The ballet was modeled closely on the lines laid down by Euripides in
his tragedy. The opening scene was the market-place of Thebes, and the
stage was filled mostly with men. Pentheus, the King, is informed that
the whole female population of the city, together with his mother,
Agave, have gone to the mountains to worship a stranger. The seer,
Tiresias, knows by his psychic powers that the stranger is none other
than Bacchus, the god of wine, and implores Pentheus not to provoke
his enmity. The King spurns this advice and gives orders that the
so-called god shall be arrested. It was at this moment that Agavé
appears. Dorothy looked at her eagerly.
Agavé has not yet assumed her Bacchanalian garb. She is still in the
quiet dress of a Grecian matron, but her gestures are wild, and she is
rapid in her movements. In the dance which followed she is interrupted
by Pentheus, who strives to calm her frenzy. But Agavé, knowing the
god of wine is at hand, becomes as one possessed. Bacchus appears and
is arrested by Pentheus. He is chained and hurried into the palace.
Agavé warns the King against the impiety he is committing. Pentheus
defies the gods. There is a peal of thunder, and the palace of
Pentheus sinks into ruins. At the back appears the ruins of the city
walls, which have also fallen, and on the summit of the heaped stones
stands Bacchus, the god confest. At a wave of his wand vines begin to
clamber over the ruins, and the cries of the Bacchanalians are heard.
Pentheus tries to seize the god again, and darkness covers the stage.
The last thing seen was Lola dancing in a wild red light, with
extravagant gestures.
Dorothy could not say that Lola was handsome, but she had about her a
wild grace which was very fascinating. When dancing she seemed to
think of nothing but the revels in which she was engaged. She never
cast a look at the house, and Dorothy noticed this. She was therefore
somewhat surprised when, during the second scene, she saw Lola
deliberately look in the direction of the box and stare at her
piercingly for quite a moment or two. Rather confused by this sudden
regard, the girl drew back. Lola noticed her no more, but continued to
dance.