GREEK DRAMA.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 493, 30 June 1932, Page 4

GREEK DRAMA.

! “The Greek drama as we know it is j traceable chiefly to religious sources,” I said Dr FI. D. Broadhead in addressing j members of the Canterbury College | Drama Society on the subject of Greek i drama at the Little Theatre last evenI ing:. | "It is essential in reading Greek [drama,” continued the speaker, “to attempt to realise the atmosphere of Greek religion pervading the play. The l jla J'ed a large part right down till the end of the fifth century, and this chorus was a special characteristic ot the Greek religion.” Euripides, the speaker said, was in the habit of composing lines for the chorus which did not conform to custom. The chorus becaine in his hands the means of providing an interlude and not of directing the emotions of the audience. Euripides was a pessimist and a misogynist, yet in his plays love could be found when it could not be found in the works of Sophocles or Aeschvlus. In the case of the Antigone of Sophocles, Dr Broadhead explained that the love illustrated was rather that of a religious devotee for her belief than of a sister for her brother. Dr Broadhead lamented the bloodthirsty character of Creek drama. The idea of heroism to the Greeks was of physical violence and a supernatural aspect was always present. Extracts from the Cheophori of Aeschylus were read by Dorothy -Maginness, Ruth Collins, Olive Brookes, R. M. Young, G. A. Worthington, C. J. Wheeler and A. J. Raymcr.