Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-06
The Collegiate Stage, Again.

To the Editor Of The DtSpdtch:
The suggestive editorial OF the Dispatch,
the exhaustive reply Of Professor Venable,
and the reioinder OF Mr.. Tyler, all upon
the subject Of a Greek play, lead one natu-
rally to inquire into the feasibility OF ether
methods of bringing the southern institu-
lions into prominent public notice. | sup
nose most scholars and students agree that
ibe representation OF Greek play would
he desirable il our institutions had enough
time and money to devote TO such an instru-
ment Of higher culture; but as they un-
doubtedlv bave neither just at present, why
not entertain q plan that Is perfectly feasible
and Is MS "highly elegant" n method OF cul-
ture? Surely Macbeth is scarcely inferior
TO Antigoue, and Hamlet might oiier rs
much food for thought as Ajax. Why not
represent one Of Shakspeare's plays! The
scenic arrangements would be less costly.
the opportunities for study greater, the
public interest more widespread, and the
results equally satisfactory. Excellent
editions Of the plays are numerous, The
Shakespeare literature is copious and easily
obtanable. and information in regard TO
stage arrangements would be gladly fur-
nished by the prominent stage-managers
and actors, who would doubtless take
pleasure in kindling an interest In tue
legitimate drama.
II is questionable whether all the occu.
pants even Of the orchestra chairs could
grasJ the true inwardness OF the choruses
in Sophocles. OF course with most OF tue
audience this would be matter OF com
narrative ease, but few might be em0tr-
rassed here and there over strange ward
and would naturally feel deicacy in con-
sultipg "an English aid in the midst OF
highly cultured and appreciatiye audience.
Now. this painfully.perpleXed minority
would feel entirely at home In the speeches
of Hamlet. True, such passages as g am
INT mad north northwest y might puzzle
them. but they could 20 away with the
comfortable assurance that even the spe-
cialists disagree as to the meaning OF this
" crux.D need not enlarge on the edu-
cutional advantages OF the Shaksperean
drama. Even the most bigoted opponents
OF the theatre must admit that II properly
conducted il affords superior educational
facilities.
That the representation would be fcaSi-
BILE needs not to be doubted. At Washing
ton and Lee, for example, the plays are
studied in the bcles-lettres department,
in the linguistic department, and under
the elocution instructor. Why should not
Washington and Lee take the initiative and
put one OF the plays upon the boards.
| There is hardly any institution that Is so
we'll equipped for the thorough study OF
the prince 81 dramatists.
Having Introduces students 10 classic plays
in their own tongue, 1t would be but step
| 10 classic French tragedies. such AZ lie
/ Cid" and Atbalie," TO the eXqusitely
| ludicrous ale Medecin Magre Lui," or
| the more elaborate ole MisanthrOpe."
| Here is q foreign tongue OF which every
! Observation-Disclosures person has at least a
| smattering. a large number, therefore,
could appreciate the performances OF such
plays.
After this the more difficult and less
widely.knOwn German might be attempted.
| The mastery Of the construction in tins
| language Is not easily acquired, and II
might reasonably be hoped that II a classic
German play could be acted II would not be
| impossible 10 represent Greek play.
Nv idea, then, is TO accustom students Il
acting plays in their own tongue, then u
| acting plays in an easy foreign modan
language, and then in more difficult one,
| They would then be ripe for Greek play,
which now presents apparently insur'
mountabIe difficulties in the way OF repre-
sentation. II it were demonstrated to the
public that students could act successfully
:. Egmont," then ELECTRA" would nc
longer seem TO be an impossibllity; aud
believe with Mr.. Tyler that there would be
enough men OF liberal culture TO furnish
the funds for such representation.
trust that these suggestions will NEE
with favor in the eyes Of the college autho
rites inVirgins, and that they will take thu
first step towards "The Clouds" by
placing on the boards much Ado About
Nothing" FLuELLEN.
Hampden- Sidney, June 3, 1886.