The Washington times., 1903-03-03
Shakespeare'S Masterful His
torical Play Produced on
Plane Of High Scholarship
at National.

Caesar by Richard Mansfield. which has
conferred the attention OF American play
gocrs throughout tho current theatrical
season. was disclosed locally last night at
the National Thcatnr. IL was received
BY an audience worthy i'm all rc.pect OF
play and acting with undivided interest
and marked approval
The performance Of the drama las car
fied 20 its end on plane Of the highest
scholarship and re-cnforccd by series
OF the most impressive stage pictures
which the American tbeater has ever
known. The result was thus an enter
tGinmcnt which established the more
htmly an actor Of fire mind and great
skill. presented 10 the view OF a distiu-
kuishcd assembly Il vivid picture Of life
In ancient Rome. and portrayed with all
the force o. realism the overwhelming
catastrophe with which the play OF
Julius Caesar is concerned
On each succeeding night OF the week
and The afternoon OF Saturday this ex-
perience Will doubtless be repeated. At
the end or this Washington engagement
Mr. Mansfield and his company will
have presented a superlative enactment
or this great composition TO perhaps
$4,000 persons.
Every student OF The drama must find
IN this reelection the deepest satisfac-
lion. The number is not greater than
that which attests the cheap favor Of
various German" comedians, but were
the support extended the latter twice as
great. the effec. OF Julius Caesar" thus
conceived and presented must be in
hniiely more lasting and the source OF
vastly greater influence
Julius Caesar is one Of the greatest
products OF the greatest mind the world
OF literature has ever known. It de-
lights the ear with a majesty and music
or language almost distinctive. even in
Inc works OF Shakespeare. il presents
10 the eye picture OF great men 81 -,g-
Cling with great difficulties befor, the
most highly coIored and splendid back
ground known to the STAGE: il pro-
nounces with Impression aud distinct
ness the lOfticst sentiments. and II in
culcates with force almost oppres-
sive the inevitable wreckare when pur-
tty OF character and nobility OF pur-
pose are demoaned 90 unworthy uses.
The impressive pagan splcndor. order
cd and arrayed by Shakespeare potent
hand. fired with varying and Iife-Iike
spirit expressed in his sonorors and
meiodious verse. and pregnant TO the
serious mind with the insuUerabIe dis
astcr accompanying every effort 90 serve
good end by unworthy means are thus
clearly depicted. So that. through all
the course OF this engagement. until in
Inc judgment OF this eminent actor and
manager this play must be laid aside.
thousands OF persons may every week
feel the influence Of the truest art OF the
stage. realize the material life OF an
age OF long ago. and absorb almost with
out effort a lesson which must other
wise represent hard experience or years
OF dilisent study
In Washington as elsewhere the in
vestiture OF this play Tor this produc-
ton must excite general comment Its
nine scenes are as many rich pictures Of
life in imperial Rome. Great buildings
are represented. the forum is repro
dueed with ali the characteristics or that
focus OF Roman life; the imperial SEN
ate chamber is presented faithfully
nearly every scene echoes the move
ment OF troops, The rattle OF armor and
the fanfare OF trumpets. and through
all these views swayed by the power
OF spirit only in part perceived. mo res
TestlcssIy and impetuousIy that thrOng
out OF which the irresistible army ~
Rome was recruited and through which
all the wrongs OF rulers and conspsra
tors were alike cxpiated
IL is understood many Of the scent,
compositions are those made and paint
ed By Sir Lawrence Alma Tadema foI
Henry ITving's presentment OF Corr
olanus." and that the others were pre-
pared particularly for this production By
the same great artist and student OF life
IN Rome. This may well be. for the
representation OF these backgrounds
bespeak in "A thousand details and in
breadth and impressivcuess Of effect the
best mounting Julius Caesar" has ever
had
Moving before this background is a
group OF actors all sufficiently endowed
with presence. intelligence. and capa-
bihty 10 present. Stage by stage. the
current of events o. which THE uorl
chiefly consists.
The cast is abuEdant'y large. Indeed
with the mob g. must number sevara
hundreds of persons. Yet every PEI.
son who appears in costume is ad-
mirably trained. The mob is as near
recreation o. the Roman populace %,
modern learning and patient training
can make "a and not subordinate to o.
the principal figures iu the drama Il
moves with raturalness. ii consists o
distinctive individuals. and il transform,
the speeches after the death OF Caesar
from fine defamation INFO realistic act.
INK within the limits OF real dra-
matte art this stage mob has never
been eNceilCd.
THE subsidiary characters Or the plal
measure 20 the same high standard Th'
matchless Grafton OF MaruIlus. which
Prof Hudson regarded one OF the fines
speeches in Shakespeare ls eIcctiyely
81 not adequately spoken The Oc
tavius. Cicero. Decius. B-utus. Arte
midorUs. and Caeaar are so portrayed
as 10 fulfil the dramatic exigencies ant
contribute 10 the general excellence oi
the presentation. the Caesar having con.