'MIDSOMER MURDERS'
"TALKING TO THE DEAD"
At the scene of a murder, a radio was found blaring a radio adaptation of Euripedes' "Medea".
Medea is in Corinth with Jason and their two young sons. King Kreon wants to reward Jason for his exploits: he gives the hand of his daughter, Glauce, to Jason as well as the promise of the throne. In exchange, Medea and the boys are to be banished. Jason explains that his actions ensure a rich future for Medea and her sons. She asks that she be allowed to stay; Kreon refuses. She asks for one more day, and begs Jason to seek the king's permission to allow their sons to stay in Corinth. Jason agrees and Medea prepares a gift for her sons to give to Glauce. Will Medea leave peacefully?
Here is the section of the play heard on the radio:
MEDEA:
But I would never leave them to this scum of Corinth. No. They'll be my very own assassins. They'll take the princess a gown of silk. A golden crown. But these, I'll drench in poison so strong that anyone who touches them will die in agony.
But the thing that tears my heart . . is what must happen next. I shall kill my children. Kill them both. No one shall save them. No-one shall own them. And when I've brought both Jason and his house to ruin, I shall leave this land.
Unnatural woman, flying from the death cries of my darlings. From their blood. Their blood. Their blood! How is it I can bear such guilt . . but not the laughter of my enemies?
From Wikipedia:
"Medea" is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, based upon the myth of Jason and Medea and first produced in 431 BC. The plot centers on the actions of Medea, a former princess of the "barbarian" kingdom of Colchis, and the wife of Jason; she finds her position in the Greek world threatened as Jason leaves her for a Greek princess of Corinth. Medea takes vengeance on Jason by killing Jason's new wife as well as her own children, after which she escapes to Athens to start a new life.
Considered shocking to Euripides' contemporaries, Medea and the suite of plays that it accompanied in the City Dionysia festival came last in the festival that year. Nonetheless the play remained part of the tragedic repertoire, and experienced renewed interest with the emergence of the feminist movement, because of its nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Medea's struggle to take charge of her own life in a male-dominated world. The play has remained the most frequently performed Greek tragedy through the 20th century, and it holds the American Tony award record for most wins for the same female lead character, with Judith Anderson winning in 1948, Zoe Caldwell in 1982, and Diana Rigg in 1994.
There have been almost a dozen international TV adaptations of Euripedes' play over the years with the aforementioned actresses Anderson and Caldwell playing the role of Medea.
MEDEA:
But I would never leave them to this scum of Corinth. No. They'll be my very own assassins. They'll take the princess a gown of silk. A golden crown. But these, I'll drench in poison so strong that anyone who touches them will die in agony.
But the thing that tears my heart . . is what must happen next. I shall kill my children. Kill them both. No one shall save them. No-one shall own them. And when I've brought both Jason and his house to ruin, I shall leave this land.
Unnatural woman, flying from the death cries of my darlings. From their blood. Their blood. Their blood! How is it I can bear such guilt . . but not the laughter of my enemies?
From Wikipedia:
"Medea" is an ancient Greek tragedy written by Euripides, based upon the myth of Jason and Medea and first produced in 431 BC. The plot centers on the actions of Medea, a former princess of the "barbarian" kingdom of Colchis, and the wife of Jason; she finds her position in the Greek world threatened as Jason leaves her for a Greek princess of Corinth. Medea takes vengeance on Jason by killing Jason's new wife as well as her own children, after which she escapes to Athens to start a new life.
Considered shocking to Euripides' contemporaries, Medea and the suite of plays that it accompanied in the City Dionysia festival came last in the festival that year. Nonetheless the play remained part of the tragedic repertoire, and experienced renewed interest with the emergence of the feminist movement, because of its nuanced and sympathetic portrayal of Medea's struggle to take charge of her own life in a male-dominated world. The play has remained the most frequently performed Greek tragedy through the 20th century, and it holds the American Tony award record for most wins for the same female lead character, with Judith Anderson winning in 1948, Zoe Caldwell in 1982, and Diana Rigg in 1994.
There have been almost a dozen international TV adaptations of Euripedes' play over the years with the aforementioned actresses Anderson and Caldwell playing the role of Medea.
Does anybody out there know if Ms. Higgins ever played a contemporary actress in some TV production? We might then claim that she was once again playing the role of that actress in this audio play.
Or we can just stick with her appearing as a member of the League of Themselves. Perhaps someday, Ms. Higgins might appear as herself in some other TV show that is centered around the entertainment business. She's missed her chance to do so with 'Extras' and 'Episodes', but who knows? There could be one that comes along in the near future.....
BCnU!
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