The U.S. premiere of Sam Shepard’s "A Particle of Dread (Oedipus Variations)" officially opened off-Broadway on November 23. Directed by Nancy Meckler, the production stars Oscar nominee Stephen Rea and Tony winner Brid Brennan. It is a modern take on a well-known ancient Greek myth: a tragic hero mistakenly kills his father and marries his mother, thereby bringing disaster on his city and his family.

"Oedipus represents two enduring themes of Greek myth and drama: the flawed nature of humanity and an individual's role in the course of destiny in a harsh universe." The original Athenian tragedy “Oedipus the King” was written by Sophocles, and was first performed circa 429 B.C.

Shepard, one of America’s most popular avant-garde playwrights, adapted the tragic story of patricide: "The thing about Oedipus to me that is so incredible is that it doesn’t have a plot. There’s no story. It’s just a situation. It’s a predicament that the central character finds himself in. And the audience knows everything. He’s totally guilty, as the audience knows, but believes himself totally innocent." This   dark, fragmented, modern-day take on Oedipus Rex premiered in Derry, Ireland, and features a cast of actors from both sides of the Atlantic.

See also New York Times Theatre Review: "Particle of Dread" Sam Shepard’s Take on Oedipus