New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-10-24
THE DRAMA.
MIR. MANSFIELD AS SIYLOCK

larger yet but for the wild storm-and II VIII in
terest and please the public everywhere-by reason
OF his remarkable performance Of Shylock and
by reason also. Of the felicious stage business,
sometimes new and always piquant. with which
he has embellished the action Of the play In MS
embodiment Of Shylock Mr.. Mansfield mas den-
nitely and advisedy, adopted one OF the TWO
courses which always are open TO the ACTOR or
that part He has represented Shylock as an 's-
noble and malignant Hebrew. typical Of the passion
or revenge. and typical Of nothing else. ne mas
not endeavored to portray him as representative.
religiously. in even the slightest degree OF 'he
vindictive rigor Of Hebrac law. In inns respect
he follows the tradition of Kean ana booth'
rather than that Of Macready and Irving OPINION
on this subject, has never been unanimous. Nari-
Gus actors have pursued various courses In their
acting of Shylock. Burbage. according TO 'fadi-
ton. based partly on an old elegy on him. wore
red wig; and hence 1t has been surIniseh 'ha' ne
gave the part a low-comedy aspect rIo" i'0i
until l7n Lord Landowners alteration OF me Mer-
chant Of Venice" held the English stage ana IN mat
scholars know.-the character OF Sh!iocA was
reduced almost TO the level Of farce. Lansdownes
piece begins with a scene in which the ghosts
of Shakespeare and Dryden rise. crowned win
laurel and It presently shows musical
masque called "Peeus and Thetis. one
scene Of it, furthermore, depicts pan
ouet in progress the Jew being placed al
a table by himself. where he drinks a heai'h 20
II oney as being his only mistress. Doggett' VINO
was accounted fine Shylock. in the early part
of the eighteenth century, embodied the Jew as
comic person. and wore the red Wig OIL '"e ~"
comedian Macklin as all the reading world Is
aware. restored Shakespeares comedy 10 the stage
in la. and mpersonated Shylock as serious
part-winnine n prodigious victory ana establish
ing his renown forever. Edmund Kean preserved
the Macklin tradition and bettered II. ana from
Kean's day to the present the character mas pe'h
manifested more or less. in the tragic veil' Inc
la no 81 X
Forrest Phelps Edwin Booth and Henry irving
lave an walked in that well-trodden path. The
elder Booth spoke the words in sort OF dialect
and that method.-which Mr.. Mansfield has so lar
employed that he uses vocal cadence sUI'cient
to indicate the Jew a foreigner among 'he
Venetans--is not unusual In Germany Inc re-
nowned German actor Dawson. when he WAS IN
New-York in 1866 PLAYED Shylock. and happily
illustrated that custom.
Whenever a distinguished actor adopts new
Shakespearan part he commonly in'lma'es Una. he
has taken a fresh view Of the subject ana mat ne
will present the character in novel isht. Ills ue
sire is If possible to escape from the trammeis Oh
iron bound tradition, and 10 reaniina'e an oi'
theme with the pquant spirit OF origihahy' ms
purpose certainly is commendable but II Is one
that cannot be often or easily accohpiisheu' Al
the important parts in Shakespeare nave peeh a0'e
over and over again, for many years ana oy many
able and adrot players and almost everything mas
con,rive or energy and munihcence accomplish 10
refresh Shakes.earian representations with the
attractive air of novelty and with the commanding
distinction of exceptional charm In the case oi
THE Merchant Of Venice Edwin Booth $ pro
duction OF that comedy, at the old winter "aT'en
Theatre. was fine as anything OF the KIM coui'
be. and Henry Irving's production Of IT, at the
London Iyceum and later in this country WAS
sunptuous and beautiful Upon small stage IKE
that of Herrmanns Theatre. there IS not room
enough for great scenic display pu'
much has been done. and 1t has been uohe
with admirable taste Mr.. Mansaeld's expedients' IN
setting the Merchant and in representing shyiocK
are In general not new-but they are new to him
He has never seen a performance of that play
and consequently has never seen representation
of Shylock. He has approached the drama WIN
a fresh mind. and has treated 1t precisely as ne
would have treated new play.-dong what Is
suggested by the text and playing the part accord
ing to his perception Of il. and not in imitation or
any accepted model. He has retained most OF the
casket scenes. and he has retained the MIN act'
and at the beginning OF the fifth ac. he has miro
duced a picture, illustratve.-by means OF wood
nymphs dance, music. and moonlght-of mat
divine perfection" of summer night with which
the fellcous skill Of Shakespeare rounds and closes
his lovely story of happy love. The introduction
of that picture had a capital dramatic eject ana
that feature should be noted as absolutely novel.
Mr. Mansfield has also introduced a new song. for
in rhe accepted stage version dor Shakespeare
allots no song TO Jcssica). and he has diversified
and Frightened the comic business OF LanceIot
Gobbo and likewise that Of the casket ordeal for
the hand Of Portia. Arragon was made hnlcal
exquisite.
There is. perhaps. in the passion OF Shylock
something more than greed and something more
than personal animosity. There is national an
tipathy and religious resentment. Il hate nm
most because he is the foe Of usury." excaims
the Jew, but hate him also because he Is "a
Christian. act from lodged hate and a GER
tain loathing; but also l have an oath in Heaven
and must not lay upon my soul the guilt OF
neri,lry" That view OF the character. at all
events would make it more august. austere ana
terrific, would invest II with more Impressive
weight and arm 1t with more superb authority
Mr. Mansnelds IDEAL inclined 10 the lower plane
of vanous humanity. 1t cannot be positiTey
said. though, that he was not right in this; for'
af,er all ne only carried TO its logical result the
nractice of a theory that has been authorized py
almost all the past Shyocks OF the stage Never
tbeless 1t is rational opinion that Shylock gains
by being Invested with austcrity by peihg haue
an awful Image of the inexorable JEWISH law anu
by being at least indicated as bereaved husband
and an afflicted father. He surely mas known
what it is to love and to lose HIS aiIusioh 10
the turquoise ring that he received IRON Lean
when he was d bachelor seems TO be Il ho'c Vi
remembered tenderness. His reference to his
sober house and TO the way OF HE therein &c
notes "A characteristic blending OF gravity ana de-
,orum such as Possesses distinct dramatic value.
And in his final justification OF himself 20 ior'a,
Il have an oath IN Heaven there Is u deep ana
terrible sOlemnity. = ~ ,Aoso
snhtleties and all OF them he has rejected nis
siew or Shylock Is the simple view. He made MN a
,indictve and cruel Insurer, and he expressed WIN
Great power and brought into the strongest refer
The craft and wickedness OF his MOVIES. tle nlah
NY Of his hatred and the deadly determination OF
his passion for revenge. Shylock az iatmer Wal
rorcsly disclosed and neither was ne DISCLOSE
&C. an austerc and awful representative OF he
sacred nation" The Ideal embodied by Mr.. Mans, nI
hs b,rsty malice. yelled long necessity 50
ordains under guse Of humor but iuily mpe If
rectIess and murderous violence; Some Isliei was
GrrSad nv touches of sardonc hUmor ShylocH Is
an, b,,n,orst hut certain sagacious speeches ana
Keen and quick retoinders OF MS produce an enc.
nf tumor OF which ne is unconscious. MI Mans.
He,J Was particularly felicitous at points oil tHht
KIND. and in those sudien transitions with which
the part is literally supplied ~ ,,e,d,.