New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-07
A GREEK PLAY HERE.
". D. Howells and Other Prominent People
Interested In II.

In the midst OF ,le,y-Yo-I is a large Greek COL
ony. They sell fruit and flowers IN the streets,
work IN restaurants and pursue various humble
caIi1rs where they attract very little attention.
The multitude passes them by Unheeding. as IN
Differentiated foreigners who bear no vital relation
tho real life of the country.
Yet in their own land these Greeks did not
peddle f-uit or serve tables. and they do not
intend 20 do Il always. Many OF them highly
educated and are waiting only until they learn
the language 10 step out q the humble places
that they now occupy. And in tho hearts OF
al, whether educated or not, slum5ers something
Cf the L-e that animated The heroes OF Salamis
and TlemoTy.e and that may make itself felt
again. though .n q new world and times
j. ls TO cali attention to the existence OF this
colony and 70 give the public some idea OF its
possibilities that the Greek play which is TO be
produced ~ Clinton Hall March -. o and g
has been arranged by q group OF five social settle
uerts. The proposal has awakened great interest
and every effort is being made 10 make the produc
lion perfect as possible Is. D. Howeils and
Dr grrsweI are designing the programmes. Raw
iIoll HarsauEe and Richard Leo are arranging the
Scenery. and WHY'S Peck Dent. pupil OF L. a.
AaaDOwcL has composed the music, which Is 10
Doe made as Greek as possible in effect The IN
strumertal part will be woodwind Instruments.
which give something the same effect the ancient
Greek Instruments. and the voices VIII be IN unison.
Miss I. D. WaId Of the Nurses Settlement, IS
chairman Of the committee OF management Miss
D. s. Williams. OF the College Settlement. Is secre-
tary, and j. G. Phelps Stokes Is treasurer Others
interested are Demetrius y. Botassi, the Green
Consul. John la Fargo. Mrs. Leach. the Greek
teacher Nassar College: President Nicholas Muir
ray Butler columbia University: Professor Derry.
Professor Earle and Professor Wheeler, Of Co
lum5a. Dr. Bryson Deleyau. Edwin H. Blashfed.
John White Alexander, President Finley OF the
City College. Mrs. George Haven Putnam. Pro-
Sredrnau. Mrs. Richard Mansfield. Stanford White,
Glider. Mrs. Charlotte Perkins Gilman. Frederick
Partiug1ou, Augustus s.. GaGdens. Mrs. Arthur IL.
president OF the American College for Girls. IN
Coustautiuople, and Evert Jansen Wendell
The play, which IS 90 t.e tn Ajax OF Sophocles,
rs being coached hy Miss Mabel Hay BarrOws.
under whose direction many OF the Greek plays in
the same play when il was given recently az Hull
House, Chicago The Ajax Is 10 be the same
part ~ the classic Greek plays given in their native
land. Some ~ them are e1treQ1ely handsome men.
though not 81 the Greek goo type, ana their an-
sence OF sef-onsciousness makes them very simple
and natural uTon The stage - -
though they work hard al day they quite ready
- rehearsal every night At the last rehearsal
came al g.45 O'Clock. and several others appeared
al 1925 O'Clock The latter were bitterly disap-
pointed 70 find no one but the 5arltor on hand-
Both and women are taking part IN the pay
which Is something OF an innoyatlcn and MISS
Barrows thinks. "a considerable Improvement. rms
Is not the custom in Greece, and u was not Done
IN the Chicago production, bug Miss barr y2Ss
thinks that the innovation r. warranted by iAe Gill
Guilty Of securing satisfactory representation OF
female character by male player Inc o,a
traEedians may turn IN their graves, but times
change. she says. and an exact reproduction OF me
past is impossible. one can only strive 10 give
the same impression with dlnerent mems. a., -
The language OF the play. classic Greek, Is un-
dersfood by most Of the players 90 a. edQca lI
Greeks study u, and those VINO 90 not Know u i a1
no difficulty learning their parts. as the lan-
Euage bears about the same relation 20 nG T
Greek the language OF Chaucer 70 rooerI 1- E,Is
lsh II IL considered high nlisdemeanor IN Greece
to give classic PLAYS n moaea s5ef s6 so Se 1aer
serious riots in Athens