Life — December 2, 1886 — page 10: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

*“LIFE: UCH a large and distinguished audience as that which assembled the other night at the Academy of Music to witness the production of that delicious little Greek comedy, “The Acharnians,” by Aristophanes, it has rarely been my good fortune to see, A singular fact in connection with this audience was the superhuman effort it must have made to repress the delight which it undoubtedly felt, and the success that effort met with. If I had been a cold, cynical observer, I should have said that the ladies and gentlemen looked inexpressibly and hope- lessly bored, and that the efforts of the students of the Uni- versity of Pennslyvania were received with but tepid approval. Indeed, I might even have suffered from the hallucination that numbers of people left the theatre. But, in the para- graphic style affected by an illustrious morning contemporary, I am not cold. lam warm. I am not cynical. I am philanthropical. Consequently, I am convinced that every one of the ladies present were infinitely pleased with the witty sallies of “dear old Aristophanes. And then the Greek pronunciation of the students was so perfect that it was a pleasure to listen to it. Greek, when imperfectly spoken, is apt to be tiresome; in fact, I have known many people assert that they never could understand broken Greek. Then the costumes in the Greek play were so thoroughly correct that no one could fail to enjoy them. Mr. Brinton as Amphitheos, appeared in a Worth made blue silk chiton, exquisitely trimmed with gold chlamys. This masterpiece was supplemented by a cothurnus. These colors were chosen to contrast prettily with the terra cotta himatia of the assemblage. like to mention the charming little imported diploidion worn by Mss Drkazopolzs, in a most effective manner. The plot of the “ Acharnians” is so intricate that it is hard to find its beginning. Dzkazopol’s walks in, and says how annoyed he is that times are so extremely decadent. He longs for peace, and takes a great deal of time to long in. Immediately after that a crowd of Ekklesia and ten Prytanes come in and hold a council. While this is going on, in walk some /o.xofaz, in that peculiar style which we all know is par- ticularly their own. Presently Ampzhitheos enters, and enrages the Ekklesia because he offers to buy some peace for them. Amphitheos is squelched. Subsequently Dzkazopolzs obtains peace from a demi-god in the form of wine. He liked the wine extremely, and almost modernly, if I may say so. But other folks wanted war, and While on the subject of costumes, I should | it was only after a most turbulent time that Dzkazopolis suc- ceeded in his designs. This delicious little plot was most admirably worked out. It was sprinkled with music of a most pleasing nature. An entertaining parabasis was sung with considerable tone,color, and a perfect plethora of staccato effect. Then the choragic dance was excellent in its way, and provoked much applause. “The Acharnians” was really an intellectual trial. Why the Pennsylvania University failed to hire the Academy of Music for—say three months, and give the play a long run, I can’t understand. A vile scoffer, whom I hardly like to mention, suggested that the run from New York to Philadel- phia would be quite long enough, provided it took place at once. That, however, is ridiculous. If the University had secured a good New York season, it could easily have booked dates on the road for “ The Aristophanes Comedy Company.” I don’t see why New York and Philadelphia should have all the good things. Selfishness is detestable on all occasions. Let “ The Acharnians” go and sow its Greekness all over the country, and good-luck to it. Alan Dale. R. VAN DER STUCKEN gave the first of his sym- phonic matinées on Friday afternoon, November 20, and he is to be congratulated on his exceedingly interest- ing programme. It is difficult now-a-days, when the modern composers appear to be in the ascendant, for the fine old masters to obtain a hearing, and Mr. Van der Stucken, with his well-trained orchestra, is giving every one a golden opportunity to enjoy what is best in music. We hope that he will achieve the success he undoubtedly de- serves. HE statue of Liberty is likened unto one of the foolish virgins. THAT GREEK PLAY. BY LIFE’S SPECIAL ARCHAOLOGIST. OUR archeologist, believing that if any one could pro- duce a Greek play as he used to see it in Athens some years ago, the Philadelphians could do it, attended the repre- sentation of the Acharnzans at the Academy last week. He was not disappointed in his expectations, and he is certain that if the friend of his youth, George D. Aristophanes, of the Athenian Theatre Comique, could have seen the performance recently given, he would have wept. The Acharnians never before was so comic, so roaringly farcical as the Philadelphia students made it, and it is unfortunate that its author could not have lived to see it, and reap the rewards the Nineteenth century showers upon true humor at the rate of five dollars per agate yard. I have not a single doubt that Aristophanes could, on the strength of that performance, have obtained gratifying recognition as a humorous paragrapher on any one of the Philadelphia journals; and had he lived, Philadelphia humor would have been the fresher for it by some seven cycles at least —not to divide the periods into bicycles. comicbo: oks.com