Amieva

sets  Katerina Marcelja

lights  Sarah Lurie

costumes Marnie Kingsley

stage management Sarah Jo Atwood

with: Kate Athol, Abram Blau, Katie De Bari, Sophie Gorai, Emily Jackoway, Kayla Juntilla, Maggie Mihalcik, Julianna Mitchell, Mallory Mullins, Luca Pfeiffenberger, Ari Pollack, Sterling Ross, Ana Cristina Schuler, Emily Stolp

NYU/Tisch School of the Arts/Drama Department

Experimental Theatre Wing present

When I decided to present “La Machine Infernale ” I had the idea to cross-gender the actors. I thought that this approach to the myth of Oedipus could reveal something more honest for our moment in time. Working through this interpretation became a journey towards the other; a reinvention that cracked open emotions and allowed us to hear the words of Cocteau.

This work — based on ancient myth — dwells fully on point with our times. It explores the complexity of our relationships, both  private and public, and how they are our tools of power struggle. It shows us the difficulty of letting go of power to show compassion. And it probes the eternal fundamental questions of fate, free will, power and gender.