The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1896-04-05

opportunity. they should walt TO see him
in Shakesperian drama For king
Lear last night every seat IN the Seattle
theater was taken In advance. and even
the Hobbies were crowded.
Yet, King Lear" cannot be classed as
an attractive play. It has not enough In
IL Of the blended elements Of comedy and
tragedy. OF the stir and hustle OF life that
assimulates to that of today TO be really
popular It can only be the portrayal OF a
character as a character, the picturing or
a fathers tribuiaaous caused by thank
less children, and the worthiness OF such
picturing that can attract an audience
The play Itself Is somhre to degree, and
spiritless. but for this one grand old man,
whose philosophy has been poetry ana
rosary Of truisms for the ages since It was
written
Frederick warde said yesterday after
noon that he had studied Lear with view
70 making the character great stage pres
ertAtion. for several years. ana 1t YES only
within the past few months, when la him.
self was a grandfather. that he had felt
embo,iened to attempt its portrayal. This
Is modest and Mr.. warde is a modest man.
both on ana of the stage. He would feel
that the scales Of Justice were held IN an
unsteady hand II the performance last
nieht were classified as one truly great.
Yet II came within an approschable dis
tancs OF that distinction. There was an
evidence of It IN the quiet pathos with
which he invested the character. and the
ABSENCE OF the rant associated with II that
belongs 70 the old school Of shakespearean
students with whom Mr.. Warde received
his training. ana that this new King Lear
received instant appreciation was shown
IN the enthusiastic recalls that marked
each fall of the curtain. II offered points
for criticism, as do the best efforts OF
shakcsp.r>sn translators TO Shakespear.
can students. but on the whole II was .
mastery performance. with the underiy-
ing belief IN the minds OF these students
that with encouragement end in time u
would grow and mellow and become per.
feet IN the hands OF ore who showed such
promise In the curse scene especially
were the new and modern methods most
apparent The stage settings were exc
cellent -he groupings each time made pict-
ures that couN not fan 20 be impressed on
the memory, and when Mr. warde deliv-
cred the famous fathers curses with this
suggestive background. there was a fis-
cretson OF delivery. a quiet fo-cefulness. a
stlaied na.urailess. tha. created much
enthusiasm.
Mr. warss's company was COMMUNICATED
So capable lot Of actors ana actresses IN
the play OF 'rBslphegor" In last nights
performance thew seemed deserving Of
ever warmer praise. Mr. Varies son show
&c great promise. and q more manly
figure than Beverly Turner made was rev.
er shown on anv stage. Miss Fanny Gr-
le.te. Mis- Lucy Moore and Mrs. E Wal
6ron. as the daughters CT King Lear, h.iei
the requirements Of n. most captious
critic. ard materially assisted IL the gen.
eri tone and harmony Of the presenta-
ticr.
Wh.a this play IL produced Il Tacoma
tomorrow night. Il VIII have a rev Cor
della. 4 young lady whose name on the
bills .s Mss KaiRht. who personally "a
we'll known In the society circles OF this
city. and. indeed. o. The whole Coast shs
makes her debut tomorrow night. bu. las
been studying with the company since Il
left Portland