EARLY TRICKS OF THE STAGE

Greek theaters were so large that it was hard to communicate moods and feelings to distant spectators. Masks were used that instantly identified the character as old or young, man or woman, happy or sad. Further to create a larger-than-life appearance, the actor was equipped with thick-soled boots and robes with sleeves. There were other devices; masks with calm expressions on one side and angry ones on the other, allowing the actor to change moods with one swift movement of his

Head; funnel-shaped mouths in the masks that acted as megaphones to project the voice. There was a rolling contrivance that was used to simulate indoor scenes in the outdoor theater. A derrick permitted actors playing gods to arrive on the stage direct from the heavens. It was called mechane— machine—in Greek, from which came the Latin dens ex machina, or "god from the machine," a phrase still used to mean any artificial or miraculous event introduced into a story to help solve a plot difficulty.

MASKS rOR TRAGEDY represent King Priam of Troy and a youth. These are terra-cotta copies of masks, probably made of linen and plaster, once used by Greek actors.

FROZEN EMOTIONS are etched on the faces of a devilish satyr and a buffoon. Masks helped actors submerge their own personalities in the characters that they played.