New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-02-06

the drama. for they were not merely costumed
With artistic skill but their parts were enacted
with fervor and nobility Of purpose. They were
historic Romans worthy of their names.
In the composition of the picturctplay char
acter has counted for little. Mr.. Waller az
Brutus was a sombre and irresOlue Hamlet.
without genius for action and with morbid
propensity for brooding over portents and cease
lessly rolling his eyes. His prevailing attitude
was one OF priggish haughtiness and stold pa
trician pride. The grand side OF an exalted
character which was swayed by overmaster
ing sense Of public duty was not revealed The
sweetness of his contcmpative nature. the
gentle courtesies of the true Roman gentleman,
his Chivalrous affection for his wife and his
sensibility to premonitions Of impending doom
we're not disclosed. In the tent scene with
Cassius this Brutus petulant. quarrelsome
and resentful. and utterly without greatness OF
nature and nobility Of mind; and when at the
fall Of the curtain, Antony pronounced the
eulogy. This the noblest Roman Of them
ALL it eXcelled in fine irony the 80 are they
all. all honorable men" of the Forum GRAFTON.
THE nOblest Roman Of then air had not been
seen on Her Majestys stage
MI Franklin McLeay played Cassius with
more energy but hardly with more success.
Envy Of Caesar was the ruling motive instead Of
an enthusiasm for liberty and a hatred Of dcs-
potism. 1t was the keen. wideawakc, sus-
picious Conspirator who was constantly on eX-
hibiton. and not even his heroic death served
10 dignity a character which had been pre-
sented in essentially gnoble aspects Of Jealousy.
restlessness and impulse The moral enthusiastic
and intellectual dignity with which Mr. Law
renee Barrett invested this part were lacking,
80
Mr. Booths Brutus were wanting AS for the
Julius Cesar of Mr.. Charles Fulton, it is dis
tinctly effective as are also the minor parts of
Portia. Calpurnia and Lucius which are taken
by Miss Evelyn Millard, Miss Lily Hamburg and
Mrs. Tree The Portia indeed. is conspicuous
for excellence as a classic Roman impersolia
ton
Mr. Trees delivery of the funeral Grafton
lacked the elements of simplicity and spon-
taneity which rendered Mr. Bangs's oratory
natural and effective in the famous perform
at Booths Theatre. 1t was more dramatic
in manner and richer in by-pay. and at every
stage Of the discourse the subtle craft OF WHY
and calculating mind was apparent. His en-
trance into the Senate Chamber where Caesar
lay dead. with the consprators still brandishing
their daggers, was dramatic moment which
tony's character as a man at once polite and
bold. resourcefui and reckless. cautious and
resolute. As he passed the group with hesitat
ing step and shrinking glance and approached
the murdered Caesar his detestaton Of the crime,
his concern over his own safety and his yearn
ing to thwart the assassins and TO avenge their
work unerringly revealed by his face.
more melodramatic and picturesque Antony
dyip he ne a
lines Of Interpretation. but has magnifed the
importance Of the Forum scene by imparting in
tense dramatic action to the mob. For this
reason the play itself seems to have been thrown
out Of balance. Antony is too large for the
drama and Brutus and Cassius have shrunk in
dignity and Importance. and no longer
Plutarch's men. As a picture play Julius
Caesar" lacks symmetry OF form and dramatic
interest. Mr. Tree and his well-trained mob
act with fire and spirit but most of the noble
old Romans are Pickering shadows, which fail
to command public sympathy.
Mr. Benson is an actor who is doing much 70
keep the memory of Shakespeare green in the
provinces. He has a strong company and in IN"
course OF year produces twenty or more plays
in his travelling circuits He is almost
known name in London. but he is favorite
actor in Belfast and Dublin and in many Of the
great English and Scotch towns. He produces
only Shakespeares works and few standard
comedies. but well trained is his company
and 50 complete the stage appointments
that he can vary his programme every night
His versatility is remarkable. In the course OF
a fortnights engagement he brings out fresh
play every night and offers the public a wide
range OF entertainment. Many of his shakes
pearian studies are Of exceptional merit