New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-04-28
Irving Place Actors Give
Dignified Performance of
Greek Tragedy.
RUDOLF CHRISTIANS
AS ILL-FATED KING
Audience Fills Auditorium, Which
Proves Well Adapted to
Classic Production.

The Metropolitan Opera House, on
Broadway though II Is is ore theatre
which stiu remains true 70 what IS highest
IN dramatic art. Tho curtain that fell
Saturday on Tristan Und Isolde" rose
last night on "Ocdpus Rex" and 70 the
shame Of the Anglo-Saxon be IL said.
both these works were produced by Ger
man artists.
In the case OF Tristan" this was to be
expected. but the lovers OF the English
speaking theatre will have much to
ruminate upon when they realize that 1t
remained for A company Of foreigners
playing in foreign tongue 10 bring 20
the Broadway stage the masterpieces OF
Greek tragedy
"OEdipus Rex" was presented last night
by the artists Of the Irving Place Theatre,
with Director Rudolf Christians az the
King 1t was given for the benefit 81 the
theatre II was given In q dgnihed and
impressive manner. and it was given TO
an audience which completely filed the
huge auditorium.
The works OF tho Greek tragic writer's
are better fitted for presentation before
A great essemblage than are the dramas
of the moderns. and the mssterwo-k OF
Sophocles did not lose by being performed
IN the huge spaces OF the Metropolitan
The version chosen by Director Christians
was by Adolf Wilbrandt, and the struc-
t're OF tho stage had much in common
with the conditions under which the
Greek original was produced.
the centre Of the stage was occupied
by q temple, and through its central door
the chief protagonists made their en-
frances. This temple. crowned BY a
wooded hillside. which rose far into the
background. transported the audience az
once into the Attic atmosphere; and II the
chorus played less important part than
IN the original, the whole effect possessed
the poetic severity without which no
Greek tragedy can be successfully gwen.
The acting was IN keeping with the
production. 1t was throughout earnest
sincere, not wanting in nobility, distinct
~ the work OF actors trained in
school that is found only on the Con-
tinent There was al times, perhaps,
hint here and there OF what might seem
rant, but on the whole there was an sd-
rnirable balance IN the ensemble and
sense that the players were participating
in a work which had in IT something OF
a religious rite. Surely in this day OF
microscopic acting this is an achleVe-
ment OF 10 ordinary order.
OF the actors the two most effective
performances were given by Director
christians. as the blind king. and oy
Heinrich MARROW, as Teireslas. holh
possessed unusual power and oigniy'
and If Nr. Christians appeared st Tunes
rather strenuous of delivery. account
must be taken Of the large spaces or the
auditorium. Nine. Agathe Barsescu was
the Jokasta. and gave an earnest II not
truly tragic enactment OF the part Fehx
Weingartner's incidental music, piayeu
by an orchestra under the dlrecuoh Oh
Nahan Frankie, was an attractive anu
sympathetic feature Of the performance
In short, Il was p production entireiy
cortbv OF the honorable place held by
The German Irving Place Theatre IN our
cosmopolitan life, and 1t Is exceedingly
doubtful 81 any Broadway manager could
az the present moment put forth any
thing that could equal II. Germany Oh
to-day has probably little in common with
the spirit which reigned on the HIS
Of Attica; but that a German company
could so earnestly and faithfully portray
al least simulacrum Of that spirit
speaks volumes for the present state OF
the Teutonic stage.
Director Christians and his able com
many deserve the heartfelt thanks or ell
who see In the dramatic art something
which Is more than merely pleasantly
amusing. "Rdipus Rex" is not for the
the tired business man. yet some three
thousand persons saw It last night and
ep4oyed IL