Hegio, lawyers, Joseph P. Warren.
Cratinus, lawyers, Lewis H. Dow.
Crito, lawyers, Jacob B. Smiley.
Dorio, a slave dealer, William F. Harris.
Chremes, brother of Demipho, Otto Starek.
Sophrona, a nurse, Maurice W. Mather. Nausistrata, wife of Chremes, Walter K. Brice.
MUTE CHARACTERS.A Boy, a slave with Geta, Jacob W. Carret.
Pipe players, Arthur A. Bryant.
Pipe players, Henry I. Bowles.
The performance last night was all, and more than all, that could be desired. In any criticism of the actors, it must always be remembered that they are laboring under very unusual difficulties. The mere recitation of the lines so as to retain the sense and at the same time conform to the peculiarities of the metre, is no slight achievement. Even this, however, is not the greatest difficulty which has to be overcome. Through about half of the play the actors are accompanied by music, which makes it a very easy matter to fall into a sing-song manner of delivery. That this was so carefully and successfully avoided is very greatly to the credit of the students who took the various parts.
The actors were chosen entirely without reference to their previous experience in dramatic expression, but the choice has proved a fortunate one. The leading parts were all admirably well sustained. If praise can be given to two above the rest, it was deserved by Edward K.Rand as Phormio and Henry E. Burton as Demipho. Both entered perfectly into the spirit of the characters they represented. They not only acted their parts but looked them. In fact, the costumes of all were very effective, and materially aided in making the play realistic. To praise some of the actors, is in no way to disparage the others. The acting of John R. Oliver, George R. Noyes, Otto Starek, and John R. Slater, was excellent and won much deserved applause. The two female characters appear on the stage but a short time each, in the last part of the play. Their parts were taken by Maurice W. Mather and Walter K. Brice, who did not in any way fall short of the high standard which had been set before their appearance. An interesting feature of the play was the work of the dummy musicians, especially in the interludes. In the dress rehearsals they have successfully deceived several of the audience.
After the performance, the actors were called out, and finally the managers, Professor J. B. Greenough, Professor F. D. Allen, and Professor M. H. Morgan, were forced to appear. The evening was appropriately brought to its close by a reception given by President Eliot to the invited guests of the Classical Department.