New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-09-02
A CLASSIC STAGE RESET.
OPEN AIR PLAYS IN THE OLD ROMAN AMPHI-
THEATRE AT ORANGE.


| 1liEAlkE Al OKANUE
IRON THE REGULAR CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBUNE
Paris, August IA.
! / have been witnessing unique theatrical en-
tertainment-to wit, the performance of Rosslnls
Moses in Egypt" in the old Roman amphithcatrc
of Orange The company was not first-ratc one.
But the choruses, though provincial, were very
fine, with the heavens for a sounding board. !
don't see why the classical mode of producing
theatrical representations should not be revived
| in the South Of Europe and the North az Africa.
where fac weather can be counted upon almost for
months at a time. There was no sfufliness or bad
ventilation 10 give headaches. Before the applica-
ton of electricity TO lighting 1t would have been
| difficult 10 give night performances in Roman
amphitheatrc. But since night can by ii be turned
| into day. less the fierce heat of Southern SUM-,
there seems only advantage in restoring the old
amplnthcatrcs Of the Romans.
II this is done, dare say we shall also have
/ to come back TO the classic mask. While one secs
the faces o. those near just as one might at noon.
the vocaIIsts or actors are too far of to how
/ their faces are in unison with their voices III eX-
pressing sentiments even of violent sort. Gcs-
ticulaton alone tells as an auxiliary to the voice
which also is to some extent lost in the vast build
ing and the open space above. The antique mask
was so constructed as TO serve an acoustic object
and in some degree acted speaking trumpet
II did not admit naturally of shades OF expression
which only tell in small modern playhousos.
Not a seat was empty in the vast and grandioSe
old cdifce, which is large enough TO hold 10000
persons, and was open to the clear sky. Livery
loose stone was occupied by spectators, and there
were sightsecrs placed all along the summit OF
the wall From the places near the stage ana
from the stage itself the effect of the multltudi-
nous audience was truly grandose, and lis bright
ness was in the highest degree eXhilaratlng
There were bright t0ilcttcS, brightly gay faces,
bright eyes, and pleasant buzz Of human HE,
reminding one of that produced by insect life in
heathery cOpSewOod on line summer
dav. Projections of electric lights made every
hue of dress and play of expression clearly per
ceptible They also gave such picturesque value
70 the ruins and to the stage decorations which
were with great skill brought into harmony with
the general style of the architecture. The com
petitive sort of singing in which vOcalists charged
with leading parts deal was not at dlsad-
vantage on so wide a stage and in front OF such
big proscenum. The Greek drama was on
broad lines There was either stited tragedy or
out-and-out comedy in an antique play, because
only the extremes Of levity Of sorrow could
be conveyed to the audience Efforts were. so to
speak. arranged rs in French pictorial engraving,
in masses. never understood the why and the
wherefore of the mask and the stltcd busllin
Of the classic actor until ! Witnessed this week
the performances in the Theatre of Orange.
The choruses were more a!plaudcd than the
other parts because their defects We're lost sight
Of in the distance-Such as the ugncss Of the
individual chorstcrs and their paltfy and mean
fncry-and their good points alone were notice
able The crowd Of spectators were simply drunk
with delight All the choristcrs were Southcrns
IL linz ir lle oh
taincd by the singing clubs Of Avignon. Orange. Ar
les and other towns Of Provence. The members
chiefly artisan foks-had been practising for
the last six months They skipped
the horitore,7 which takes from the
dignity Of The work The closing passages OF
the third and fourth acts and the prayer were
splcndidly sung and delirousy applouded. If the
antique amphthcatrc is revived Rossinc viii b.
shelvcd, he being wanting in breadth and too
much given 10 fancilul cOncctti.' Aida
would be the right opera in the right place
on the stage Of the Orange Amphithcatrc where
there is plenty Of room and a splendid frame for
scenic professions. But Verdi should compose q
special edition of that work for the antique
theatre in which more Importance would be given
TO the cnorals and less to the soil.
7 should not wonder if some Spectator, seeing
how the Orange experiment has succeeded. leased
the ruins of the Colosseum and restored them
for the purpose Of giving performances, operate.
dramatic and equestrian, specially adapted TO
them. Were he bound TO restore them 10 their
pristine state Rome would be the gamer, and /
there would he such an influx Of visitors for the
Colosseum plays that the whole world would pay
tribute to the lessee. There are arenas also at
Niemes and Aries which might be raised 10
their pristine magnifccncc by theatrical spccu- |
la1Ors. who. however would have to enter INTO |
special arrangements with the PARISH yOns-Mar- |
settles Railway to bring strangers to them and |
back or transport them 70 towns IN the region |
where sleeping accommodations might be OBJ |
tanned. Wagner's operas would net.do in those !
old Southern theatres The great German master |
keeps the p-osccnium dark This would never
do in P.ovcncs, o. Italy.
Oedipus Roi,7 translated by Jules LacroiX. !
was the classical drama chosen by the company !
OF the Theatre Francois al Orange Mounct /
Sully performed the principal part. His gcstIcu- |
latng and rantng style told, one can from what /
J, have already said guess why. The
of the oldcn time Orange belonged in former |
times TO the Holy Roman Empire, though III the |
heart Of Provence. IL wds Gallo Roman settle
ment before and after the birth Of Christ. and [
later gave the title Of Prince TO the elder SONS Of
the Younger and more celebrated branch OF the |
House Of Orange. 1t contains one Of the great
theatres which the Romans built along the lthone.
three Of which are stll existing. thouah IN a /
,uinons state. The Orange one is kept from utter /
decay hy custodian. who gets COO francs n
wear. He keep, citizens from using it rs stone /
quarry. Time has really done li.tlc TO inurc the /
theatrical cdiliccs built by the Romans 30 1aul |
The great cause If destruction has been the use /
made by the inhabitants Of the localities IN which !
fbcy are situated OF the building materials they |
found in them for houses for themselves Like
wise. in the village Of kcnilwOrth one finds in the
lower courses Of The hbOrcrs habitatlons the red |
sandstone Of the castle which Scott immOralizcd
The upper courses are Of brick. II NAV be said |
hat in general the modern towns along the Rhonc
are the small change Of the noble buildings Of the
Romans.
The ladies of the Theatre Francois who played
NJ Aries were greatly disgnstcd nj the Mayors hav-
ng neglected 10 send them so nuch as "oupuet
he South Of France was the country Oi the
TroubadOurs and Of the gay science. Bat some
If France do women keep so much apart-savc
N field labor and IN domestic lilc-frOm men, who
10 not spend much tmc in their homes. but are
always netorating IN cafes. clubs and public places
T. G.