New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-05-30

The first Of the series Of Greek plays
TO be given by Granville Barker's com
pany in the new stadium of the College
of the City of New York took place
yesterday afternoon after the dedica-
ton exercises. The play was THE Tro-
jan Women" of Euripdes, given in the
Gilbert Murray translation by com
pany headed by Miss Lillah Mccarthy
and including among others Miss Edith
Wynne Matthison, Miss Chrystal Herne,
Miss Gladys Hanson and Ian Maclaren.
The large audience which had attended
the detection exercises remained TO
sec the tragedy, and With ve~y few ex-
ceptions the semblage followed the
proceedings with interest AS far as is
possible in New York, the site of the
new stadium is admirable. II crowns
the hill, and from its upper porticos
the roofs of the city stretch forth as
far as the eye can see, while at the left
the college buildings give touch OF
the academic. To say, however, that
the site is ideal for the production Of
a Greek tragedy is altogether another
matter. At the Yale Bowl, in New
Haven, where the "lphigenia" was first
presented, there was a setting that gave
a hint of the atmosphere which might
have existed in Attica. The Bowl is in
the country, quietly situated and sur
rounded by hills. The City College
stadium is in the centre of the city,
surrounded by street cars and apart
ment houses, and the noises OF the city
yesterday kept up constant murmur
fr, m which there was no escape and
which nterfered grievously with the
otherwise admirable acoustics of the
stadium.
But cavillers never yet brought any
lasting good, and so let US say at once
that the afternoon was an enjoyable
one; that the audience found the
stadium beautiful in itself and aside
from the noise and surroundings finely
suited TO its use as a theatre; that
the acting was excellent, and that the
production was throughout straightfoT
ward and sincere. Mr.. Barker, in spite
Of his tendency toward the novel, has
clung steadfastly TO the traditional
Greek temple setting The stage yes
terday was set facing the arc of the
stadium. II consisted of the usual
building with three doors. from the
centre Of which the chief Trojan actors
entered. The Greeks entered from
around the sides, ascending to the
stage by its steps. The orchestra.
in its centre the altar to Dionysius.
was marked out by eccentric lines.
and upon these the members Of the
chorus moved in conventional fash
ion. The musicians were placed d.
rectly under the stadium and facing
the stage.
For his use Of the chorus M Barker
perhaps has his reasons, but they were
not always apparent to the spectators.
The chorus represents the ideal spec
tator, but Il is improbable that il was
composed merely of certain number
Of lay figures who took little or no in
terest in the action. With the Greeks
the chorus was vital part OF the ac-
tion itself. The emotions the audi
ence was supposed TO feel II expressed,
and il gave the haunting lyrics so that
the audience would feel their beauty
None OF these things existed with M
Bankers choruses yesterday, nor evil
IDENTIFY were they intended to exist. II
is said tina. Max Reinhardt in his
Greek productions has used a chorus
Of 400 with telling results, but even
with the small chorus OF yesterday a
slight exhibition Of emotion on their
part would have galvanized the whole
performance.
But OF the acting, only praise can
be awarded. Miss Lillah Mccarthy is
AZ her best in classic tragedy, and she
made OF Hecuba figure Of tragic
power. Miss Edith Wynne Matthison
Is an actress. one Of the few left who
can demlaim verse In the grand style.
She gave that superb passage Of An
dromache's beginning, "Oh, mother,
having ears. hear thou this word" that
passage so like and yet so different from
Shakespeare's, "To be or not TO be,
with an exquisite poignancy. Miss
Chrystal Herne has done nothing bet
ter than her Cassandra, while Miss
Gladys Hanson made Of Helen. in face
and bearing. all We dream that Helen
must have been.
The drama itself, as Professor MUIR
ray has truthfully stated, Judged by
common standards Is far from q per-
Acct PLAYA il IA AGAxHaly syen 4 good