The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-03
ADJUSTMENTS
Frederick Warde in ''The MOunte'
+ hankN Mt the MetrOpOlftan,

Frederick Warde in 'sThe Mounte-
bank'' at the Metropolitan.
Frederick Warde has been before the pub
lie as star actor for something like quar-.
ter of a century. For nearly all of that pc
riod he has chung with pertinacity, born Of
love for the work, to the classic drama. Yet
he has never attained leading posi-
ton on the American stage.s TIL.
causes Of his failure to win the highest posi-
ton are rather elusive. He is man of rare
intelligence an interchangeable student of his
art and all related literature, an actor of
fine presence, good figure and admirable voice
and long years Of experience not unmiXed
with hardships and financial trials have
ripened and matured his art without appar-
emily undermining his youthful vigor and
| energy Why then should he not have
climbed to higher place in his profession?
| While his fidelity to the classic drama, of
which the playgoing public. easily grows
weary nowadays may account for it in some
measure, l believe the fault Is fundamental
| and lies in the quality of Mr. Warde's art His
acting to be frank is overdone. 1t leaves too
| little tp the imagination 1t storms, 1t weeps,
| it raves, it smiles and always to excess. This
constant exaggeration destroys the illusion
4 without which acting is really successful
! Instead of exhibiting that artistic repres-
! sion which Permits the finer touches to be
put in effectively, Mr.. Warde paints his por-
! traits with great heavy strokes--and the
thrush marks are always plainly visible.
! This characteristic Of his art is more palp-
l able in some plays than in Others Put Mr..
Warde in a great tragedy where relentless
fate is sweeping everything before it and his
1 boisterous method marches well with the
! course of events. But in romantic comedy
/ like 1.-The Mountebank, in whose title role
/ he appeared last night he far overshoots
! the mark. The play is bad enough at best,
! being characterized by that mawksh senti-
,I1r, yoF ,1of To ho tod 50,
] D'Ennery's better known play, 1.-The Two
/ Orphans But it presents some strong stu
ations and incidentally some Opportunities
! for comedy which with q DETER touch
than Mr.. Warde possesses might be
| effectively handled. Lacking the intui-
ton Of the accomplished comedian, he
applies the eraser methods of the
I tragedian and his mountebank strikes one
as rather ponderous fellow, given to heroics,
and quite lacking in the finesse such a stroll
/ ing vagabond would acquire
i Nor does Mr.. Warde's company appear to
! better advantage than he in the play. It's
1 members, selected probably for their attain
/ part unnatural and Ill at ease In lighter roles
4 yerging toward comedy. There are some no.
!. table exceptions Miss Aileen Bertelle, as
the mountebank's young son, acted the boy
Z with rare discretion. This is the more praise
4 worthy, since most actresses cast for boys
4 parts make sad failures of them. Miss Der
II telle, however, seemed to know how boy
would act under certain conditions and, with
out affectation exaggeraton or undue be
trayal of her sex, she reproduced the simple
a hearted lad to perfection. Another good BIZ
was the old duke of Barry tombstone, though
this was open to criticism for the exaggera-
ton in the scene with the opera dancer Miss
u Antoinette Ashton, who played the mounte
J banks wife. was quite unable to give thai
! inexplicable character any air OF realty.
Charles d. Herman is a passable villair
| and his lack of craft is probably the faul
J, rather of D'Ennery than Of Herman.
John E. Hynes fails lamentably in his at
tempt to play the clown. The*role is on,