Performance Of The Agamemnon Of Aeschylus At Balliol College, Oxford.

dramatic expression in our power . AVe have kept this before us in the choice of our text—Hermann ' s ; and in making such omissions as AVC found to be necessary . If any learned scholars , who have honoured ns with their presence , feel tlie absence of a familiar line or a favourite reading , wo can only beg their indulgence and appeal to them for generous sympathy in an enterprise which wo cannot but feel to be most difficult , if not . audacious . Neither the shortness of the time at our disposal , nor the mediocrity of our talents , permit ns to hope for a great dramatic success . We shall be more than satisliod if ivc can convey but a Faint impression of the grandeur of one of the greatest of dramas .

That all possible success Avas attained , most of those who ivere present can testify . Tbe following is the " cast" of actors and assistants : — Watchman ... Mr . AV . L . Courtney , Neiv College . Clytemnostra Mr . P . R . Benson , New College . Herald Mr . J . A . PortNew College . '

, Agamemnon Mr . W . N . Bruce , Balliol . Cassandra Mr . G . liaivrence , C . G' . C . iEgisthns Mr . If . A . C . Dunn , New College . ClIORCS OF AllOlVE ELDEUS . First Argii'e Mr . 0 . T . Perkins , Neiv College . Second Argivo Mr . M . T . Tatbam , Balliol .

Third Argive Mr . A . M . Mackinnon , Trinity . Pom-th Argive Mr . C . LoAVvy , C . C . C . Fifth Argive Mr . W . S . Eastwood , Neiv College . Sixth Argive Mr . L . Huxley , Balliol . Seventh Argive Mv . R . E . Parrant , Neiv College . Eighth Argive Mr . J . W . Maokail , Balliol . Ninth Argive Mv . E . W . Himtiwgfovd , Mevtou . Tenth Argive Mr . P . A . KerNeiv College .

, Eleventh Argive Mr . J , E . Bodd , Balliol . Twelfth Argive Mr . J . T . A . Haines , Balliol . Thirteenth Argive Mr . M . C . Bickersteth , Neiv College . Fourteenth Argive Mr . S . Pickering , Balliol . Fifteenth Argive Mr . T . E . Walrcrad , Balliol . Chorodidaskalos Mr . A . Bradley , Balliol . Composer of Music Mr . AV . Parratt , Magdalen .

COMMITTEE . Mr . AY . N . Bruce , Balliol . . I Mr . W . L . Courtney , NBAV College . . Mr . C . Lowi-y , C . C . C . | Mr . M . C . Bickersteth , New College . Manager—Mr . F . R . Benson , NBAV College . Architect—Mr . AV . A . S . Benson , Ne-v College . Scene Painters—Messrs . J . E . Eodd , Balliol ; A . J . Uyle , New College . Stage Carpenter—J . Shelton , Little Clarendon Street .

An English translation of the play by Professor Lewis Campbell , of St . Andrew ' s , specially designed for tbe stage , has ( we believe ) been recently performed Avith some success at Edinburgh , one supposed advantage being that tbe parts of Cl ytemnestra and Cassandra could be taken by ladies . This , however , is a sacrifice of historical accuracy ; for none but male actors appeared on the Athenian stage , ancl tbe great size of the theatre ivas probabl y

beyond the range of female voices . For this , and for other reasons , Ave think that the Oxford troupe were quite ri g ht in keeping their presentment as nearl y as they could to the ori g inal b y retaining the original language . In the music for the choral songs there was greater freedom of choice , because so little is known of tbe ancient Greek music ; but the eminent organist of Magdalen ( Mr . Parratt ) , whose assistance ivas invoked , mi ght surely have received a hint

that , of all modern instruments , that which is least likely to be aualagous to anything the Greeks possessed is a p iano . The harp , the reed-pipe , tbe flute , the clarionet , the bugle , or the oboe , have all more or less affinity , so far as AVO can tell , to the instruments mentioned in Greek literature ; but can we conceive a chorus in tbe Theatre of Dionysus being accompanied by a piano ? The effect of this feature in Mr , Parratt ' s otherwise excellent accompaniment was one of