Just when you think the Troubies can\u2019t get any better, they go ahead and OEDIPUS THE KING, MAMA!\u00a0 Yes, that title is in fact \u2013 a verb.\u00a0 Because after this comic intertwining of Greek tragedy and Elvis impersonation you too will be, \u201cAll Shook Up!\u00a0 Hm, ooh, yeah-yeah, yeah!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The Troubadour Theater Company <\/a>was absolutely at their best, under the stars at The Getty Villa for the annual outdoor classical opening night.\u00a0 But don\u2019t expect any boring togas, mournful monologues or woeful laments. OEDIPUS THE KING, MAMA! is all free-wheeling, Rockabilly and R&B, commedia dell\u2019arte-flavored, slapstick musical dramedy.\u00a0 And it is delivered absolutely on point by Matt Walker, Steven Booth, Beth Kennedy, Rick Batalla, Phillip McNiven, Mike Sulprizio, Chloe Wyatt Taylor, Katie Malia and Suzanne Jolie.\u00a0 They\u2019re simply awesome!<\/p>\n If you\u2019re not familiar with OEDIPUS REX, also known by its Greek title, OEDIPUS TYRANNUS, also called OEDIPUS THE KING, the ancient play<\/a> is an Athenian tragedy by Sophocles.\u00a0 It was debatably performed somewhere around c. 429 BC, and continues to be one of the most popular in the tragic Greek cannon.\u00a0 This is perhaps in part thanks to Sigmund Freud who coined, for all time its ick factor, as a psychological (Oedipal Complex) concept. And the Troubies have not altered a thing about it.\u00a0 Other than, of course, making it as outlandishly, concomitantly authentic as you might imagine it instead.\u00a0 That is, if Greek tragedy had a sense of humor, a bit of Doo-wop, Vegas glitz and a few more boobalicioius \u201cslinks\u201d it its uproarious kink.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Troubadors have set the scene smack in the middle of Malibu and travel to surrounding areas of PCH and the Santa Monica mountains.\u00a0 Not only is it absolutely hysterical, the location just plain works.\u00a0 As does everything else.<\/p>\n In a performance like this, it\u2019s hard to single out just one or two actors.\u00a0 Especially, as the Troubies are an actual \u201ctroupe\u201d.\u00a0 But Matt Walker as a twitchy Elvis\/Oedipus leads this production from start to finish with absolute verve.\u00a0 A particularly outrageous Beth Kennedy as Priscilla\/Jocasta tears up the stage, interacting with audience members in character and occasionally \u201cloving\u201d the set just as much as her man. The pair is entirely hokey as mama and her teddy bear. The mother\/husband\/son relationship is so turned on its head that it weirdly brings the tragedy into laser focus.\u00a0 But luckily for us, with a lot more humor.\u00a0 Rick Batalla brings his goofiest Crayola-stylings to Creon. Steven Booth gives all the hunkola of young Oedipus\/Elvis.\u00a0 While the additional cast adds hallmark harmonies and rhythms.\u00a0 The result is pretty perfect.<\/p>\n While OEDIPUS THE KING, MAMA! is not a new production, it has been expanded from from its original Villa Theater Lab debut sixteen years ago, for the Getty outdoor space.\u00a0 And in its current form is seriously gut-busting.\u00a0 But no play performs on its own.\u00a0 Scenic, lighting, costumes, sound, choreography, hair & makeup, music, puppets and props all work beautifully to amplify the space, the characters and the comedy.<\/p>\n The Troubadour Theater Company has delivered nothing less than exception entertainment and artistry in OEDIPUS THE KING, MAMA!\u00a0<\/p>\n VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED<\/p>\n Copyright \u00a9 2025 GiaOnTheMove.com.\u00a0 All Rights Reserved.<\/a><\/p>\n OEDIPUS THE KING, MAMA!<\/p>\n Annual outdoor theater production at the Getty Villa Museum. Directed by Matt Walker. Co-produced by Troubadour Theater Company<\/p>\n September 4-27, 2025 <\/p>\n CAST (In order of appearance):\u00a0 Matt Walker<\/a> \u2013 Oedipus;\u00a0 Steven Booth \u2013 Young Oedipus;\u00a0 Beth Kennedy<\/a> \u2013 Jocasta;\u00a0 Close Wyatt Taylor \u2013 Chorus\/Shepherd;\u00a0 Rick Batalla<\/a> \u2013 Creon;\u00a0 Lara Lafferty \u2013 Chorus\/Antigone;\u00a0 Philip McNiven \u2013 Laius\/Messenger;\u00a0 Mike Sulprizio \u2013 Teiresias;\u00a0 Katie Malia \u2013 Chorus\/Young Jocasta;\u00a0 Suzanne Jolie \u2013 Chorus\/Ismene.<\/p>\n PRODUCTION:\u00a0 Scenic Design \u2013 Evan A. Bartoletti<\/a>;\u00a0 Lighting Design \u2013 Bo Tindell;\u00a0 Costume Design \u2013 Sharon McGunigle;\u00a0 Sound Design \u2013 Robert Arturo Ramirez<\/a>;\u00a0 Hair & Makeup Design \u2013 Suzanne Jolie;\u00a0 Music Supervisor \u2013 Eric Heinly<\/a>;\u00a0 Musical Director \u2013 Benet Braun;\u00a0 Movement Consultant \u2013 Molly Alvarez Booth;\u00a0 Puppet & Prop Design \u2013 Matt Scott;\u00a0 Production Stage Manager \u2013 Karen Osborne;\u00a0 Asst. Stage Manager \u2013 Benji Kaufman.<\/p>\n Lead Image: Beth Kennedy as Jocasta and Matt Walker as Oedipus in foreground and Philip McNiven as <\/p>\n \t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\u00a92009](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/01\/Gia_GOTM_570x191.png?resize=570%2C191&ssl=1\")
OOPS they did it again<\/h6>\n
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Matt Walker as Oedipus in background.
\u00a9 Craig Schwartz Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/giaonthemove.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/OKM073.jpg?resize=800%2C1000&ssl=1\")
Creon. \u00a9 Craig Schwartz Photography<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\nTHEBES \u2014 by way of Malibu<\/h6>\n
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Getty Villa. \u00a9 2025 J. Paul Getty Trust<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201c(Let Me Be Your) Teddy Bear\u201d<\/h6>\n
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Tickets<\/a><\/h5>\n
Laius in background \u00a9 2025 J. Paul Getty Trust. Images \u00a9 Craig Schwartz Photography.<\/em><\/p>\nLike this:<\/h3>\n