New-York tribune., 1901-05-25
THE DRAMA.
ANOTHER SHAKESPEARIAN EXPERI'
MENT.
MR.. GOODWIN AS sHYLoCK.

NIX. GOODWIN AS STi1 LIN
1t is not easily possible to sympathize with the
desire of any actor embody the monstrous char
acter of shylock. When everything is said that
be said in extenuation of Shylock's conduct,
the crafty. treacherous. malignant. and cruel Jew
remains a clear. positive, unmistakable type OF
unqualified evil: and the desire to present types
of unqualified evil does not readily awaken sympa-
thy. The character of Shylock, however, provides
extraordinary opportunities of hstrionic express
son and the wish to embody it is. therefore intel
ligble Many actors particularly since the time
of Mackln,-who first interpreted Shylock as the
tragic part that Shakespeare has drawn,-have
been conspicuous in it. and doubtless its pro'es-
siona advantages will always invest II with
an irresistible allurement for the hstrionic
mind. Mr.. Goodwin, who.-making Shakes
pearian acknowledgement in it, at the
Knckerbocker Theatre, last night, has evi-
IDENTIFY succumbed to its fascination, attracteu
by those ample eccentrcities with which IT aoouhds
and with which his eccentric temperament Is
more or less harmonious. The actors endeavor IN
this instance is rot particularly interesting ana.
to the public. it is unimportant but IL can oe uh
derstood and appreciated and. at least IL entities
Mr. Goodwin to the credit of having tried to do an
ambitious difficult thing. and to lift hlrnseI 'o
a higher artistic plane than he has ever yet oc-
cupied. His performance served to SHOW that ne
lacks self knowledge and has Incorrectly es'
his powers; but. to present Ihe MelCiai.
Venice" is to set forth exceedingly oeauthu'
play-charming in story, deeply passionate IN rec tee
ing potent in dramatic suspense, wonderluliy hi4
monious the adroit blending OF pathos anu u,no-
(the tragical and the comcaD, exceptiohaiiS &C.
and direct in action and glorious with poetic eio
uuence-and the wish is both earnest ana general
that his enterprise may be rewarded with practcal
success Great acting is not expected iroth MI
Goodwin or Miss Maxine Elliott. and, even WIN an
Inadequate Shylock and superficial fort'd'
Shakespeare's vital spontaneous. radiant ana eA
uuiste comedy is heartily welcome
No one of Shakespeare's comedies has equaIed
THE Merchant of Venice in the strength and CON
tinuty of it's hold upon the public favor. ana le"
plays have surpassed 1t in stage publicity It's CEN
tral charm no doubt is its love story "a fact that
was sharply emphasized when Ellen Terry hrst
gave that delicious embodiment of Portia which
still remains supreme and unapproachao4e'' ou'
it's dominant, propusive figure is Shylock one
reason is that the low sun makes the coior- An
activity that is evil also perpetual or rather Is
incessant Another and a considerable reason,
probably, of the popularity of Shylock. through
succeeding generations of the English playgolhs
public is the significance of the character as d
denotement of retributve Justice The iron doc
trine of the Law is IAN eye for an eye and a tooth
for a tooth and unregenerate human nature
cordially approves of the iron doctrine OF the Law
In Shakespeares exposition of Shylock there is an
implied vindicatiOn, and certainly there Is an eN-
picit defence of the prosecuted Jew Prosecuted
the sacred nation" unquestonably had been. when
Shakespeare wrote The Merchant Of Venice, and
prosecuted it continued to be down to much
later period; nor has Gentle antipathy TO the Jew
by any means ceased to exist. But for an Enshsn
or an American audience.-these being practically
the same.-the appeal 10 the sense OF justice,
the instinct of fair play. is irresisti5y eogent;
and the wonderful speech containing Hath
not Jew eyes, "a speech that crystal
Lies the whole being Of Shylock into
gem OF light. remains. and must always remain,
the final word on this subject. II is a marvel or
rhetoric 1t scorches like a devouring flame. IL
shrivels into so much tinder all sentiment and all
sophistry with which mawksh theorists have tried
to invest the situation and the character II re-
mains Incompatible whether for decisive reason
ing spontaneous eloquence. the fiery ejacula-
ton OF inveterate malig1ity. And It prevails The
jew Is detestable; is hateful; is a sanguinary
monster: but. he Is within his rights: and when
he IS greatly represented. Notwithstanding MS
inherent evil nature and internal wickedness OF
purpose he will always seem illustriOus. with a
sort OF horrible grandeur as the emblem OF in
exorable retributiOn and revenge. This way he
seems 10 have been acted by Macklin. by Cooke.
and by Edmund Kean; this way certainly. he was
acted by the elder Walack by the German Davi-
son. by c.. V. Brooke. by Edwin Booth. and (the
greatest Shyock OF them all. in ideal In elaborate
detail. in finish and In sustained and consistent
Identification with the character0 by Henry lrv-
ing. This way 1t Is not acted by Mr.. Goodwin-and
for constitutional reasons His performance Is. in
a way. respectable, such might be expected
from an experienced and capable actor: but IL is
nothing more. The characteristics that he indi-
Gates craft sarcasm, bitterness. grim and
spIenetic humor and cruelty. the mixture OF these
attributes being tempered with a singular odd
gentlemanly suavity and semi-reverend benig-
nty,-as II Shylock were man of heart. This
may Ingenious but IL is. in fact. paltry.
Mr.. Goodwin did not rise TO the tempestuous
height of Shylock, and his achievement gave no in
diCaton that he ever can rise to it, Some ques-
tions are settled by nature and IL is not injustice
TO the actor while honoring his worthy ambition
to record this Judgment. For it is thing TO get
through the part of Shyock and another thing
to act it. Experience has shown that actor
really embody Shylock who is not. primarily. quail
fed by the possession of stalwart and impressive
force OF fiery intellect and great inherent power of
tragical expression. Among the anecdotes of Ma
poeon there is which declares that person
who had led himself in a picture gallery for
the purpose of shooting that warrior much
frightened, beholding his terrible cOuntenance
as become temporarily paralyzed. There must
be something authoritative and formidable in the
man himself who would impress the beholder as
ShyloCk. No person of weak constitution. slender
fibre hnical makeup and puny manner can ever
create Illusion in this part. Mr.. Goodwin
is eccentric comedian. and such he has often
shown attractive and effective characteristics and
has eXerted good abilities with good effect; but
Mr. Goodwins personality is not seriously impress
sive and he is completely destitute of tragic
power. In the part OF Launcelot Gobbo and in
much better character and humorous parts Qn
Marran Justice Greedy, Abel Drugger. Silky
Nicholas Rue etc). ne would be easy appropriate
and agreeable: in that of Shylock he is weak in
significant laborious crude. spasmodic. and COM
monplace. In the level speaking and obvious du-
plicty of the bargain he was correct. and he made
"A momentary ripple with the fine address, An
tonic about past indignities and present solcita-
although he N aqSy