The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1903-09-25

new creek InedLeE at lle
University of California, took
- place perhaps the most signih-
cant event of the dramatic year
In America. Under Greek skies. In the
heart Of a Greek grove. was gifted to
people who have not carelessly been called
the Greeks of the West, a Greek temple
Of the drama. 1t was impossible for the
coolest not to thrill to the suggestion, to
the sight Of the colossal crowd that filed
every inch Of the magnificent spaces OF
the great building. It was a festival
never to be forgotten, the baptism, per-
haps. of the coming national drama.
Strange it seemed at first TO see aught
but the chiffon and sandal of the Athen-
ians against the classic background OF
the auditorium, 50 eminently is the classic
/ atmosphere suggested. The theater, fash
toned after the famous theater Of Epi-
daurus. is in the heart Of grove OF great
trees, the stately shell Of the auditorium
leaning against circling hill The
stage" with its severe platform and
majestic background of COrinthian col
umns, is noble picture in itself. Below
II is the orchestra" the ring wherein
the action takes place. wherein was given
yesterday the first Greek comedy pre-
| scented in America. wherein tomorrow
may be given-what?
''Rahl Rahl Rail- Californiar'-the mod
ern note was soon sounded. From base
| to rim of the middle. section Of the shell
/ sat the college boys, each with a mighty
/ throat of his own. Though the crowd was
| handled with notable competence by the
| college ushers, the performance was ma
/ turally somewhat late. But the intermez-
/ EOS were lively and frequent. When Mrs.
/ Phoebe Hearst and William Randolph
Hearst arrived the youths cried 'Rah!
! Rahi Rahr" For Ben Weed, who dis
1 "a h01 in,
where the theater now stands, they yelled
''Rahi Rah! Rahl' They yelled with
right good will for President Wheeler. for
/ President Jordan, for Professor John Ga
/ len Howard, and when there wasn't any
/ body to yell for they yelled, whistled and
crooned college songs for themselves. To
any manager fearful OF the success OF a
play I recommend the college youth. He
makes the yawn as extinct as the dodO
/ bird-talking of birds. To be dull or crit
ical in his lively vicinage is impossible
/ and as an entertainment between waits
/ he is also a bird. Yesterday until Pres
ident Wheeler, Mr.. Hearst and Ben
Weed took the stage, he was a host in
himself. My gratitude to him
"Mr. President, are you a bird? Is II
good to be here?' he yelled as the presi-
dent took the stage.
Gravely the president answered then:
cit is good to be here" and introduced
to the audience Ben Weed as the ittest
person to speak first in the ceremonial
/ exercises.
This will be a shrine where we can
meet the gods face to face" Mr.. Weed
/ said in closing, and looked round at the
/ vast place that grew from psalm about
/ a fallen redwood tree some ten years ago.
John Galen Howard, architect OF the the
| alter, then spoke some great-hearted
words Of hope for his art and the uni
versity, and President Wheeler followed
with further speech Of noble prophecy.
/ Then Mr.. Hearst, giver OF the splendid
/ theater, gracefully deprecated the graft
/ tude Of the university by saying that it
was at the suggestion Of his mother Mrs.
phoebe Hearst, whose generosity to the
university is matter OF familiar knowl
edge. that the gift had been. made. Then
/ for Mr.. Hearst the boys yelled 'ssFRabi -
with tiger, and then commanded IustfIv.
Bring on the birdsr'
1.-The Birds" next to ''The Frogs, the
finest comedy Of that mischievous satirist.
| Arfstophanes, was the plav chosen -
dedicate the new stage. The scenes 49,
resented were arranged and chosen Nv
Professor Flag, who also authOred ara
authorized the free translation thar vUs.
offered at the theater yesterday. The 49,
| fair was under the direction Of Processes
/ Richardson, who must be conzraf,,1atsd
on the notable success Of his efforfS IA
large chorus, under Professor H 7 stew
| arts competent direction. sang the 81
propriate accompanying music OF Tobn
Knowles Paine and added largely to the
effect Of the presentation.
The huge comedy nest. with its colossal
egg on the altar at the hack ~ o.
orchestra" prepared one for the finn ~
| THE Birds" and though its Ianpuaee
was foreign to most. there was plenty
| of its humor as Ineligible to day a.
when the comedy was first PLAYED. Pis-
| thetaerus, a political adventurer Nh
| r.xrf y inc 70 ~
! a magnihcently self-satished person h.
comes disguised with Athens and goes -
live in the kingdom Of the birds. Tbs
| comedy is the account of his subiugatIor
by guile and what We now OccasiOnanr
call "gall' Of the feathered folk. TbouoL
the political trickster's local illusions ana
much else are now lost, the sly noaIIco
and brilliant skill with which Aristonb-
anes has drawn the character are stfl1
apparent. We find first the chorus here
all Of birds. and dumb save for bird-cans
futterfng and Hopping from the entrances
on to the stage.
AS in Greek days the figures No.
masks, very cleverly made, and the Coz
tunes owls, crows, eagles, were ALI co.
spicuously picturesque and ingenious Ono
after another. until twenty-four vvaro
there. the birds hoped. skipped ana a.,
to the stage, growing, cslwing and pect<
ing at the trees behind In cOmicauy real
isfjc fashion. Then from the tree truntr
whereon the great nest rested Pistheta-
enus enters with Euelpides, his servant.
and the action begins
| Pisthetaerus plans the building OF a city
in the air of which he is to be king and
the birds with marvellous quiclness build
if. leaving him without his characteristic
grumble This is soon remedied, however
/ for Iris. the spirit of the rainbow, tres
masses upon the new domain Pisthe-
and the rest of it's again comfortably
discontinued and has kicks, on hand for
the rest of the comedy. PrometheuS, rebel
to Zeus' authority, comes then to tell him
of the weakness of Zeus' rule and then
Heracles. POseidOn and Triballus. envovs
/ of the gods, come to make terms with the
successful adventurer. Pisthetaerus ends
up. as frequently in real life. with a beau
tiful bride, a full purse and a kingdom
at his feet.
The cast was remarkably efficient. and
much praise is due to those who trained
| the players.