New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-12-07
FRENCH TRAGEDY AT HARTARD.
THE FIRST PERFORMANCE OF RAcINE's "ATHA-
LIE" GIVEN.


LIE" GIVEN.
Cambridge Mass. Dec. s (speciaD.-The caro- and
the labor which have occupied Professor p. c. De
Sumcrast and his assistants for much OF the last
six months were rewarded tonight by the appre-
cin ton Of the audience which was gathered in
Sanders Theatre. II was q scholarly and critical
audience. disposed 10 be friendly. doubt. but
not ready TO bestow thoughtless or !ndscrimrate
applause. 1t the middle OF last June when II
finally resolved that the department OF French
OF Harvard University should prepare and present
Racine's tragedy. "Athalie."
The FIRST performance given tonight and
three will follow this week. including an
extra Saturday afternoon. OF which the
first announcement was made this evening
Whatever efforts have been made by others. and
doubtless they have been many and excellent. the
burden OF the preparation and direction OF the play
has fallen on Professor De Sum.crast. and he
should receive full credit for the satisfactory re-
suit. II It were not known In other ways that he
had made the performance what It is. 1t would be
evident from his own magnificent acting OF the
part Of the High Priest The force. the spirit and
the brilllancy with when Professor Do Sumicrast
played this part. which m st be nearly as long as
that of Hamlet were the inspiration OF the whole
performance. Other excellent pieces OF acting were
done but this one expressed moro than any other
the meaning of the drama.
Next TO and close TO il. should be mentioned that
OF Athalie by Miss Louise Gushing. She. too. was
thoroughly true TO a just sense OF the import o.
the character which she played. She was cruel.
insolent impious, yet digni6ed. queenly and self
contained. She allowed herself. no doubt to look
somewhat young for the part. but IT IS questionable
whether any real artistic end would have been
served II che had made herself look older. uglier
and more like daughter OF Jezebel. The part OF
the infant king which was presented by Miss Mary
Coolidge. was a charming one. and her acting was
delightfully."- simple and sincere. There was dis
Nil. h,. Mari I
Meslee. For bold and enthusiastic soldier and
supporter Of the religion. he far too soft
OF speech and Indifferent OF manner A good and
spirited piece OF acting and speaking was that OF
Miss Grace Forbes Zacharia. The remaining
parts were played by the following named persons:
SoIomith Mim celia Could
Azaras 'Liins ia Hor,on
Chief. Of til. p..,. and tn. J. GsGa sa' ms
ir.5fy a Miss.Sa
N Natnan George. c,so, wsrs
Mis-. Josephine ss.r~SoS
For the musical portion the soloists Mrs..
Alice Bates Rice. Mrs. Leon Wallace. Mrs Ernes
tine Fish and Miss Ruggles.
An excellently trained chorus, which. however.
did not sing composed of young women from
Radcliffe College. while many OF the students Of
Harvard appeared as priests and Jesuits. 1t
proved Impossible for various reasons to have
reasons was that Nendelssohn's music, which WAS
used. provides for male voices as well as female.
while the book calls for a chorus Of girls only.
The chorus, which was intended for the eyes OF
the audience. therefore allowed only TO pose
and to gesticuatc In expression OF the meaning
of the numbers which were sung. The singing
was done by some eighty members of the Ce-
ella Society. men and women. accompanied by
an orchestra of about forty members Of the Bos-
ton Symphony Orchestra.
the conductor of the music was B; J. Lang The
orchestra and the singers occupied the front OF the
floor Of the house. where they were visible, but not
conspicuous. AS the choruses placed by the
author the ends Of the acts. the music made
to cover the Intervals when. under ordinary cir
cumstances a curtain would be lowered. and the
performance. dialogue and music together. was
thus continuous. except for brief pause after
the third act. to give the players little rest after
an uncommonly trying scene 1t was In this scene.
that Of the prophecy that the climax OF the play
was reached, Professor De Sumicrast giving n fine
exhibition OF acting and declama ton. and the COM
pany supporting him most effectively.