European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 11, 1985, Darmstadt, Hesse Page 8 the stars and stripes tuesday june 11,1985 greek tragedy performed Eskimo style Athens Greece a a group of eskimos from a Remote Island off Alaska staged a performance of an ancient trag Edy by Sophocles in the greek capital saturday just a Stone s throw from where it premiered in 441 . Antigone acted by six Young Eski mos from Nelson Island in their own Lan Guage yupik got an enthusiastic response from an athenian audience starting to grow accustomed to exotic interpretations of the classical repertory. The show was part of a two week inter National festival of ancient greek drama illustrating How a handful of plays that survive from the 5th Century . Golden age of greek culture still a Thralls actors and audiences around the world. Renowned theatrical companies from six countries including new York s la mama and Japan s Scot Waseda Sho be kilo group Are also performing ancient greek plays Here As Athens six month stint As cultural capital of Europe gets under Way this month. But the eskimos from a traditional Seal Hunting Village on Oksook Bay had never seen a live theatrical performance when they started rehearsing Antigone two Frozen Winters ago. It s bizarre i know for eskimos to play Sophocles. But the themes in anti gone tyranny and the Sanctity of Bur Ial Are very relevant to their lives said Dave Hunsaker director of the per Severance theater. To Hunsaker a 34-year-old american who has worked for 10 years among Eski mos in Alaska the villagers storytelling tradition and still flourishing song and dance festivals recalled ancient greek theater. The villagers dance a lot and they re used to performing in Public. But i wanted to contribute something not Sim ply exploit their own legends for an out Side audience and they responded to Antigone " he said. In the play based on a greek legend already old when Sophocles wrote his tragedy Antigone defies her Uncle Creon the despotic ruler of Thebes and insists on offering burial rites to her dead brother poly Nicks. His body was left to decay outside the City Walls on Creon s orders after a Duel. Arrested for scattering handfuls of dust Over it Antigone commits suicide after Sophocles ancient tragedy Antigone is performed in Athens by a group of eskimos in their own language yupik. Creon condemns her to a living death in a walled up vault. For the eskimos death and burial is very significant. When we were perform ing in new York last summer there was a death in Oksook Bay. The troupe immediately cancelled the run and went Home Hunsaker said. Recent experiences in Alaska also have Given the ancient tragedy a special significance for the eskimos he said. In Eskimo villages governed by a body of elders there s a real Abhorrence of tyranny. And it can be a threat now if someone comes Back with City experience and gets really powerful in the comm with the Village elders approval Hun Saker chose a cast mostly composed of Young High school graduates and worked out an yupik translation of the play inserting traditional Eskimo songs and Sto Ries in place of Sophocles chorus lyrics. The actors wearing traditional Eskimo feathered masks and Bead trimmed Muk Luks fur boots each play several roles As ancient greek actors did. That s the most difficult part of the show quickly changing masks and props and not missing your Cue said James Aso Louk who plays four different parts. In Athens the eskimos performed in sweltering conditions in a giant circus tent one of several improvised Heaters set up around the greek capital for the Cul Tural capital shows. The villagers wanted to sew costumes of real fur fur Side inside. But we persuaded them to use Light Canvas instead with Seal fur trimming Hunsaker said. In classical Athens plays were per formed at the open air theater of Diony sos beneath the acropolis Hill during religious festivals. But the troupes visiting Greece this month also Are performing at an ancient Stone Amphitheater at Delphi in Central Greece site of a famous ancient Oracle. The Delphi performances accompany a conference this month of scholars and theater people interested in ancient greek drama and the ways in which it matters in modern life said Pericles Nearchou director of the delphic Center sponsor of the $75,000 ancient theater festival. Be a an Poce admit mistakes in handling soccer roof Brussels Belgium a a Bel Gian gendarmerie state police report admits that officers made a series of mistakes in handling the May 29 heysel stadium riots that left 38 dead and hundreds injured a leading belgian paper reported in its weekend editions. The tragedy occurred when British Liverpool supporters charged italian Juventud fans who were trapped and trampled in an exit less Corner of the sports Arena. The two teams were to play the final of the euro Pean soccer Champion cup the most prestigious club Competition in Europe. La Libre Belgique quoted it. Gen. Rob Ert Bernaert commander of the gendarme Rie As saying in his report to the govern ment and parliament that too few policemen were inside the stadium that officers did not realize quickly enough what was happening did not react in time and did not Call for addition Bernaert said part of radio appeals from policemen in the stadium were not heard by their commanders because of the deafening noise at the police forces on duty were adequate to a reasonable appreciation of the mos Likely incidents Bernaert said. However he added most forces were outside the stadium and those inside were too Little when riots broke out one hour ahead of what was Bernaert also said the provincial Gendar Merie commander who normally stays in the downtown Headquarters should have gone to the stadium when the situation be came critical when the stadium began filling More rapidly than expected apparently at about 6 or 6 30 . The incidents started at about 7 15. Bernaert also said an assessment of the developing threat and its localization should have led the commander of the Brabant province of which Brussels is the capital to take command with two aides one Down town and one in the stadium. He said Squadron and platoon command ers did not pay enough attention to the Ris ing nervousness of the crowd nor to the Back and Forth movements of British and italian fans in the platoon commander on the spot called for reinforcements but his Squadron commander did not hear him Bernaert s report said because of the Squadron Leader did not Call for reinforcements when All his reserves were spent the report added. The possibility of such serious incident Sas occurred was not Felt Bernaert said adding that part of the explanation is the favourable reports on Liverpool supporters and assurances Given by also says 12 gendarmes were sup posed to be posted in an open space betwee the Liverpool and Juventud supporters but orders were not according to the police chief Block a where the deadly trampling occurred was not occupied by Neutral fans As scheduled but by italian and then British supporters. Fences designed to separate the blocks were too weak he added. Authorities were never alerted by Bel Gian soccer officials to the danger shaping up in Jock a Bernaert said. He added that a British soccer official repeatedly advised the gendarmerie squad Ron Leader inside the stadium not to use too Many forces for fear of provoking the Liverpool supporters. Bernaert also said there should have been Only one police Force in the stadium. Brus Sels City policemen also were there but under their own command. The gendarmerie lieutenant general is also asking for better police training More offensive methods and More equipment and weapons to face the rising violence Libre Belgique he said it is unthinkable and unacceptable in a democratic society to trans form soccer stadiums into entrenched Camps with very Large police forces around engaged spectators. It would be better to ban soccer matches he also is calling for better stadium equipment like tunnels at All Levels Strong separations and video cameras at strategic spots to detect any Belgique also quoted Brussels mayor Herve Brouhon who was responsible for Brussels City police forces in and around the stadium As saying in his report to government authorities that it was impossible to Stop the third Liverpool charge without using weapons or elaborate defense Means which our democratic population would have violently the paper quoted Brussels police chief Georges poels As saying he narrowly escaped injury at the hands of aggressive supporters filled with the belgian responsibilities for the hey Sel tragedy Are being hotly discussed even among government partners. The president of the House of representatives Jean de Fragne a member of the conservative party has strongly called for punishment for the guilty which led Christian democrats to react in defense of Interior minister Charles Ferdinand Nothomb. A special House committee is to report within a month on the heysel riots. Chris Tian democrats opposed the appointment of Defraine As the chairman or the special investigative committee. Insurance executive Dies West Hartford Conn. A her Bert p. Schoen a retired chairman and chief executive officer of the Hartford insurance group has died after an extended illness a company spokesman said. He was 71
