New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-04-24
THE GREEK PLAY AT HARVARD.
THE COSTUMES OF THE STUDENT PLAYERS.
HOW THE ACTORS IN soPHocLEss "GDIPUs TY-
RANNCs' WILL BE DREssED-RARE coMBIsA-

THE COSTUMES OF THE STUDENT PLAYERS
HOW THE ACTORS IN soPHocLEss "RpIpus ry.
RANNCs" WILL BE DIEssED-RARE coABIsA-
Tons Up RICH coLoRs-THE STAGE SETTING
The elaborate and carefully studied costumes for
the actors in the Greek play which is to be brought
ont next month by Harvard students have just been
completed and F. ID. Millet, tho designer left this
city with them Friday night for Boston, The royal
personages In the play of " Gdipus Tyrannus' will
wear costumes Of rich and varied hines, bright with
Iyrian purple and glitterins with reproductions of
beaten gold and flashing jewels. The minor char
acters, like the priests suppliants and members Of
the chorus will wear different shades of white.
First in importance is Gdipns, the King, part
which will be enacted by George Riddle. His cos
tune will consist OF a chiffon, long hanging gar
ment clas2ed over the shoulders and falling the
ground, over which is worn a himation, which is a
toga Of the smaller size, known to the Romans the
togd GrGooRika. Ito length IL twice and its width
once the height Of the wearer. The chiffon which is
to be worn by EdipHs is made of surah silk Of rich
red color representing in evening light the Tyrian
purple, which Mr.. Millet says was vivid red Around
the bottom is a broad gold band, an exact imitation
of the plates OF beaten gold with which Gr.ek state
costumes were menfed. On the top the chiffon
is bordcrcd by line Of gilt aud is fastened each
shoulder by clasps Of jcwelled gold. girdle With
copper ornaments holds IL fast around the
waist. The hmdtOn or toga which H. draped
gracefully over the chiffon, is of purple satin inter
woven with gold threads which give the inner side
partly seen in front AZ it is almost the appear.
ance of cloth Of gold. and which CLEAN dimly
through the purple of he onter surface. The hma-
ton Is bordercd with passementene trimming con-
sisting Of gilt band aud gilt loops treoils. On
each corner Gre, pattern in gilt and kind Of
taS~cl made of little plates of gold and patterned
after those discovered by DR.. schliemann at Ny
cenr. A sngulary striking and beautiful sigh, is
presented by the combination in evening light Of
the red OF the chiffon with its beaten gold and the
purple and gold thread OF the himdtion. The LATTER
becins at the left shoulder. passes under The night
arm. and is thrown over the left shoulder again,
thus forming a kind of pocket in front ami
hood behind. When Gdipus has lost biz eyes he
pulls the rear fold Of the hmdion like hood over
his head. nearly hiding his face. This costume, tho
only one worn by Hdipus leaves the compare
lively free. The crown which 6dipus will wear is
a reproduction of one discovered at Myccnt by DR..
Schiemann. II represents repousse gold work with
ornamcntaton OF leaves. Tn sandals accompany
ing this costume of white buckskin with gold
cord and on them are lions heads
The costume OF the Queen, Jocastd. q part
which is 10 be taken by Mr.. Opdyke, consists OF
under garment or Chiffon Of soft acsh-colored silk.
over which is the dipIodion, while the himatos or
toga forms the outer garment The dipLotdlOn, which
IN design j. much ike the chiffon, is made in two
parts SIMPLY for convenience, one long
s AMI he "'' other kind ' Of waist.
The, material is light eagzy stns
with a gilt trimming over the shoulders the dipiri-
dion is fastened with long, narrow, sharp-ponied
clasps Of gold ST with red stones The shape VI
hes. is noticeable for II is with these clasps that
~ 4. IL iylf I .cf in
ton but most noticeable when worn, is the hiBdtOa
or oga. which passes IN graceful folds from the left
which this j. made is something entirely unique Il
l. AMY gold silk tissue shot with threads of gold
aud crimprd rs 10 present rough surface like
crane The glittering delicate surface has the APP
psarance of almost transparent cloth Of gold. lrre
i gold border. and from each corner hang little
gold weights. Tins is worn over long ganzy robe
of snowy whtenes except for the gold dots benrath
which catcheS glimpses Of the pink chiffon Gold
embroidered sandals. and crown. in the middle Of
hIc TWO sphinNes face each other. complete Joois-
Cror the brother Of Jocqstd appears in two differ
cnt costumes. The first includes short simple
clinton of two shades of red, with rich gold border,
over which il q chLImys or travelling cloak OF
"A dull red color. borlered with gilt When freoa
come, 10 the palace in his true character AZ prince
hl, de-, l. more maghh'eht as y oenihs tH1 oe1s.
sion. The long richly embroidered chiffon OF bright
rnor~ IL fastened at the shoulders by clasps. Over
t Is worn a himdtion OF Tyrian purple. "a rich sed.
with broad Greek border.
lnii,,nc and Ismcnc. both daughters of Edipps.
vii Wear chiions gathered up along tho arms
and shoulders and fastened with clasps and
pointed nantes Of wool over silk. both
being trimmed with gold lace. i",s.@''
the blind seer, will be one Of the most sink
ng figures IN the play, as he will be clad only u
pun' white. His long white hair and beard will
appear above robes Of soft white wool. The Stare ~
| lau. who appears in the play for a comparatively
short time. viii Ice attred In goat SKINS aud viii
wear sandals of rawhide. Single garments of lilac
! colorrd wool deliberately embroidered will form The
attire of the attendants of Hdipus. CreVns attend
! .1,nrt III snfea
priests and suppiants, the latter consisting OF three
| priests four chosen youths and four boys, will he
! clothed in white. The fifteen members OF the
chorus who represent old men of Tn, hes viii wear
variations of the natural color of wool. graysh and
! yrlloNi>h whites with embroderes. The surplianIs
| carry in their hands boughs of olive which lear
| tufts of wool. "
! The stage setting IT. Sanders Theatre. which
! will be- arranged by Ware and Van jrunt. Of Dos
| ton. will present the front Of palace, in winch
yeOwish AMI sage-gmcn hnes picked out with god
| will prrd0mnate. On each gile will be an ai.r,
and ll ro will also be one in front, which VIII 10
| ptofincy utilized ~ prompter's box.