Delaware state journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1870-1883, 1881-05-19
"HDIPUS TrRASNUS."
circumstances rhat Led TO the Dcci-
sion TO Present IN Greek Play at
Harvard.

circumstances That Led 10 the Dcci-
sion TO Present N Greek Play at
Harvard.
Boston Advertiser
Tho preparations Tor representing the
"uGdpus Tyrannus" Of Sophocles in the
Sanders Theatre, at Cambridge are now
nearly completed. The performance of
ancient classical dramas IN the original
tongue IL not entirely unknown to this period
though nearly TO this country-and the old
English public school custom OF giving a
comedy of Plantus or Terence at Christmas is
even yet maintained at Westminster but
4 production OF Greek tragedy in the Greek
language Ia All oyeut o! the greatest rarity i'll
modern times. The 'Autgone" of Sopho-
Giles, III a close English version, was brought
out at tho COyent Garden Theatre during the
winter Of 1ali-j, with Mcndelasohns music
aud not long after was repeated, under
MIR. Mnrrays management at Edinburgh.
the exquisite MisH Helen Fancit appearing ar
the heroine and MIR. Glover as CyrOn. Many
of onr readers will recall DeQuincey's 'Anti-
gon1 essay, which was evoked by this per-
fornance. The experiment of giving the
'Agamemnon of Eschylus i'll the original
language was tried however, in the Hall of
BalliOl College. oxford, on the I'd of June,
lsSO, the play being presented with much
artistic perfection, but with truly Grecian
simplicity in detail5-v simple music in the
tiregoriAn mode being composed for the
chorses. This experiment met with success,
and the performance was subsequently re-
peated nj Edinburgh and ut various places i'll
England--in st. Georges Hall, London,
among others the students who mpersonated
tty'ehnnest,'d and. Cdssafdra receiving special
praise.
The idea of giving q Greek tragedy in
Greek Mt Harvard has been many times
mooted by Professor w. w. Goodwin, and u
performance of the "Antigone" with Mem
delssOhns music. was seriously proposed for
the dedication of the Sanders Theatre several
Years ago. This production of the "uldipus'
grew almost Immediately out of social talk
between several Harvard and Yale professors
at Mount Wachnsett last summer. i'll which
Mr.. Allcn. the professor of classical philol-
ogy ut Harvard, and Mr.. }. W. White,
assistant professor of Greek at Harvard, took
the chief part, and. 1t may be said, it was
then definitely decided to bring out the
"uIdipns' which Professor White had edited
if the thing were found to be feasible. In
conversation not long after with Mr.. George
Riddle. Professor White found that the
former gentleman had become much inter-
cctOd IN the character of OresteS in Euripides'
tragedy OF the same name, and suggestion
from the professor suiliced to arouse III MIR.
riddle an interest in the part of
Hdipns. which upon further study
developed into enthusiasm. At meet
ing of the classical instructors OF Har-
ward which followed, last autumn, il was
officially determined to produce the tragedy.
IL Ii but fair TO say that, notwithstanding the
general preliminary talk on the subject, the
success of the "Agamemnon" at oxford was
probably the immediate occasion OF the
present attempt at Harvard.