The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-03-23
IN SOCK AND BUSKIN.
Washburn Students Win Give the
Greek Play ELECTRA"
FIRST DRESS REHEARSAL LAST NIGHT

some Excellent Acting is Dene by the
Students in sOphOcles' Well known
Tragedy.
The first dress rehearsal of Sophocles'
tragedy Electra" which will be given
on Monday night by the Greek class at
Washburn college, took place at the
chapel last night
While the average amateur production
is rather to be stunned than sought it is
a fact that "Electra," as it will be given
by the Washburn students, will be very
good.
The stage last night was almost en-
tirely bare While the students have
borrowed a great deal of scenery from
Mr.. Crawford, and have had much more
specially painted, imported their cos
tunes from Boston. and spent 3 great
deal of money on the production IN gen
eral, it did not make very good show
ing last night because of the fact that
the scenery was not yet up. The cos
tunes were there, however, and looked
very pretty indeed.
The young ladies with long sweeping
girdled dresses and the young men with
toga, sock and buskin, bareheaded all,
gave evidence of Greece in all her an
Gent majesty.
The music of the piece is weird and
grand Miss Mabel Martin is the &C
companist
ELECTRA" was written in 425 B. G. and
this is the third time it has been given in
America. Plumtre's translation into
English is used in this production, so you
need not be frightened By the announce
ment that it is Greek play.
Following is the cast of characters:
PaedagogOs, foster father to 0restes-
49,. Prof A. E; Palmer
Pylades, friend of Orestes. -. Maurice T. Gould
AegisthOs, husband of Clytemnestra. -.
Clytemnestra mother Of orestes. Irene Nye
Electra, ChrysOthemis. sisters of Orestes.
......-..-... Mary Moon and Jennie Rodgers
-''.''s Maggie Axteli and Margaret Dudley
Kate Lux and May Nelson
Attendants Of Chrysothemis. -.
-. Masters Walter Lux and Floyd Brockett
The chorus, representing citizens of
Mycenae, the location of the play, is:
Misses Elsie Davis, Ida Behan, Blanche
BARLEY, Emily Bissell, Mary Steinfort,
Katharyn Arnold, Lizzie Pond, Laura
Wedding, Mary Harrison: Mr. Kent o.
Brown, Frank P Strong, Paul Lovewell,
Edward S. Martin, Ward w. Silver.
Miss Denison is the leader and soloist
The story of the piece is built on these
facts. which are supposed to have oo-
Cured before it begins:
Agamemnon, on mis- return from Troy,
has been slain by his wife, Clytemnestra,
and her paramour, Aegisthos. His
daughters, Electra and Chrysothemis,
are living in the palace. the former Bit
terly resenting her mothers crime and
defantly repudiating the spIendors of
her royal home, the latter meekIy sub
hitting to condition of life which she
mas not the courage to resist
Orestes, who had been sent away when
a child by Electra, in charge OF the faith
full old Paedagoges, returns when grown
up with the same attendant and his
friend Pylades, having concerted plan
with them for avenging his fathers
death by Staying his mother, which plan
they execute.
gins
After the inspiring overture Orestes,
Pylades and the Paedagogos are discov-
cred arranging their plot. Electra comes
forward and gives utterance to her grief.
The chorus, with palms in their hands,
seek to comfort her To them she further
reveals her anxiety and longing for
Orestes' return. Chyrsothemis enters
with her maids bearing offerings, which
Clytemnestra, warned by dream, has
sent her to lay on the murdered Aga
memnon's tomb
Electra rebukes her bitterly, and bids
her substitute for those insincere offer
ings lock of her hair and a prayer for
the speedy return of Orestes.
Then follows . spirited alteration be-
tween Electra and Clytemnestra, in
which both Miss Moon and Miss Nye are
very good.
Paedagogos enters, and in execution of
the plan previously concerted, gives q
circumstantial account of the death OF
Orestes in a chariot race Again Miss
Moon shows her surprising dramatic
powers in portraying the grief of Electra
at the news of her brothers killing.
Clytemnestra secretly rejoices.
Chrysothemis enters hurriedly and re.
ports the finding at her fathers tomb oil
offerings which she assumes to have
been laid there by Orestes. Electra,
overcome by grief, derides her sister:
assumption and tries to persuade her tc
help her in taking vengeance on he
fathers murderers.
The third scene opens with the en-
trance of Orestes and PyIades, bringin
with them an urn in which are supposed
to be the ashes OF Orestea He is recop.
nized by Electra and converses with her
presenting her with the urn of ashes
She bewails her broIher's fate and after
some assembling he finally reveals him
self and she flies to his arms overioyed
at his return. Psedagogos then enter:
and is made known to Electra.
The fourth scene is the interior of the
palace.
Orestes and Pylades with their swords