The herald., 1897-05-01
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Los ANc1RDg 1uUA1uR-9hs
change Of bill last uieht showed otie
Skinner and his company In quite = dif-
ferent aspect from that presented In
their performance OF the romantic play
|of His Grace ds 0rammont' on the
previous evening. The change from that
courtly circle with its crowd Of artihcial-
ties. masculine and feminine. speaking
in epigrams ana living false live1 to
the stern verities Of shakespearean
play with its living characters and it,
splendid diction was = startling one.
The company, - whole. appears TO
better advantage in the romantic play.
There u . certain amount Of the purely
theatrical in their methods Of interpre-
tation which does not injuriously AFFECT
their rendition Of q romantic play deal
Ing In exaggeration of types and hyper
bole In language. While following this
path the merits OF. the people who take
part are not subject to such close appre-
citation 40 iY easily possible when Shake
spearean efforts are attempted.
In essaying the character Of Shylock.
Otis Skinner has shown considerable
courage. and It would be wrong to say
that his attempt Is not justine BY the
result. His conception Of the character
Is rugged and strong, but It cannot be
said Of It that 1t IL improved IN those
points In which the actor has departed
from tradition. 1t is strong. too strong
in places. and has the flavor OF immature
mhA he ~
treading the path which all must climb
lin order to reach "the embattled steep
where flames high temple shines afar."
Mr.. Skinner has a large fund OF vital en-
ergy upon which he draws without re-
serve. II his performance gave the
impression that he had reserve force,
that he was not. in his shylock, using up
all the energy under his control. the Inn
preston would be more pleasing.
| Mr.. Skinner cannot shake on the thea
trical habit and his posing 70 frequently.
az he does 10 an evidence Of that fact.
In shylock's first entrance he seems to
miss the point Of repose and masterful
self-control Of the sagacious Hebrew
money lender whose mind Il only occu-
pied on his bargains and his well won
thrift, the calm self-containment that
4A1OIQS 81 AAC . COAtA 0ot ~ NsAS - VAA~t
that possesses him when he learns Of
the loss Of his daughter and Of his du-
cats. Mr.. Skinner It at once alert. eager.
impetuous, wrathful and active In ges-
ture in this opening scene. thus missing
the keynote. as 1t seems. Of the drama.
Booths 'three thousand ducatv' was
delivered in calm. business tone. .snght-
ly musing, and after slight pause was
succeeded by the "Well?" which he re-
peated in deep masterful tone requir-
ing the particulars Of the proposed loan
to be restated for his consideration. In
the whole Of the opening scene Mr Skim
ner was too youthful and too impetuous.
failing to carry conviction Of the charac-
ter Of a man who. under the circum-
stances surrounding him. could have be-
come rich. There IL also reason to ques-
ton the richness Of his velvet. fur-trim-
med gown-the sordid suggestion Of 4
commoner costume would appear to be
more In keeping with the man. In the
scene where he bewails the loss OF his
daughter If he were the wearer Of fine
garments he would not grovel in the dust
of the market place. But 40 the wearer
OF shabby gaberdine there would be
nothing inappropriate In the action. The
trial scene was badly arranged. and at
no time presented an effective picture,
the action being unnecessarily broken
up and disjointed. An entire re-arrange-
ment Of this act should be undertaken
If only for the purpose Of making Por-
tia's share in It more effective. Mr.. Skin
ner's power In this scene was used to
good advantage and the climax was, 30
far as the lines went. really well worked
up. The character Of Shylock IL the
study Of a lifetime and there seems no
reason to doubt that Mr.. Skinner will
go on improving in his conception and
rendition Of this masterpiece Of dramatic
art.
Mr. Mosley's Bassanio and the Portia
Of Miss Truax each left something to
desire. The casket scene was the worst
in the piece. Bassanio. attired in an ele-
CANT but inappropriate costume, preach
ed his lines. and Miss Truax, in order to
deliver the delightful aside beginning.
''How all the other passions neet to air, !"
found 1t necessary to take the center Of
the stage and raise both arms appeal
ingly to heaven in the manner Of q school
Of elocution graduate.
Miss Truax is a little overweight
ed in the character Of Portia. but she
seems to have such intelligence as gives
promise of future finer performance.
Maud Durbin was a picturesque Jes-
sica, and If she would sometimes change
the pitch Of her delicate voice would
make 1t still more pleasing. The Nerissa
of Eda Aberle left nothing to be desired.
and the remainder Of the cast was up to
a good average. The performance Of the
Merchant Of Venice" was followed by
a. condensed verson of "The Tanning Of
the Shrew," in which Mr.. Mosley and
Maud Durbin took the principal charac-
ters.
Today at the matinee 1.-THE Lady Of
Lyons" and tonight Richard the
Third"
The Same Old Issue