New-York tribune., 1906-07-28
ANTIQUITY REVTVED.
A Performance in the old Roman
Theatre at Champlieu.

FarlS, July IL.
An hours ride in an express train from
Paris and then a long climb Nm the Side
OF hill in a four-horse brake bring one to
the wide sunny plain Of Champlieu, in the heart
OF Compiegne forest. It is in this plain that the
Romans. fifteen centuries ago, established one Of
their stations, with a theatre, a temple and a
fine bathhouse The ruins of all three stiu stand
and the theatre, discovered forty-hve wears ago
and put in a certain amount of order. was opened
on Sunday, July s. by the French Minister OF
Fine Arts in the presence OF some three thou
sand persons.
Champlieu theatre is a deep, semi-circuIar
cutting. almost cup shaped. except that the
proscenium. or stage side. is open. The uneven
grassy stage is, at it's highest part, some ten
or twelve feet above the lowest seats Of the
auditorium. and 1t terminates in a high green
heoge' behind which the dressing tents of the
actors There are two openings in this hedge for
exits and entrances. The theatre faces north, SO
that the spectators are little incommoded by the
sun during the afternoon; in fact, If a small
group Of trees were planted on the west side the
theatre in this respect would be perfect after
p. m. Moreover. the first words spoken on
the stage show that the acoustics are perfect;
not a syllable is lost in the light breeze Of an
ideal summers afternoon.
There are few of these antique Roman the
atres in France ana Champeu is not equal In
archaeological interest to the larger and more
famous Orange theatre At first glance on Sun
day it was a little Disappointing since the
ancient stone benches were hidden from sight
beneath deal planks and crimson cushions. After
walking through the circular passage between
two walls of solid stone masonry, with their
two openings for exits, or vonissoires this ex-
trenely modern touch seemed incongruous.
Down on the proscenium one or two messy
slabs were lying half embedded IN the sward,
and everywhere on the stone walls Of the the
atre grasses and flowers, roses and brambles in
full and beautiful bloom were growing in pro-
fusion. When presently old Bacchus came
ambling in. seated astride Of an ancient ass
with half dozen sheep and lambs gambolling
around him, he looked delightfully."- in character
with his beautiful background.
After more than fourteen centuries Of silence
the theatre in Compiegne forest rang again with
heroic words and appreciative applause Occa-
sionaly. too, there were smothered sobs for
after the humorous satire Of lie Cyclope" came
the tragic ''Iphigenia," and Nine Dudlay, of the
Comedie FRANCHISE, clothed a mothers despair
in such living, graphic gesture and tones to
wiring tears from good many eyes. For it was
Euripidess plays that had been chosen for the
occasion, and after laughing at the grim Poly
phemuss On. Albert LamberD jokes about the
cannibal feast he meant to make from the flesh
Of Ulysses CH. SiIvain) and witnessing the final
victory of mind over matter when that hero
poked out the only eye Of the Cyclops, the au-
dience was invited to watch the other victory OF
Greeks over barbarians and the rescue Of the
fair Iphigenia from the sacrifcial knife awaiting
her Ulysses and his four companions in the
former merry play looked as if they had stepped
from off a Grecian vase, so marvelIously we'll
initiated were their dresses They stalked about
as though quite accustomed to turf But the
unevenness of the ground confused the women
a little in the second play, and the two who fig
ured as Chorus, in long white drapery tightly
swathed around their figures, hardly ventured to
move when once they had descended few steps
toward the front.
How hard it is to distinguish the false from
the true" sighed one after listening to the argu-
gnents Of Menelaus and Agamemnon. But ely
temnestra and the hero Achilles swept all So
phistry to the winds in a gust of righteous in
dignation at the proposed sacrifice Of the for
mer's daughter. Her Live forever, noble god,"
when Achilles explains how he will stop the
unnatural crime, cleared the atmosphere, and
then as they retired through the hedge, the or
chestra Of the Coincide FRANCHISE broke into the
lovely music of Clicks opera. Soon the audi
ence left their seats and made their way to the
buffet where champagne and foie-gras sand
wiches were being served to the thirsty thou
sands under the shade of trees In spite Of the
an informal picnic. and the company good hu-
moredly washed its own glasses and battled for
buns quite irrespective of protocols. 1t was
late in the evening before it was over Then
the automobiles and the brakes and the quaint
little country carts collected the visitors, and
the special trains carried them through the star
light across the beautiful country Of the Oise
back TO the capital.
There are now fully dozen open air theatres
in full swing in France. The most successful
are those at Orange. Bezier Champlieu, the
Theatre de la Verdure, in the Bois de Boulogne;
Mines Bussang, Cauterets and Champigny Not
only Greek tragedies, but operas Of Click and
comedies Of Moliere. or Of Meilhac and of La
biche are produced in these rustic arenas; and
at the Theatre de Ia Verdure, near the Pre- Cata-
Ian. a few nights ago remarkable series of
dances was given in the presence Of King Siso-
wath Of Cambodia and of Mr. and Mrs Long
north The trees and shrubbery on these occa-
efons are Illuminated by changing tones of light
from elaborate electric lamps and the erect IS
something fairylike. This midsummer oeVeIop-
wont of the French stage assumes larger pro-
a-+to1s eact season. and this year is more pop
Lar than ever before. This IS largely due TO
tLa oFForts begun nearly twelve years ago by
TI,Iae Claretie administrator or the Iheatre
EI-aTcais. bv the composers Camille Saint-Saens
20 tSasse1et by Mounet-Sully and COqueln
-.Sat oP the Theatre Franeais, and by the lead
- 4taa+ricaI managers Of Paris, who encourage
4Ie actors actresses singers ana musicians at
fached 10 their establishments 10 take part III
open air performances =