Birds 1883
The BIRDS was performed at the Theatre Royal, November 1883, and claimed to be the first Greek comedy to be produced in its entirety since antiquity. 2704 tickets were sold.
The actors’ text and translation was published as B.H. Kennedy, The Birds of Aristophanes (Cambridge 1883). A pamphlet was produced with images: R. Farren, Illustrations to Aristophanes’ The Birds (Cambridge 1883). The music was by Hubert Parry, conducted by Stanford.
The cast featured M.R. James, a writer and mediaevalist now best known for his ghost stories, who would later become provost of King’s College.
People
- Peithetairos: Mr M. R. James, Kings College
- Euelpides: Mr H. A. Newton, Magdalene College
- Hoopoe: Mr F. R. Pryor, Trinity College
- Runner-bird: Mr G. J. Maquay, Trinity College
- Nightingale: Mr F. L. Norris, Trinity College
- Priest: Mr A. C. Benson, Kings College
- Poet: Mr J. D. Ouvry, Trinity Hall
- Soothsayer: Mr H. F. W. Tatham, Trinity College
- Meton: Mr F. B. Winthrop, Trinity College
- Inspector: Mr L. N. Guillemard, Trinity College
- Plebiscite-vendor: Mr E. A. Gardner, Caius College
- First messenger: Mr J. D. Ouvry, Trinity Hall
- Second messenger: Mr F. R. Pryor , Trinity College
- Iris: Mr L. J. Maxse, Kings College
- Herald: Mr F. B. Winthrop, Trinity College
- Parricide: Mr A. Fleeming Jenkin, Trinity College
- Informer: Mr L. N. Guillemard, Trinity College
- Prometheus: Mr H. J. C. Cust, Trinity College
- Herakles: Mr R. Threlfall, Caius College
- Poseidon: Mr R. W. White-Thomson, Kings College
- Triballos: Mr H. J. W. Tatham, Trinity College
- Third messenger: Mr J. D. Ouvry, Trinity Hall
- Basileia: Mr E. A. Gardner, Caius College
- Leader of the chorus: Mr S. M. Leathes, Trinity College
- Parabasis declaimed by: Mr C. Platts, Trinity College
- Chorus: W. H. D. Boyle, L. J. White-Thomson, P. A. Thomas, Kings College; G. J. Maquay, H. Wilson Fox, A. T. B. Dunn, H. F. Wilson, C. T. Musgrave, W. H. Stables, W. H. Blandford, Trinity College; W. H. Kynaston, F. G. Langham, Trinity Hall; C. R. Gott, E. M. Lance, Jesus College; A. Harrison, J. M. Sing, Christ’s College; J. B. Cobb, H. Summerhayes, Emmanuel College.
- Incidental music: Mr Hubert Parry
- Conductor: Mr C. V. Stanford
- Hoopoe's songs sung by: Mr G. J. Maquay
- Stage-arrangements: Mr Charles Waldstein
- Scenery and proscenium painted by: Mr John O'Connor
- Treasurer and secretary to the committee: John Willis Clark
