New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-02-05
EXIT EDUPTS.

King Q.dipus has again dOzcd of. and this time
they will put HIM to bed and tuck him IN. Sweet be
his slumher 1t was great pity ever to disturb IT,
BIT 0uth as the poet COcridgc rem rkS, is VAN,
aud George Riddle speaks Grceks sos well and
take. such pride in speaking II, that, rather than
hide this accomplishment he probably would wake
up all he venerable old snO0Icrs that ever SUM ed
themselves by tho blue Kgcan. At ali events, hc
insisted ON rou>ng of them and great has been
the clattcr since. But it is all over now and
the important fact hat Mr. Riddle can speak
Greek and speak it well, NAV 1e considered Is alb
lshcd. That is the sole remaining result from this
performance. Various observers have suggested
that if Che QdipIS TyrannuS was To lie enacted
at all il ought TO have been enacted in an English
translation; but, matter of practical experience,
no manager would consent to produce the piece In
that way. And 10 wonder; for III an
English translation "Udipus TVaunuS' is
incaruatc stupidity. The pcrunptory condition was
that Mn Riddle should speak his part in the
ORIGINAL language. This was the attractive clc-
mcnt and indeed The sole point Of the enterprise.
Naturally the affair shoIilivcd-for it lived on
CURIOSITY and il died as soon aS curiosity had been
satisfied Given in the original Greek, as it was at
Harvard University. this piece properly
treated. ana was addressed TO suitable audience
work which in its tn me spirit and scope trans
Ccuds human interest and sympathy which is de-
void 81 dramatic movement. and which has the eff
feet Of waiting vast and mysterious masses thought
and feeling across the theatre of the imagination, is
necessarily ineligible to bat few reySons "All
men are not alike, alas, good nelghbOr! An two
men ride Of horse, one must ride behindw For
the majority Of people all such works rs the " Gdi-
pms 1yra nus are solemn non,ense. and to bring
them forward on our stage in the Hash manner IS
All IGlc waste of time aud labor The
exhibition at Booths Theatre has been Te-
garded bv our public with half-amuSed and
haf-borrd indifference. 1t contained. Of course
suggestions ofreligiOus s0lemnity ceremonial pomp,
graceful satuary, simple Yet pictorial architecture,
and a refined civilization. in which Art a natu-
raj perS asVe force, and not coarse eOr, a IL
dICulous pIctcnce. But its prevailing tone, a
play, was frivolous and absurd. Two OF three
points OF the acting are likely to be remembered.
Miss Georgia Cayvan, though incorrectly juvenile
IN her appearance and raw III her me hOd. acted
with true power and feeling in JordsiaS last ne,
and thus made for herself a valuable mark. Mr..
Hagan. though cOmbatve and tmcuent rather than
aw full and overwhelming as the blind seer 1residS,
was venerable and eloquent, and produced the effect
OF majesty. And there excellent bits of deScrp
tive action in the performance of UdpUs by Nh Rid
die, toSc her with emotional fcrvOr and Use OF
voice that dcuOto genuine dramatic capacity.
ASIDE from IT'S pary pTettlness, this sort of acting
and thus individuality might Ice about up to the
level of DiOHgsiaS, in Damon and Pythlas." But
II was incompetent 20 the Greek ideal of HHpRS
We learn with satisfaction that the enterprise of
presenting the Greek Play has not caused a loss of
money 10 It's managers