PLAY IN LATIN

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31724, 6 July 1968, Page 21

PLAY IN LATIN

Presentation In Chch A play in Latin was presented on Thursday evening by Latin students from the i Canterbury University classics department in association with the annual Latin-speaking competition of the Classical Association. Professor D. A. Kidd, head of the classics department at • the University of Canterbury believes this is the first presentation of a play in Latin in Christchurch. The play is “Hecyra” (The Mother-in-law), originally a Greek play by Apollodorus of Carystus in the third century 8.C., but written in a Latin , version by Terence in 165 B.C. It is an example of Greek “new comedy,” the original source of the later comedy of . manners. The programme at 30c, given in both English and Latin, becomes Libellus XXX c. Mr R. P. Bond, as producer, becomes dominus gregis. Syra, an old woman, becomes Syra, anus; Philotis, a prostitute, becomes Philotis, Meretrix, and so on. “We express our thanks to the University of Canterbury Drama Society for generous help with costumes, lighting, and staging” translates to the Latin: Gratias agimus maximas Societati Fabulis Docendis Universitatis Cantuariensis, quae uestimentum, lumina, alium apparatum benigne suppeditauit