New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1893-11-19
BECKETT TALKS OF "BECKET."
HENRY IRVING ON TENNYSON'S DRAMA.
HOW 1T WAS FITTED FOR THE sTAGE-THE
POETS WISH TO SEE HIS Play THE
CHARACTER or THE ARCHBISHOP.

|
CHARACTER or THE ARCHBISHOP.
The favor with which Henry Irvng's production
| of Lord Tennyson's Beckett has been received
| ut Abbeys Theatre. and the Importance OF play
| by one who was at his death the first of English
poets produced by the first of English actors
make any expression from Mr.. Irving him.
self in regard to his play of peculiar interest,"
at this time Wishing to place before the
readers of this paper the actors own views OF the
work on which he is engaged, reporter OF Inc
! Tribune called on Mr. Irving at the Plaza Hotel
| and found him ready to discuss Beckett" in way
| that can scarcely fail to attract any who have
seen or are To see the play.
| Mr. Irving has pleasant room, with north
windows and view extending far up across Centra
Park on sunny day such as this was, when all
the upper half Of the picture from the window Is
! clear blue II Is an easy place for anybody VINO
has the machinery TO do it with to think SOUND
thoughts and to express them finely and clearly
But Mr. Irvings readiness to say all that was 10
be said on any question that could possibly DC
asked him concerning "Becket' suggested that he
had thought about It all more or less some time
! before he looked out the treetops OF Centrai
! Park to DO IT, As "A of opening the sub
i.ct the reporter asked: "How were you led MI
Irving to produce this play in the beginning
SUBJECTS THAT TENNysoN WOULD NOT USE
II had long hal wish" Mr.. Irving said. TO
do n great play Of TennysOn's and suggested 10
him numerous subjects such as l thought might
be used to good purpose but none OF them appealed
to him
| Might I ask what subjects, or what sor' VI
| subjects you suggested?'
Yes: for instance l suggested. as fine SUD-
iect for a play Dante. His answer was 'charac-
teristlc: Where is the Dante to write 1t:
suggested also subjects 'Enoch Arden anu
King Arthur neither OF which, however
would he undertake So at last tried to
!
in mind all through my last visit TO Amer
ca and ! spent much time working upon H. OUT
| without any satisfactory results The play was
| long and as Tennyson said In his preface to 1t as
it was first published. 1t was not intended Tor the
stage In the autumn OF the year before last
maid a visit TO Tennyson at Hazelmere. We then
discussed the possibility Of doing some play OF
his and | went back determined to DO my best 10
| produce some play in such manner as shouio
| nlease him. Beckett seemed to to have in IT
great possibilities II could only get II into stage
shape | attacked the work again. and finally saw
| what | thought would make 1t n good play.
And what was this what was the next step
| in the work.?
| II at once asked Tennyson II he would allow 1t
TO be produced In an altered form. and he replied
| that ! might do anything pleased with It, Ac-
| cordingly | made such changes as | thought nee
| essary cutting out large portions and rearrangins
others then sent him the play. cut for the stage
| and suggested that he make the changes marked
| and write a few lines to join the disunited parts
! together so as to make the play a compact whole
| This he did and also added speech at the END
| OF the second act.
THE POETS CONFIDENCE IN THE ACTOR
ut has been understood. Mr.. Irving. that he
was most anxious To have the play produceu soon'
| Was that the casc?'
Eyes: his great age seemed to have made him
! conscious OF the value OF time. II was a sad
| thing that he was not spared to see his triumph
| for II would have gladdencd his heart
| .Hut this was not the first play Of his which you
dd?"
NO: had previously produced two Of his
plays one was Queen Mary but that was done
| at a time when | did not have the theatre entirely
| i'm nv own hands. The other was The Cup which
| had a pronounced success but 1t was very snort
play. and could form only part OF an evenings
entertainment
| Doubtless he kept track OF your Work pretty
| well as II went on
..ob ves. ne seemed 10 have n premonition OF his
| death and he said often: 4 shall never live 10
see my play and when he was dying-the very
day before his d.ath-he said TO Dr. Dabbs VINO
was his friend well IA his physician: '"hen are
they going 20 10 "Becket'? In May was the
answer. They did not DO me justice WIN ne
| Promise Of May he said. but Irving VIII do me
Justice with "Becket"' We produced the play
| and as you say in America. 1T caught on, ana
| II II had not been for our coming American
| tour II would / believe. be running In LONDON
"And may I ask now Mr. Irving. what is your
| own private and particular opinion or the play
| "It has some moments In II that are perfectly
divine and il has also something OF that mystery
that many poets and paywrEhts ial 10 Sr" s
| | think that had Tennyson IN ms younger M Nv
| vo,.I himself To- the stage ne would have made
grGa, nan s,c %n The techniTu" OF the stage this
| would have been simple Tor MIN. lset me Illus
All his early lie to painting in water colors and
thon at a later period should Try TO pant IN os, ne
would find the ne" method u'''eu'' a' "''' u ''''
petc mastery.
CARE FOR HISTORICAL ExACTNEss.
How far is the play to be assumed as historically
correct Is there any foundation. for Instance Tor
| q belief I'm the meetings OF Becke, and Rosamund
| that are shown
| well I can hardly say can only tell you ms
| Tcnnyson certainly gave to this work large
| ar,onpt of historical study. He and his sou and
| some OF their friends examined "a far IA they
| knew every available document on the subject
so that whatever may have been added az EN-
benishmcnt to the story. you may be sure tha'
there Is in the play no violation OF KNOWN VI IT,
corded history"
what H.. In your mind, the hnest poruoh VI
81 think that the greatness OF the poet Is truly
| shown i'm some passages. In the second scene OF
In. last act for Instance where Beckett feels that
! his death * approa hing. and has his mind turned
To- things Of thr past. as Is said that the mind
| turns In the moment of death Here the love anu
nG s S af G SS% OF T0 his ne" This
! shown In the passage OF the lttle, iaif eI
| Norman maid VINO died of leprosy, ami In mat Oh
| the swan which sat frozen on Its nest OF frozen
! eggs These Incidents are not only beautiful IN
| themselves, but they are apposit" 10 thr stotS
OF the play and illustrate the inner life and char
| octrr Of ifcckct and the workings OF his mind
This scene In the last act approaches, TO my MIMI
the nearest 10 a passion play when mas Deeh ot
il possihlr To be I'm time. In fact. all through
there are a great nobility and great purity In the
play which ought 10 cndear IL 10 the heart oi
| every Intelligent person.
| WAS there much difficulty in producing the play.
on account of the renoteness oil the perou OF we
lack OF information In regard TO appropriate
| costumes or scenic Effects" Mr.. irving was asked
| "a little he replied THE period Is one that Is
not much known. though 1t Is just previous to one
Mad TO be taken from tombs and missals
THREE FINELY DRAWN CHARACTERS.
"And what OF the scenery? American theatre
| gocrs usually expect that you Will show them