The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-05-18
THEATRICAL news
Nat Goodwin sShyIOck'' Styled
Commonplace.
Merely a Ripple in the Theatri-
cal Pond.
NOTHING TO ADMIRE
Maxine EIIiOtt's "PortEa Some
what CapricioHs.
Things of Interest About the
Play Houses.

]
Inter- Ocean does not accept Nat Good
wins ''Shyloek' and Maxine Elliotts
''Portia" as their greatest achievement,
which the two famous stars hoped it
would be. So Goodwin's part of
Richard Carew'' and Miss Elliott's
Phyllis Ericsson in the charming
/ little comedy When We We're Twenty
one, which was seen here not long ago
with George Clark as the star, still
shines forth as one of Mr.. Goodwins
and his wifes numerous successes. 1t
has not been eclipsed, according to the
| Chicago critic. who must have shocked
the stars with the following criticism:
Mr.. Goodwin's Shylock was a pebble
that merely rippled the theatrical pond
It was possible to accept it seriously
and to find in his view of the character
something of interest, and even slight
originality. The point of the discussion
it excited was that this Shylock was
not weak. tottering. old man. but one
of full VigOr, both in mental and phys
zeal attributes This was not an orig
ina1 discovery for this player. but the
aged ShylOck is the more familiar ana
the greater interpreters of the part
seem to have had that in view in re-
hecting the Shakespearean Jew. 1t has
assisted in the appeal for pathos that
many actors make through the char
acter, although whether we should be
made to pity ShylCck at all is mat
ter of opinion. This familiar element
was at any rate, cOnspicuously absent
in the Goodwin Interpretation, and
therefore gave it its chief claim to
comment. Unfortunately no other
strong element took its place The Per
Torrance was not crude. as gross crud-
ity is understood, but it brought nothing
to admire. The hard. revengeful, and
even narrow nature of the Venetian
Jew was certainly suggested, but moth
inc hoy
moved along monotOnOusly- He evaded
theatres to such an extent that he be-
came positively dun. He did not rant
but he recited. and his intense TnOdera-
tfon becames at times taxing, since no
new. strong light was thrown on this
fascinating character. The best thing
that may be said about it is that 1t was
a better ShylOck than it was believed
this comedian could produce, and that
only in the line of complin ent- 1t is
not comparable with other Shylocks,
since the only dignity it had was a mere
pose, and the only result was the effort
of a player to do something he could
not do
The remarkable and surprising de-
velopment was Mr.. Goodwin's inability
to convey the somewhat malicious
humor that underlies the character
his comedy articles, known from his
past experiences. made that at least an
expectation. But this was lacking-it
was obvious that the player feared he
would be laughed at. and that his pre-
cautions We're to avoid anything that
might lift the severe strain of the task
he had set for himself. Tt is not too
much to believe. however, that cold
irony is as much beyond him as the
realistic stimulation of passion. and in
this he was greatly in the dark
Neither the discovery of the flight of
JesSica nor the news Tubal brought of
her spendthrift days in Genoa were
made deeply in pressive by the ShylOck
of the moment He ragged. and SOM
brely. with a very solid display of elO-
cutiOn. but there was no evidence that
either blow struck the heart. A bit of
gesture, the protest against the pass
ing of sentence by the Duke, an I'M
spoken appeal for some jot of mercy, !
was all that lifted the trial scene out |
telligence in the reading of lines, but !
of no inspirat ton, was as much of a
revelation as this revival of THE Mer- |
chant of Venice" afforded Tt was not !
to be made fun of, but it was certainly
not among the significant events, unless !
the lively curiosity over it was signif- |
icant American stock companies have |
done as well by the play. and some |
American stock actors. simply leading |
men. quite as well by the chief char 1
acter.
a beautiful Portia VIII naturally live /
long in the men DRY. and so Miss Elliott /
was a POrtia of great charm, even if |
the verse of Shakespeare was not al |
ways respected The Venetian lady was |
here made girlish and somewhat ca |
pricious-after that spirit through the /
early scenes it was surprising to find /
her conducting a law case. And that /
was Miss Elliott's deficfencv-the lack /
of suggestion of broad intellectually"