The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-12
.THEATERS

J THE greatest man. not merely OF his
tiIne. but OF all time" IL the gem
eral verdict OF the student regard
ing julius Caesar He was not only
the great warrior. but the statesman.
his oratory was deemed second only TO
that OF his Contemporary. Cicero. while
his writings rank him among the high
est OF Latin classics His greatness
existed. not merely with his attain
ments. his achievements. but shone re-
spiendent for the pure humanity OF his
disposition. His virtues balanced his
talents To the conquered he was ever
magnanImOus. ruling less for the ag-
grandIzement Of Rome and Caesar.
than to serve the best ends OF those he
subjugated.
So with his countrymen. In an era
when the senatorial faction was bent
on prostitutinE the powers given its
members 10 their own selfish. sinister
ends. viewing conquered country a. a
field only for rapine. plumber and lust
and practicinR the same ends on their
fellow citizens: Caesar stood in the
forefront. sustaining the purpose OF his
whole career. and bending all his en-
ergies towards the conserving OF the
ancient liberty and constitution OF
Rome for the least 10 the most import
ant OF its citizens. II was no wonder
the populace loved him and set up his
images about the city to- the envy OF
MarcellUs and FTavius the tribunes.
Shakespeare. in the attitude OF this
same populace swaying beneath the or
atory OF Antony. evidently thinks the
hOi polloi OF Rome but little capable
90 self government. The play Ia prac-
ticaliy history. culied with but slight
alterations from Plutarch's Lives" or
rather from the translation that Sir
Thomas North published in 1879. taken
In its turn from a French version by
Bishop Jacques Amyot. who followed n
Latin version OF the original Greek.
There are Inaccuracies. of course. and
other places where the dramatist was
forced 20 adapt the actual circum-
stances To dramatic use. az for instance
the death OF CassIus. in reality killed.
not by falling upon his sword. held by
Pindarus. but by the latter striking his
head from his body. a deed hardly 10
be accomplished satisfactorily on the
boards.
Shakespeare's play does not show Caesar
ut his happicst- The deeds and triumphs
are ALI behind. showing him NJ the sum
tempting him 20 make the reality OF the
banncT-borne inscription. Scnatus Populus
Que Rex. Antony again Is shown in the
most favorable light. his future cruelty
TO his wife. his quarrels with young
Ociavius. Caesar = nephew. and his final
defeat at Actium. being stu unrolled In
the scroll OF the future. Brutus IL the
heroic figure Of the play. THE nobIest
Roman" OF the conspirators. touched
with ambitions selfishncsS. but I'm the
main killing his friend In the firm belief
that In thus repeating the deeds OF his
ancestors he was acting for the good OF
his country and his countrymcn: burying
his blade In the imperial flesh only to
keep the compact OF the conspirators
Antony has the Grafton. that marvel OF
sophistry. but IN yet a subordinate figure.
The lean and hungry Cassius filled with |
rancorous envy nj Caesars mastery. moth
ne more or less than envy. his object In |
him - n masterpiece OF dra-
matte presentation. Not until almost the |
md does the subtle playwright disclose |
~ the outburst. II am n soldier. I. older |
IN practice. ADLER than yourself" the fact |
hat Cassius. while accepting Brutus IA /
The leader. yet thought that he himself /
bad better lifted the place and hoped per-
-hancc that while the peoples choice L
made that OF Brutus inevitable. some 1
ucky chance or rnischance might leave
he way open for his own aggrandize-
nent.
Julius Cacrar contains one or two OF /
he pardouabic annchronisms that Shakes
are committed and which are. perhaps
roof against Bacon's authorship. Sir
francis. learned knight. would not have
made Antony say. II come To- bury Cae-
ar. when the custom burned not buried !
ne dead In Caesars time. nor given the |
Ines To Brutus. How ill this taper
'urns." The presentation on Saturday !
tsht changed the taper. centuries before
~ time. TO more conventional lamp |
q introduced another anachronism. made
cry pardonable by the sweet voice OF
Hiss Berteile. In the shape OF very mod
I'm guitar.
Frederick wardc as Antony gave am
ie evidence OF the power OF oratory In
he funeral speech. besides. with his
ianly beauty. making plain Caesars rea- .
on Tor choosing him his intimate rather
han the less pleasing featured CassiuS
nj even Brutus. Antony IL not to the
hind 81 the critic. the stellar part. but
SErdc has sacrificed finer roles TO pre-
INT n more perfect triumviratc. Cassius
= could not play. for several reasons: ,
he role 81 Brutus does not call for the |
over that Antony's grief and yengefuI
urpose over Caesars body needs. So
'arde gives US an unblemished Antony
icldtnE the center OF the stage more J
To the interpreters of Cassins
nj Erutus
Able interpreters they both proved 4
AIRY tombstone rs Cassius far surpas-- ,
! his lcilius on the opening night. He
links too much revealed itself In every !
ne and action. the latter being made ad- Z
Iirable with its frequent repression OF Z
ose- The finished actor. with an attrib- ,
o. OF harmonious voice. stood revealed
or was Charles Herman less TO the fore.
rufus. with many virtues and th. only 4
- H.. /