Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1893-06-02
CLASSIC PLAY AT VASSAR
COLLEGE Girls viii Present a Tragedy In
Original Greek.
uoIIHS OF LABOR IN PREPARATION
1 Synopsis Of the Play aud How the Young
Girls VIII Be Dfessed-A Novel
and Unique Performance.

Girls viii Be DreSSed-A Novel
and Unique Performance.
PouaHKEEpsIE, May 26..-If the old
OR eeks OF the time Of Sophocles are still
ira yelling in the neither regions they Will
probably turn their spiritual eyes up
wa I'd this evening and see how Q modern
wo rid performs the greatest OF creek
ira gedies in the original Greek.
They will probably smile at the &C
cent. but they will perforce admire the
Greek peplus, the chiffon and other i'm
pedimenta OF the revived play. The Vas
ear girls have been laboring for months
in preparation OF the play which is to he
mounted tonight on the stage OF the
Collingwood opera house, and which has
attracted to this city gathering oil
learned men and women.
Twelve years ago the Harvard stu
dents presented at Sanders Theatre
the "Oedipus Tyrannis" for three nights,
and this was then very properly con-
sidered a most notable literary event.
People went to it not knowing what to
expect, the un- Greeked part OF the audi
ence surprising they would receive only
the curious sensation Of listening to the
aryon of an ancient speech that would
betray nothing; but all the literate and
illiterate left with new ideas OF the
dramatic effect and intelligence al
forded.
"The Antigone," given by the ladies
OF New Haven for the benefit OF the
Yale hospital, was spoken from atransls-
ton. But the girls OF Smith College.
about four years ago, PLAYED the
Electra )" and the students OF the Uni
! versity OF Pennsylvania-on just what
date / cannot say-gave Arstophanes'
"Arcunians." Both of these perform
ances were in Greek.
The students have been prepared for
tonipht's production under the compe-
tent and resolute supervision OF Pro-
lessor Abby Leach, who has the Greek
department of the college IN charge. So
thorough has Miss Leach been, and 80
anxious is she to have this performance
true, not only to the best csnons OF
taste, but to the highest idea that intelli-
gent scholarship demands, that she has
consulted already the best authorities for
an undertaking Of this sort to be found
| in the country. Professor s. IL. Sargent
has visited the college many times to
give points on the dramatic cast and
rendering; Professor Bliss Perry, Of
Williams College, has been present to
supervise the style Of elocution, and Miss
w. Story, who trained the New
Haven ladies on behalf of Yale, has
freely lent the results of her long exper-
fence and fine artistic training For the
handling of the chorus, that unique and
distinct part OF the Greek play, which
adds 80 much to its quality, expression
and effectiveness, Max Dessauer has
given up his best attention and time.
No little thought, too, has been de-
voted to the scenery and costume, as
WAS most necessary. In the directions
for this Mr.. William II. Day, the archi-
tect, has been engaged to supplement
the fine feminine instinct for dress and
effect, which is nowhere to be found in a
higher degree that at Vassar.
In the play the interest centres around
the sisterly devotion of the heroine,
Antigone, who risks and suffers death
for the sake OF her dead brother. An
edict of King Creon prohibits all persons
from burying Antigone's brother, as
Creon wishes his spirit to remain an out
cast. A violation of the edict means
death to the offender. Antigone, faith
iul to the teachings that it is the sacred
duty OF the next OF kin to bury the dead
carries out that duty after fruitlessly
seeking assistance from her sister,
Ismene. Discovered in the act, she is
brought before the king and is sentenced
| to be entombed alive. She hangs her
self in the tomb to escape starvation
with its attendant pangs.
Creon's cruelty and defiance OF the will
OF the gods brings it's quick retribution:
Hameon, his son, the betrothed Of
Antigone, Stays himself, and Queen
Eurydice dies by her own hand on re-
ceipt Of the news OF the death Of her son.
The costumes OF all the participants
will exactly duplicate those worn at the
time in which the scenes are laid. The
greatest care has been used in selecting
the materials and colors. that the best
effects may be obtained. The material
will consist largely Of woods, that can be
drsped in soft folds around the figure.
The style used will be the old Attic
dress, while the guards will wear the
Doric chiffon. The male characters will
have Chiffon, sack-like in shape, reach
ing to the knee. The himation, OF
mantle, will be worn over the chiffon,
allowing great variety OF effects in ar
ranging the manner of the draping.
The female characters will be dressed
in the peplus, garment similar to the
chiffon. This will be fastened at the
shoulders and gathered closely with 6
girdle at the waist. lsmene and the
Queens attendants will have the diplo
dion. This falls in graceful folds over
the chest and adds much to the beauty
and effect of the simple Greek costume
The women will also have mantles sim
liar to those Of the males, for the pur
pose of allowing pleasing drspings.
A few of the characters will wear higf
boots laced in front. The others viii
; have sandals with the cross stripes reach
ing to the skirt. In making the SANDAL
those on statues and vase paintings wer,
copied, that they might be exact il
detail and beyond reach OF criticism.