Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1900-10-20
DAVID HApUM" ACrTI. s s,SsS s ~ 80

him that indeGnable something which
must be possessed by the man who
would essay Shakespearean roles
Mansfield, by those who DO not Ike
him, is asserted TO be personally a most
dlsagreeabe and truculent Individual.
but even his worst enemies have never
been stupid enough 10 contend that he
is lacking in persistence. lie played
Richard III" and when Il became nee
essary to pay for the satisfaction Of In
dulglng one Of his pet hobbies he set
tied up like q man, and then set about
the task OF putting himself In a posi-
ton 70 indulge the second Of his ambl-
tions-the production of Henry ""
Now he has played Henry " and.
while It Is exceedingly improbable that
the piece Will draw enormously for
great length OF time, 1t Is certain that
In the larger cities which Mr.. Mansfield
VIII visit during the present season Il
Will attract immense audiences This
will be due In a great measure 10 tho
TACT that few persons except the Oldest
among our theater goers have seen the
play and there viii be a natural desire
on the part Of these to study Mans
fields methods IN a line OF work which.
for some years AT least, has not been
included IN his repertory. Even with
this In his favor, cannot see how Il IA
possible FOR Mr. Mansfield 20 yet out OF
Henry W. much more than the salts.
FACTION OF having played Il, for his sal.
airy roll must De- something awful la IT'S
total, and IL viii therefore be necessary
Tor capacity business 10 BE- the rule
II a deficit Is 10 be avoided.
~ may be said az the outset that Mr.
Manshed's production Of Henry W In
the matter Of elaborafoncss Is head
shoulders and body above ANYTHING
ever seen IN this country which IS the
same as saying In the world. IryInc's
"Robespierre' beside Mansadd's Hen.
ny W. is as a tallow dip 20 an electric
light The groupings are artsucaIly
arranged, and the scene showing the
triumphal return from the field Of
Agncourt Is the best thing ever at-
tempted on the American stagc-in mv
time, at least. A study OF the handling
OF the mob in Henry V" would have
been Of benefit 10 the stage manager OF
the Meininger players. who were
brought over 90 this country q few
years ago by the Resented brothers to
show Americans how large numbers OF
persons should be dealt with on the
stage
As 10 Mr. Mansned's work m the a..
lie role II would De AN exceedingly dIf.
fcult matter 90 suggest any improve
ment, except perhaps the elimination
OF that awful shrug of the shoulders.
Of which he has not yet entirely ria
himself on the other hand. Mansfield
Is hardly the IDEAL Henry v IN appear
once, and az the beginning OF the play
he was what IS almost unparalleled FOR
hIm-Indistinct in hl5 enurc'atior This
may have been and probably was. due
20 FIRST night nervousness Toy before
the third act had been reached III.
Mansheids voice was as clear as a bell.
realize that Il rs rank hcrosy 20
cHt.cIse Shakespeare but nevertheless
] think no candid student ot The great
bard will be unwilling 90 admit that
Henry We Us about the poorest stuff he
ever wrote. There Is almost absolutely
no action in the play and while most
or Shakespeare dramas are 40 least
consistently written. Henry W. as 70
IS given on thc .la-a might have been