Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1961-04-28

pTOJSCG 10 COIlGIIlue GOll1Sl
and night is a first rate pro-
duction of Sophocles' "An-
tigone."
There is, of course, no par
allel intended between the
taking over of the university
by a new man and the account
of the taking over Of ThebeS
by that then new man, Creon.
It is just that Sophocles' claS-
sic is a more fitting greeting
to a university president than,
say, Three Men on Horse"
"Antigone" also is always in
teresting and often exciting
theater as staged here by Owen
Dodson. 1t is a narrative that
moves, from the moment the
curtain rises to disclose an
enthusiastically splendid rendi-
ton by st. Clair Christmas of
the royal palace at Thebes.
&H
Mr.. DodSon sees to it that
what SophocleS had to say
about the individual in conflict
with the state comes through
firm and clear. The battle be-
tween Creon and the defiant
Antigone is passionate one
here that is bound irrevocably
to erupt into the violent deeds
with which SophocleS scattered
corpses around ThebeS.
The director has given this
"Antigone" an added fillip, too,
with some inventive touches
Of theatricality. He under
scores its inevitable tragedy, for
instance, with musical lamen-
tation. off stage and on, &C.
casionally embellished with
modern dancing. The whole
thing. as a matter of fact, has
the look of something choreo-
graphed as well as directed for
drama.
Occasionally you become too
aware of the fact that a care
fully composed picture has Just
been posed on stage. For the
most part. though, Mr.. Dod-
sons scenic arrangement (aided
by Mr.. Christmas setting and
costumes) are effective without
being overly theatrical.
The playing of the Howard
U. "Antigone" is quite good
for the most part and in i'm
portant roles even better than
that. Joseph C. D'Mello's Creon.
declaiming about the rights Of
the state and the ruler of the
state as compared to those of
its subjects, is a recognizably
modern politician. You'll have
to do your own recognizing, of
course, since it is better here
to omit names in the interest
OF unity in these trying times.
In fact, If Mr.. D'Mello's
Creon turned up in a business
suit on a TV newscast from
Washington he would not seem
out Of place. 1t is a perform
ance that can only enhance
Sophocles' reputation as a
timely writer.
Patricia Moore gives some
thing of an iron butterfly touch
to her Antigone. In manner she
Is soft and something Of a
mystic. But in word and deed
when the time comes to defy
the kings threat Of death by
giving her brother proper burial
rites she is as firm and unyield-
ing an antagonist as ever won
moral victory over Creon in all
MS centuries on stage.
Kenneth Dougherty is highly
effective as the blind prophet,
TeiresiaS. Antoinette Escro
(Creon's wife,, Maxwell Banks
(their SOM and Lorena Smith
(Antigone's sister, competently
face their various inducements
in these turnultuous deeds.
This new Ira Aldridge Thea
ter, incidentally. is a home that
could only inspire an under
graduate theater group. It's
most tastefully done, with quiet
green walls, seats that well
come you instead of fighting
you and sufficient light to make
the program visible. It would
be worth the trip to the
Howard campus just to sit