New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-29
STUDYING GREEK DRAPERY.
THE "ANTIGONE' AT NEWHAVEN WILL
PRESENT COSTUMES WITH FIDELITY.
CARE TAKEN IN CoLOEs. PATTERNS. SHAPES
AND FOLDS CONSTANT ROUND OF
REHEARSAIS-A GREAT MANY

AND FOLDS CONSTANT ROUND oF
REuEARsA1s-A GREAT MANY
SEATS ALREADY SOLD.
New Haven Conn. March g tspecIaD. AT present
New Haven society Is all cnrapdred with the pros
pect Of seeing the hngone7 Of Sophocles produced on
the modern stage by local talent what the result
Of months Of faithful study and untiring industry is
to be is a question that can only be answered when
the curtain rung down the last despairng signs
Of the men Of Thebes tie night Of April 3, when
the play viii be given. The relearSals of the play
have been conducted with great secrecy during some
of the autumn and all of the winter months NOW
the closing relearsas being conducted with all
the detail that will be Observed when the play Is
given for the public The stage-stng Is not the least
interesting surprise in store for the audience for will
he something in arrangement and effect never before
seen I'm New Haven outside OF the heated Imagination
Of the dlgent Yale student who, in classroom revees
has constructed his notion Of what the creek
stage
without discussing the superiority Of the modern
theatres 50 far as the realistic representation OF play
Is concerned it may be well TO call attention TO the
smplcitv Of the accessories and surroundings which
was characteristic Of the old Greek theatre, ana 10
show how satisfactory this simplicity has proved 10
be in this modern attempt at reproduction On the
Greek stage there no tawdry, lnharohi'us soeno'
with their too evident unreality, no creakhs stage
| machinery nor noisy imitation of natures music
Neither was there distraction Of artificial effects OF
! urlt nor the conventional. monrnful strain OF
| Tho orchestra To interrupt the play OF the
feelings I'm the pathetic passages. Inc elimination
! ~ everything that would distract the attention
-, the listener from the words OF the drama would IN
,, commemorative age be making too radical reform
T., tho theatre so IL has been necessary 70 depart soe
ba, from the traditions Of the Greek theatre by LAYING
lido como NJ the old convenonalites. In the rear Of
b t,g. pfopcr IS to be erected elevated stage SIX
feet Ina height which answers for tie marble iOh'eu
uoace Of Thebes with its royal hanglng' OF purple a"o
coh Behind it will appear a view OF the city bo
meath will be placed affairs ard marble behcfes' tho
,tr Intended for the supplementary chorus who pose
nc urinary audience attired In the howng ropes Oh
ancient lIeas The effect Of the principals occupying
fla, elevated stage and the chorus the stage below the
whole picture being set in frame mstorcahy as nc
cu,.e As possible. cannot be otherwise than pressing
IN the audience II will indeed be surprising II loNe
for the classical drama fails 70 capture all Oeloe 0
has been spoken. The remarkable beauty OF ule
tabcaus and their unvaryng harmony with the seh'l
ment Of the tragedy, will raise the epecacc " e
| order OF aesthetic entertainment.
The costumes will in large part be OF the Dorc pat
tern In this style Of Greek dress the simple ic'F
angular piece OF cloth, II comes from the loom -
made 10 pay an important part. This simple piece Oh
cloth is not shaped in any way 10 the oohy OuV ue
| pcnd, for It's III on its arrangement In iods' Inc
natural but perhaps unexpected consequence OF th's
| primitive method Of covering the human hsuto
| - ~ ,othtoc . now significance. The
drapery IS frequently found to indicate the s'aVc Vi
mind Of the wcarer Authorities on Greek costumes
have been catechscd and Greek literature has uee"
scanned with microscopes. Naturally some CUM
| PROMISES have been made, but speaking gehetai'S
the aim has been TO adhere closely 10 historic anu
| artistic facts
one of the most important articles OF the costume
| is the hlmation, the most troublesome outside wrap
that II human being undertook to adjust properly
and vet one OF the most important parts OF the Ahts
| one costumes The wearer first takes up inc
rectangular CLOTH Selling IL with his left hand near one
cnd and throws The short part over his LETT shoulder
! from behind so that the weight the upper corner
/ may inst tonch the ground The long part Is then
brought by the left hand around under his right arm
and thrown over the left shoulder from the front
backward The left is now raised gathering tho
fold, OF both ends in such manner as 70 leave TWO
OF the four corners each side Of the arm In some
costumes ti, throw Is exactly reversed by bringing the
loft end To the front over the left shoulder, above
| the right end which Is thrown over backward. In
dressing the characters Of the "Antigonc,' the gen
,ral scheme Of color contrast has been largely based
ON the possibilities OF varying the color OF the
! hmaa.
! Antgone will be clothed In flowing black gown
effectively trimmed with silver. lsnenc. her sister
| IN vivid contrast, as BELTS her character will be
splendent In blue and gold with yellow trimmings
/ Creon's dress is hands ONE ana was made By MIS-
| T. Wheeler OF the society OF Associated Artists In
NcwyorI His belt Is studded with genuine amethy sts
Th, Oueen Viii be dressed III white and gold with a
! Mac hmation. She makes a handsome picture as
She stand, OH the steps OF the palace with her four
attendants i'm saffron color. The two attendants OF
| the King Will pale blue chltons. Pale blue
has been chosen largely, TOO, Tor the chtons by
the guards, attendants etc liaen1n the Prince OF
pale saffron Clifton The dresses OF the messenger
the spokesman Of tho guard add suldung tone 10 the
! picture The armor uStd was made expressly for ale
~. Arhn mans. NH md oh
solueN cOrre, to the smallest detail. IL is made OF
substantial stun and suitably embossed, not being In
| any SENSE whit Is known rs stage arlnOr.
! The properties used by the supplementary chorus
the wreths flowers vases, garlauds, etc. will add
much to the brllancy of the picture The dresses OF
shades Of brown, gray and blue, and the chorus OF
| maidqls pale shades Of blue, violet pink and
yellow The stenccd patterns and embrolderies that
ornament the garments OF both principals and chorus
are selected from pacle, ancient sculptures ETC. The
colong is vivid, but is carefully chosen; for IL was
necessary aim not only at correctness Of detail from
am archaic point of view, but also the scenic effect
The chorus OF the Antigcne" represent not an idea
or fancy a. in many Of the old Greek plays but the
people OF Thcbcs and the object Is to make them ap
! pear as much like the Thebans about the time of
| OciipuS a. possible.
Tie Ncw-IIavon ladies have become experts In
initiating a great variety OF shaped garments in use
! among the Greeks, and produce the most char.
actertc and beautiful drapery by arrangement Of tho
unshaped cloth. In some of the long, pointed gar
ments that which appears TO be the result complex
cut is In reality only studied arrangement of the
folds of garment OF simple form with straight sides
In all studies Of Greek costumes the peculiar crnlsle
of the chltons IS subject OF admiration. The effect
! Is secured by the New-Haven ladies by twisting the
garment lengthwise into rope after having carefully
dampened It, When II is to be employed IL is shaken
ont OF the twist, and II then presents beautiful ong
| tudna cepe-like folds, sharp and broken similar
| TO the drapery Of certain statues.
already Blocks OF seats have been sold to Boston
= and New York parties and the interest seems TO in.