New-York tribune., 1912-04-28
PLAN FOR " GO|PUS REX"
To Remodel Theatre Here for Biz
Production in Fall.

For tho purposes of staging the classical
Creek tragedy "0dipus Rex as nearly as
possible under the conditions for which II
was written a New York theatre will be
practically remodclled. So that its stage
will conform to the general lines Of an
. ancient Greek theatre.
The present deep set stage, with its wings
and footlightS. will he discarded. and. in
+ fact. tho whole action Of the tragedy will
take place forward Of the nroscenium arch.
TO carry ont this purpose the first six
lows of orchestra stalls will he removed,
the footlights will be boarded over, as well
as the orchestra pit and the action Of the
TRAGEDY will take place in the space thus
created.
The place ~ present occupisd BY IN. cur
tain viii be taken by fixed wall. with
massive pillars. to repre- 7ent the back wall
of the classic Creek stage. There will be
no curtains used but the beginning and
I termination of the action will he indicated
I by lighting effects.
As rcmodellod alonc these lines the
whole theatre will he practically trans.
formed. sweeping aside what present day
. N,w NOrl; audiences are accustomed n see
B when they go 70 tho play The orchestra
viii be placed behind the scenes. and from
/ the arena formed by the cnolal of the seats
a huge Night Of steps will ascend from
/ tho level OF the auditorium floor 70 the
/ level Of the stage. From the summit OF
. these steps. little further back, will rtse
a second fiChr of steps. with black marble
columns running up to the great bronze
door cf the palace front before which the
action is supposed 10 take place. This
, palace front will occupy about the place OF
! the usual curtain.
TNi- huge and impressive palace OF
somLl, marble filing. as it will the en-
! tire stage opening. will bc framed in still
sloonier black draperies. which will conceal
! rhc urosccrlum pillars and extend behind
two dltars out 10 the extreme side walls of
/ the auditorium hiding as well the first ver-
| teal tier OF boxes
! Not only is the drama thus brought near
81 10 the audience but a in the old trasc
! stage the spectators themselves are prsc-
! tilally caught up into the action. as most OF
! the entrances Of the actors and the process
| slons OF choruses are made through the
aisles themselves. There Will be only one
entrance from the stage. and that vii! oe
J through the bronze door OF the palace.
! There are no intervals in the action OF tm
! tragedy. and the beginning will he sgnsI-
! zed by the lighting Of great torches placed
/ between the pillars Of the palace wall
! In order to put into effect these re'oiu'
! tionary stage ideas Arthur Bcrtram repre-
! sentne Martin Harvey an English ACTOR,
who has been producing "Fdipus Rex I"
! the Covcnt Garden Theatre, in London
NEGOTIATING for one of the largest theatres
/ in the city. having both a large enough
stage opening TO take the huge palace ser
! ting and also large enough audltoriu"
! To hermit Of the reduction in seating ca
pacity involved by the removal OF six ro"'
! of seats.
'rhe 'Qdipus Rex is the greatest ara
matte creation the world has seen. sain
/ Mr. Bertram Yesterday. III is the esseho'
Of thrilling drama. the perfection ot cn".
acterization. full OF spectacular movement
and OF eternal vitality. Great as are Nv.
effects under which We shall produce " anu
novel as the surroundings Will ne " Is NV
| tragedy itself that will be found the sres
est Its humanity is as full or appear
| this twentieth century as the day IL ""
written by Sophocles. 400 years ago
1T Is the finest drama ever written os
/ cause il Is a model OF classic consuuo''o','
rising in interest from scene 10 scene enu
because Of its wonderful humanity VIM
makes every character live, gripping us :.
day as it gripped the volatile popu'aoe "
pleasure seeking Athens
The story of the play Is OF the ta.e '''~'
pursued Gdipus. the king leading MN wv
Willingly into an incestuous matf,' :.
When he discovers the state into wnicn y"
has fallen he tears out his eyes anu nv.
from his palace. The play VIII oe
duced under the management OF MaN -
hardt. an English producer. ana VIII vr ~.
October :, running until December ~ ,,.
theatre best suited To its producuo'
not yet been definitely Determined upO~