New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-05-27
"ANTIGONE" AT VASSAR.
AN ACCURATE PRESENTATION OF HE OLD
CREEK PLAY.

HEARTY APPLAUSE BY LARGE AUDIENCE FOR
THE SPIRITED ACTING OF THE YOUNG WOMAN
Observation-Disclosures PERSONS PRESENT.
[BY TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE
| Poughkeepse y. w. May 26-The long-taked of
production OF the Greek tragedy "Antigone' by the
students OF Vnssar College took place I'm the COl'ng-
wood Opera IIolsc In this city tonight. The house
crowded rot only with residents Of Poughkcepse
and friends Of the students from abroad but also
with students Of Greek from all parts OF the country
Rarely. II before. has the theatre presented
more brilliant appearance ono more strange. "A
tragedy was presented In language unknown to all
OF the audience except the few accustomed by long
study to It's The tragedy lacked almost all the
elements which make play Interesting at the present
day. but for two hours IL held the close attention
Of every person in the house and frequent bursts OF
applause greeted passages which delivered with
spirit that would have made their meaning pam
without the aid OF the parallel Greek and Eng-
h edition q the text OF the drama, which was dis-
trihuted among the audience. Tile performance. IN
power and grace equallcd the highest expectations OF
all and the students succeeded In bringing out the
| spirit OF the Greek admirably.
The costumes brilliant and pleasing and the
| stage setting was remarkably fine. seldom have the
foo'lights-Or the orchestra pitt for this occasion
there were. Of course. fooTghts-formed line
the side audience representing the fairest
and best Of the culture OF nineteenth century
| civilization the other realistic reproduction OF
that which most artistic and most Impressive
I'm the best civilization Of twenty-five centuries ago.
Yet the spirit Of the latter and the intelligent
interest OF the former spanned the vast gulf ana
Of the PLAYER, and the spectators sympathetic
and harmonious unity.
The production tonight was looked forward to
with interest by classical students all over the com
| try and indeed all the world; for II Is fact
that In Athens itself the presentation OF Greek plays
In this country is carefully noted. The plays Of
Acschylus and Sophocles produced there nj inter
yaI, I'm n rather rude manner. quite inferior to the
prcscn, ations here. Several years when Pro
cSsor Sargent was in Athens. he found the fame OF
the Harvard rendering OF "Oedpus' had reached
| there and the AthenIans asked him TO teach them
more perfect acting In exchange for their teaching
him better Greek. Tho first attempt to reproduce
| classic tragedy In America with anything Ike ac-
curacy was made In the spring Of ISL at Harvard.
when the students brought ont OcdIpus Tyrannus
This excited great interest and became the subject OF
| numerous magazine articles and one or more books.
4 professional company was afterward formed which
gave the play In several cities. George Riddle taking
his pert Greet, and the other members OF The com
pany in English. The students Of the University OF
| PeunsyIyanIa a wear or two later gave "Thc
Acharnlans Of tristophanes I'm "A manner similar 10
that In which Greek comedies have often been rem
dcred In England. particularly nj oxford ana 'aih-
bridge. In the summer Of 1sso III" senior class al
smith College brought ont the Electra OF Sophocles
and their work was "A distinct advance upon anything
before attempted AMT zone" has been produced In
English several times recently. notably h. women OF
New. Haven I'm N. spring OF 1901. but these produc
tons while interesting and exceedingly pretty as
rabeaus had little value from the classic student
po,n, Of view Not the work done tonight at
VaSsar. Never n Greek play revived win snch
absolute truth In every detail possible
That II should bc what the Ath"nans saw on the
dec,Ity Of the Acropols Of course not To b"
| expected. American girls. not Mhcnian men, took
ne parts: the music Of MendcSSohn took III" place
Of tho los, Attic measures and Instead Of the amph''
theatre with Its orchestra and altar nj III" centre"
the audience were I'm modern theatre and the players
on an ncoed stage Tut this stag was mndc a re ry
n possible 10 conform 10 the Greek conditions. ana It's
settings were In respects entirely different
from those other rendering OF Greek tragedy
some Of these changes made 10 conform Ia IN"
recent discoveries Of DR.. Dorpfed the director OF tue
German school In Athens. Instead OF having three
doors nj the rear OF the stage following the teaching
~ Tho old classic scholars only the centre door was
left and through this the players entered eN'"p'
those who In the course 81 the drama came In at an
open space on the right side OF the stage. the con
y.niionaI lngress from distance. or on The lett
which told the audience that the messenger was rom
| the city, All the stage level. Instead OF
n
players stood. while III" chorus occupied The lower
potform around the altar OF Bacchus. The second
altar that 10 Apollo. which had formerly deem p''''"
on the second stage. also was wanting IL Is inter
sitting note that some Of the changes IN movement
n.c.ssnted bv these alterations had been made IN
nreyiou, r.nd-rngs on the old stage 10 conform To
! the artistic requirements OF modern taste, thus
showing that the new discoveries disputed though
some ~ them are tend to bring the Greek stage more
into harmony with the artistic conceptions when 10
modern minds artistic laws.
Nothing essential was sacrificed night TO spec
,acuar effect or theatrical impression Hellenic HE
and thought and Language were left 10 max" their
own impression. Some concessions had To be- maze
to the time. the place and the personality OF til"
actors but only In unesSentials was accuracy sacri
feed. The Young women wore the dress OF III"
AthenIan citizen instead Of the actors conventional
garments. which had "A symbolic meaning 10 the
Greeks but would have seemed ridiculous To modern
eyes. The thick soled cothurnus was not needed to
give added stature In small play house. and the
sandal took Its place. The mask, which Ike the
costume had Its meaning the Greek besides giving
u needed resonance 10 the voice outdoors. gave way
and the actors faces Interpreted their own emotions
There garlands In the hands Of the chornS
and no baiion poured out Ut the altar, II being
held that the religious service. which has generally
been associated with the opening Of the tragedy
not properly part Of It. but that the Invocation was
a distinct ceremony preceding the drama. which did
begin I'LL the priest had ended his part anu taken
his place I'm the amphiheatrc.
The OF the stage showed the front OF the palace
Of Crcon. The facade raised above the stage
floor by two syl0batr steps the whole width OF the
scene which were broken into four steps at the door
I'm the centre. The palace had base OF polished
marble slabs about four feet HIGH and ab0ve that
rough cut front. which ended in an cntablature
decorated with pattern OF red blue and gold, In
solid colors. The doorway was filled with "A bronze
door In two valves. The sides OF the stage were
theoretically open but the conditions Of n closedn
building required the wings to be- filled In with walls
md Ionic columns. leaving the space free for the
entrance OF characters, as II II were mere open
passageway either side between the dead wall
behind an outdoor stage and the circular stone benches
Of the amphitheatre. Among these columns 1t was
found necessary to place supplementary chorus