The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-05-16
The DRAMA.


::-:
A notable performance of Othello was
given last night by Frederick Warde
and his company. The presentation
had been eagerly looked forward to by
those who had seen Mr.. Warde as Iago
when he was associated by Louis James
and who were to the full as eager to
watch his characterization of the
swarthy Moor as those who had never
seen the tragedy enacted.
The performance was, to many minds,
the most successful of the season in
that the talents of the company were
given a more equable chance of display
than in other plays 50 far presented.
/ The cast was most satisfactorily bal
anced, the five principal characters be-
ing placed i'm hands that were eminently
adapted to take care of them
The Characterization of any of the
roles played by Frederick Warde. is al
ways scholarly and thoughtful, the
ground work laid by reasoning and re-
search before the force of personal ia
lent is infused into the Interpretation.
AS with his brother artist of the palette,
| the technique is mastered and the preli-
| minary sketches made before the final
conception appears. Othello has prov
! ed in Mr.. Warde's hands more than the
equal of his Iago of earlier years. The
| forCeful character of the swarthy war
! rior as impetuous in love as he was in
war, mighty in passion, whether for
| good or evil but after all a very child
in the simplicity of his nature, seems
admirably adapted to the robust style
! that sits so easily upon Frederick
| Warde. The fact of his being skilfully
| played upon by IagO made OthellO, as
played by Mr.. Warde, no less great a
character. The hot blooded Moor, fun
| of intense manhood, seemed no uniting
mate for Desdemona in the light of his
achievements and his virile manliness.
| The Characterization was so rounded
out by the actor that by subtle touches
| here and there, one could imagine the
/ Moor enacting, not merely the scenes
| that came before the eye, but others
| where his big heart, filled with love for
| the daintiness of his bride, laid aside
| his rough, bluff manners of the camp
| and tried to play the courtier to his
! lady. The elimination of the tragedy
where, with every fibre tingling at the
loss of honor, pride and love, he damns
| his mistress before he kills her thrilled
! the house with it's intensity. 1t was the
roar of a wounded lion, bereft of his
mate and seeking for some wild re-
venge. Throughout the performance
the artist was forgotten in the man
, surely the highest praise that could be
/ bestowed on any actor.
Ably supporting him, the characters
. of IagO, Cassie. DesdemOna and Emilia
were admirably played Mr.. Herman's
Iago was excellent Only once, in the
eXultant, This is the night that either
makes me or fordOes me quite" did he
seem to fail to reach the best that was
in the role. Mr.. Hermans villains have
one most commendable quality, a ma
turalness and apparent pure delight in
working mischief that fits admirably
the villains of Shakespeare's dramas
Barry JOhnstone's Cassie was rendered
with the full force of the many attribu-
ties of this excellent actor. Aside from
the bare acting Mr.. JOhnstOnes voice
is in many respects his fortune and he
possesses also the rare quality of at
mOsphere SO entirely essential to the
portrayal of the legitimate Miss Ash.
ton was happily cast as Desdemona anC
the righteousness of the innocent wife
bewildeTed at the passion of her lord
while failing to understand his accusa
tons, strengthened the play greatly il
the portrayal of the greatest scene.
Miss Prescott had her opportunity
last night and seized it firmly. Those
| who have seen her in other season!
where her roles have given her the oc
casiOn were not surprised at the force
of her Interpretation last night. Tn,
| cHdlleISe TO ldSO ana nef SCOfn OF mn
as his treachery is revealed to her wa.
a very powerfully played scene, reveal
ing, not merely dramatic force. but
scope of voice and gestures that make!
one look forward to her assumption o.
| the part of Lady Macbeth with mucf
interest. Mr. Hyne's Roderigo showed
intelligent conception weakened in it,
effect from his having played a very
similar role in Oswald the night before
in King Lear. The balance of the cas-
was satisfactory but not notable.