The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-24


the worlds greatest dramatist. In these
few words the presentation of THE Mer-
chant of Venice, by Mr. Irving and Miss
Terry and their excellent company may
be tersely described; but it would convey
no idea of the brilliancy of the perform
ance, as whole. Indeed, it were an al
most impossible task to describe, by the
use of words, what must be seen to be
appreciated. Not single device was
omitted that could in any manner height
en- the effectiveness of the production,
and it was given with that careful con-
scientious attention to the thousand and
one little details that go to. make up an
ideal performance.
In all that pertains to the art of stage
craft, Mr.. Irving has long been regarded
as past master, and his skill in mount
ing his productions was displayed last
night to the best possible advantage. The
curtain rises on scene that is full of
the warm colors of the subtropics. Then
it changes to a night scene in which the
steel-blue of the moonlight half revealed
and half obscured the plain house Nwhera-
in the usurer dwelt, and the grotesquely
draped figures of the masquers as they
ran singing and laughing through the
dim streets with the abandon that IS
characteristic of the sons and daughters
of a warmer climate. Light and shadow
followed each other in quick succession,
and the contrasts were SO deftly arranged
that the effect was most pleasing. Need
less to say the furnishings and costumes
were all of the period at which the events
related by the play are Supposed to have
taken place.
1t is, perhaps, unnecessary to discuss
the play. Probably every person who
witnessed the unfolding of the story last
night has read it, not once, but many
times, and for this reason an extended
discussion would be superf1uous 1t is
enough to state that no greater comedy
ever came from the pen of the master 1t
sweeps the whole gamut of human pas
sion and of human character Light and
darkness are not more unlike than are
the natures of those around whom the
action revolves. Prodigality and ava
rice, cunning and frankness, love and
hatred, stalk side by side, the beauty of
the one intensifying the hideousness of
the other. Lines whose cadences have
fhythm and music that is surpassed only
py the magnificent sweep of Homer s
sounding verse; sentiment that is worthy
to be stored up in the memory; humor
that flashes and sparkles like the waters
of babbling brook beneath the sum-
mer= sun-all these. are crowded into the
pages of the drama in such profusion as
to evoke wonder at the fertility of the
q 1O11e, hT-oi1 ,;ol,
genesis. The play is a classic in the
truest sense of the word and will re-
main so until the end of all time.
Age cannot wither it nor custom stale
It's infinite variety"
To his impersonation of the character
of Shylock, Mr.. Irving has brought years
OF study and earnest research, rare schol-
arship and hard work That he has
succeeded In realizing Shakespeare's own
conception of the Jewish usurer can
scarcely be doubted. Irving's Shylock
is intensely human-a thing of flesh and
blood and endowed with the passions
that are common to all men. He has
been Knocked, ridiculed, spit upon, be-
rated, abused. thwarted. The man who
has been foremost in heaping insult upon
him comes into his power and he pro-
ceeds to feed fat the ancient grudge. -
A spirit of revenge takes possession of
him and carries him on to the extent
that he is even willing to sacrifice the
gold he has loaned that he may take
his victims life. Even the avarice that
has been the dominent impulse of his
nature has been overshadowed by his
desire to even up matters with his tor
mentors, and it is in emphasizing this
trait that Mr. Irying's success is due.
There is fiendish malignity in his every
word, look and gesture that bespeaks
the hatred that fills his soul
and that excludes pity until, just
when the supreme moment of his
triumph seems at hand, he is broken on
the wheel of his passion and deprived of
everything that was dearest to his heart
Then it was that feeling of compassion
for the penniless, friendless wretch must
have been evoked. There was infinite
suffering expressed in the manner in
which the words, II pray you, let me
go hence; I am not WE'LL were pro-
nounced. The whole nature of the man
was changed. Henceforth, come what
might, he would be a broken reed, inca
pable of either harm or good.
It is unnecessary to say anything about
Mr.. Irving's rare ability as an actor His
fame fills two continents and it is secure
Mannerisms he undoubtedly has that
but they are so overshadowed by his
greatness in other directions that they
may be passed over in silence. Suffice
it to say that nothing finer than his in
depreciation of ShyIock has ever been
seen on the stage of the Metropolitan.
To attempt to suggest wherein the Por-
tia of Miss Ellen Terry could be improv-
ed would be akin to an endeavor to "gild
refined gold or paint the lily Nothing,
seemingly, could be more distinctly wo-
manly Or convincing. Her work was
characterized by a dainty insouciance
in the lighter passages that was alto
gether charming, and she was not lack
ing in the scenes that called for more in
tensity and strength. In the great trial
scene, her work was fiawless and the
abandon with which she carried herself
when the spectators and interested per-
sonages had quilted the hall of justice
and left her alone with her husband and
Antonio, was delightful to look upon.
Throughout the play Miss Terry shared
the honors with Mr.. Irving, and her eff
forts were rewarded, time and again,
with hearty and insstent applause.
The supporting company is strong
evenly balanced and wholly capable. To
a considerable extent its members are
overshadowed by the prominence of the
stars, yet all acquitted themselves with
credit and demonstrated their right to
be in so distinguished a company. ESpe-
cially worthy of note was the antonio
of Mr. Laurence Irving, whose imper-
sonation of the lovable Venetian mer-
chant was most consistent and wholly
admirable Excellent work was also done
by Mr. C. Dodsworth as Launcelot Cob
bo, Miss Maud Milton as Nerissa and
Miss Mabel Hackney as Jessica.
Tonight Mr. Irving will be seen in the
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