New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-04
7ToMEN IN GREEK TRAGEDY
,vr,coyE' PRESENTED AT NEw,HAvEN.
,,opucxp BEFORE BRILLIANT AssEMBLAGE
WITH COMPLETE SUCCESS.


ruaven Conn.,, April (SpcciaD.-The long-ex-
- presentation of the "Antigone' OF sophocles
pe rromen of NewHaven took place tonight at the
W Theatre The interior OF the theatre hsd
- altered so that II might conform as nearly Us
s.,hle with the traditional appearance OK the
,nvsi,o Theatre at Athens, in the DAYS of Sophoces
~ to or expense had been spared in the stage prepar
lions and the success triumph for the manage
Emf and delightful surprise TO the audience. There
s scarcely an inch OF available space that was I'M
cupied IL was one of the largest the most brill
,n,ly dressed the most cultured companies that
ar assembled in Connecticut for entertainment, In
t-uction and amusement AS rule there Is greater
ssssnre in anticipation than In realization, but the
reverse is true Of the performance OF "Antgone''
rhose who during period of almost twelve months
have patiently striven to master the innumeraole h
,cacies of ancient Greek tragedy have endured many
nryatops and trials and passed through perods OF
6csnondeney but tonight all is forgotten In inc JOY
=, nertect success OF triumph which is unrestraned
ana unmarried by thoughts Of lines imperfecty spoken
or situations imperfecty portrayed From It's oegh-
ming 10 its end the production was perfect success
7, e rare that the histrionic ambition Of the genter
cay aspres to the composing of the masculine roles
in addition TO these intended for their own inter
nretation but the NewHaven women did not hesitate
20 assume the whole burden. Many feared that the
simplicity which must be preserved in the production
a. drama as given by the ancients would be
-,ops drawback 10 the pleasure Of those accustomed
n the elaborate stage settings and scenic illusions OF
fine present day. In "Anugone" there Is no falling
81 the curtain, change OF scenes, no chanee OF
Costumes from beginning to end. Everything depends
rron the Individual effort Of the actors, their move
,oent in new and unaccustomed style Of dress and
az rbvthmical elocution which is so difficult in the
omeubat stilted version considered TO be the best
prcI,sh rendering OF the works Of the great Attic
,ragsdian II is Of the utmost Importance tlnt tle
costumes of the characters shall be in such contrast
as to produce graceful picture, and there must DC
complete harmony Of action among the members OF
the groups Almost absolute perfection was attolhed
in each of the details alluded TO.
A brief ANALYSIS of the play is necessary to per-
feet understanding Of the work. After the overthrow
q, oedipus, King of Thebes. and his DEATH MS
daughters Antigone and Ismene, returned to Ihebes
N dwell with their brother Eleoces. Between EleocIes
and his brother Poyneices strife had arisen for the
throne and the latter had been driven into exile lie
occurred the aid OF friends and marched upon the city
Tho brotbers fell by each others hands, and Creon
became King Here the action Of the play begins
Antjgone has asked her sister lsmene 10 go
n secret place for consultation. Ceon has oecreeo
that the body OF Polyneices, the eountry's loe'
shall he left on the plain outside the walls OF Thebes
for dogs and birds TO mange at WILL Death by
oninr is the penalty for disobedence of the order
Anticone tells her sister she is determined to bury
,be body of her brother. Ismene trys to dissuade
her but Antigcne goes forth to do the deed guard
SnforIns CreoI that unknown hands nave DpriN
Poyneices c con dismisses the man with threats OF
terrible death If the disObeyer OF the edct Is 10.
discovered Antigonc is led before Creon ana
ertssses what she has DONE protesting willingness TO
ale art Creon DEGREES a horrible death, and lsmenc
va,nly seeks to move him to compassion, at lasI
stating that Antigone is betrothed to Haemen' MS
SON The sisters are taken away, and liaemen enters
10 plead for Antgone.
This scene is one of the finest of the play. Creon
dnes NOT Weld TO the sons enjreates, and Haemeh
rushes forth resolved not TO survive his betEotheu
CreoD then announces that he Will spare lSnec' ou'
Anticone must be shut up in sepulchrai chhoer ~
die Of starvation. Antgone is led out 10 her iSVe,
The acee prophet Teiresias pleads with Creon, Dtt
A M nurpo.e The prophet declares that with the
life NJ his son shall Creon pay the penalty for MS SIN
.Creon is deeply moved and finally consents 10 puf9
Poynelces Hating on the return from the burial al
the place where Antigonc was conhned CreOh OeioauS
his son embracing the dead body OF Anugohe anu
moment later SEES linn commit suicide. returning
to the palace bearing the corpse OF MS son. oieoh
fpds That Eurydice his wife, having heard the
terrible news has slain herself OF course the chorus
Of Theban ladies, the messengers guards ana attend
ants Play an important part in completing the por-
trayal. Tie cast follows:
Groom, the King. MS. >. II ShtinnHa
Inc queen. Miss LILY White
MISS Bake, Miss quincy and Miss Susan White
Anagole ~ Uf f nn1 pagdea
Isnenc, MIS- MIS- J Hnna Pchards
asd, Miss Mss c. s DeForest
o5fer ci:ds Na:.fs stcaehton Morris Tracy, PECK
TeiIcsias mary 'o arott
Attendants on the Pro.te.s. -
Miss Edith Troy6ridgc and Miss Lena F 2nn
IflnclSl IhcUal EGei.....- .....-.hlss Lily NlIsoh
Nine. Ocrtcl Mrs. Bllnn Mrs Richards Miss
- Kellogg, Miss Sargent and Miss Bassett
Mi h'j: 12sisoH @st H lis! %; VII S
Ms Sherns1 1' Miss BTo SSnS Miss Porter c'''
Mrs. Chapman Creon and Mrs. Thompson as
AntigUne, the most important characters Of the play
performed their parts admirably Rarely indeed has
finished portrayal of characters been witnessed
the New-H2ven stage. Mrs. Chapman has a fine
physique easily made kngly by the costumers art.
Ey nature she has proud bearing, and her voice is
deep and extremely powerful II was used to the
best advantage in expressing pathos, great grief
scorn and contempt. For nearly year, in New York,
at Athens and in New-Iaven, she has studied the
character Of Creon Her mastery of the character
almost perfection She appauded at frequent in
ervals and received generous floral testimonials. Her
costume was conspicuous among the many lovely
costumes for its gorgeous color and material. The
robe, or chiffon, was Of the richest thickest satin
falling in scant folds TO the ankles. 1t Of bright
orange, wonderfully made. while around the arms and
the hem Of the skirt broad fold border of con-
ventional pattern, with like band around the waist.
Bands Of gold metal CLEANED low down upon the neck,
while in the front of the chiffon appeared large
thysts. The mantle, himation, of pale yellow
crepe, harmonizing oddly yet beautifully with the
Chiffon. The costume was designed by Miss Dora
Wheeler Of New-YOTk.
Mrs. Thompson, the Antlgone Of the cast, is one OF
the most beautiful women in New-Haven. Her figure
is superb Tall and heroic, with full, sweeping gest-
and noble gait she faced the innexibe Creon.
She had not many emotions to portray, but all were
intense and not did she fail to reach the ideal
She appeared all in black her wig Of the same COLOR
her robe Of crepe de Chine with silver senciilng in
thick masses around the long, graceful skirt. Her
grdle and sandals were Of silver.
Tho character o. Ismene, sister and foil Of Antgone,
was taken by Miss Jeanne Pardec, young woman of
grace aud decided dramatic ability. She well por-
trayed the retiring and pleading of Ismene and
nfd nr.nnn