New-York tribune., 1899-04-02

Inc cast rOHOWS.
MTs Stirling birmingham resies 6eStss
Miss Alice Casamajor ,,s,ps
Miss eda and friend Of e,Ss oaes,Ss
Miss Dorothy Duncan Pres,ess and leader Of chorus rus
Chorus Of Greek nobewomen: Miss Caroene Aithans.
Miss winfred Appleton Miss Anita A. Cyypio Miss MISS
Bessie Christensen: Miss Ruth ComsSck Miss GI%ss Tss
%fs' ESna Lane M Mis-! ss cOrneia % 1e%s Esther Mat
Mis- pS, clyde M.s % RSs Mss nG Mss THs enn
Salisbury
The Alumnn Fund Committee consists Of MISS
F. II. Flagler Miss Minerva Bon, Mrs. Frederick
c. Truslow Miss Laura Davol and Miss Edna
Story.
The following account Of the drama has been
prepared
The text alone. with a few ancient stage d.
rections, comes down to us. The stage setting
was certainly simple and unchanged, represent
ing the palace front in Mycen@ and the altars
before II. Possibly some perspective view OF the
Argve Plain may have been attempted. Aga
memnon's funeral mound is supposed TO be at
some distance.
The stately Greek actors. all men. in high
buskin. mask, and flowing robe, would be
merely grotesque in small modern theatres
Here, as in many things, must copy rather
from life than from ancient artistic conditions.
One reason for selecting this play was the pre-
ponderance of women. in characters as well as
rather simple melody chiefly Of strings, accom-
panying, not overwhelming. the distinct enun-
citation of the singers. Here again, we must
supply the loss by mere surmise. All these
minor differences do not seriously disguise the
art of Sophocles. We can judge by such pres
entation. infinitely better than in the study.
the strong. firm sculpturesque lines OF his play
This is true classicism and even the stOutest
supporters of the modern and romantic drama
should hear before they judge. Like n Greek
temple as compared with Gothic cathedral so
the ancient tragedy is more perfect that is,
completer, within its own self-imposed limits,
than any modern work can be. Architecture
supplies the frame. human figures are drapeu
statuesquely. a painters wealth Of color IS
lavished on the costumes Of actors and chorus.
music bears up on its strong wings the senti-
ment uttered in noble words and great Greek
myth as retold by the most artistic playwright
in all the Attic race of artists, comes 10 lile
once more before gaze.
Our outline Of the plot must be made as briei
as possible Orestes enters with his frlenu
Pylades and his faithful old guardian slave, the
pedagogue who had carried him of as emu
into exile and safety. This old attendant alOhe
knows the ground He is to announce TO CN
temnestra Orestes's death, by accident, on a
racecourse. The youths. after due offerings az
Agamemnons tomb, will appear later ana
further delude the guilty monarchs by showing
Orestess supposed ashes In an urn. Iney al
step aside as Electra issues from the palace
She utters her griefs, In Grecian fashion, TO the
sun and air. and prays for Orestess long-proui-
ised arrival The chorus Of sympathizing maid
ems consoles her but advises quiet submission.
The other sister, Chrysothems, now appears
She is the type Of the commonplace uhherolc
woman At her mothers command she is bear
ing gifts to her fathers grave. Under Electra
sharp reproof she gives up this mission. Inc
murderess Clytemnestra now comes rorth,
whereupon she and Electra clash together right
royally Though troubled by an ambiguous
dream she asserts her defence strongly. her
chief plea is the death OF her daughter lphgenia,
sacrificed by her father to assure fair winds
when the armament sailed for Troy. She has
something Of Macbeth's rich and fluent speech
hut no share Of the Greek auditors sympathy
could he diverted to the false wife and muir
deress The pedagogue again appears, and his