The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-04
ADJUSTMENTS
Frederick WArde and His Company
In Julius Caesar'' Mt the Metro

| ~
pOlitan.
1t has been said that any playwright but
shakspere, dealing with that critical period
OF Roman history when reDublicanism was
submerged in the rising tide of monarchical
ideas, would have made the assassination of
Caesar the catastrophe of the play But
Shakspere, with that clear-sighted genius
which distinguishes him ABOVE all others,
grasped the fact that it was not so much the
death OF Caesar as the battle at Philippi that
determined the course of the worlds history
and he made that the catastrophe of the play.
This ds how it happens that the Julius Caesar
of the play is a comparatively weak charac-
ter, while the heroic figures Of Brutus and
Cassius and Antony fill the picture. Shak-
spere shows us the weak side of Caesar-his
foolish vanity that led him to desire the title
OF king even though it could add nothing to
his power. This weakness is. Of course,
historical, but it Is seized on by Shakspere
and made an important factor In the story
of the Anal crash between the two great con-
tending parties. 1t results that Julius Gaze
sar' is absolutely unique among the great
dramas in the almost equal opportunities 1t
offers in its three leading roles.
Frederick Warde has wisely chosen to ap-
pear in the role Of Marc Antony. The char
acter lies more. nearly within his limitations
than either Brutus or Cassius. and he real
ICES in a broad way ones ideal of that elo-
quent and dashing partizan. II his concep-
tion fails at all. 1t fails in subtlety-just
where all of Mr.. Warde's representations are
apt to fall short The heroic qualities Of
fidelity to his party-Mr. Warde portrays with
undeniable success. But Antony was a
shrewd and subtle politician Concede the
genuineness of his sorrow over the death Of
Caesar. and the reality of his
purpose to avenge the ASSASSINATION, yet it is
evident that his first and Utmost purpose was
to raise his own party with himself at its
head, to power. With mastery craft he
turned the fell deed to his own betterment
It is just this craft that Mr.. Warde misses
In the memorable Grafton over the dead Cae-
sar, his elouuence Is forceful and impas-
stoned, but without revealing clearly the self
ish political purpose that animated Antony
far more than his desire to see his dead
chief avenged.
Barry tombstone played Cassius with fire
that gave him first place in the production
last night. He is an ideal Cassius in appear
ance-lean and hungry indeed-and his sense
of characterization is almost never at fault
This is the bitter partizan. the hot-tempered
conspirator who acts on impulse and not on
reason. He Stays because he hates-not as
Brutus does because reason and patriotism
force him to it. Hot gusts Of anger fill his
soul as he quarrels with his friend, and his
temper goes as quickly as it comes. Not
since Barrett has Cassius found a better in
terpreter than Mr.. tombstone.
The Brutus of Charles D. Herman was
scarcely less praiseworthy. It was noble
| Roman that Mr.. Herman presented, fired by
a patriotism that was perhaps misguided but
still pure and unselfish. The softer lights on
| Brutus' character. his sorrow for his wife
and his tenderness to his page, were we'll nan
died by Mr. Herman. who did not the less
! contrive to indicate his nobility and great
! ness of soul.
In short, with three such actors In the lead
ling roles of Julius Caesar" the success OF
| the production was assured. 1t was, indeed
fine and satisfying performance of the great
play. And it is pleasant to note that the au'
dience-which quite filled the house-was
largely made up Of young folk, students ane
others. upon whom the play must. have made
a deep and lasting Impression. Audiences
| like that must repay Mr.. Warde-as indeed he
freely acknowledged in his curtain speech-fo1
his fidelity to the masterpieces OF the drama
W B. Chamberlain.