The Washington times., 1903-12-31
IRVING ACTS 'SHYLOCK"
WITH WONDERFUL SKILL

indeed expressed with smoldering in
tense passion, and with massive power
of mind Yet. mingled with these quali-
ties and interfusing them is an attribute
OF sacrifcial austerity, the embodiment
not alone of implacable hatred. but of
solemn, retribUtive racial venssaI.e,s
This quality, manifest at all points. is
expressed with most force in the trial
scene. Arrayed as though for some cal
epdar religious rite, void Of every sign
OF variable and uncontrolled passion,
cold, steady, baleful, terrible-Irving
Shylock here embodies an awful concep-
ton of evil woven about a firm ideal of
adamantine Justice And at the close of
the trial, when Shylock has been humil-
lated to the core. when his house and re-
ligion have been taken from him. when
the Christian has triumphed. after all,
as he had triumphed again and again
before. the wreck in the old Jews heart
is disclosed with fine restraint. great
beauty of proportion and an indescrib-
able fidelity to the temper of his race
beyond any other acting seen in Wash
ington at any other hands. There is no
delirium. such as would have delighted
Edmund kean; no defamation. like
that of Edwin Booths Shylock; only the
terrible self-control of strong man
ruined. beaten. and disgraced
Fine Cast and Rich Mountings.
The investiture which frames this en-
bodiment is marked by the same ex-
cellences as before-fiOating gondolas
winding in and out shadowy canals to
the light music of lutes and mandolins:
the opulent pageantry of the Venetian
~ h4 cf 90 q,
the gaoler; the touches of barbaric
splendor at the arrival of the Duke of
Morocco; and, most potent of all. the
silent. sinister return of ShyIock to the
home which. in his absence has been
despoiled. These scenes are appropriate
in artistic completeness to the charac-
ter they are designed TO emphasize
More than that could hardly be said.
1t is rare enough that the ancillary
characters of such a play are acceptably
done. BY Mr.. lrvings company they
are extremely well done. Laurence Try
ing. as Antonio; Gerald Lawrence. IS
Bassanio: +. Tyars. as Morocco: H g.
Stanford as Gratiano; Nora Lancaster.
as Jessica; Laura Burt. as Nerissa. and
Mabel Hackney, as Portia are the most
conspicuous of the supporting members.
The Antonio was intellectual and
scholarly. as the previous appearancess
of young Mr. Irving had led the au-
dience to expect. The Bassanio was
graceful and pleasing. the Morocco dig
nified and impressive, the Jessica maid
enly and ingenious. the Nerissa an apt
second fiddle to Portia. and the others
what we would have them. Miss Hack
ney made an extremely favorable i'm
preston as POrtia. through all the
earlier scenes. only TO spoil it by over
declaiming her chief speech in the trial.
As has been said before however. ''The !
Merchant of Venice" without Ellen Ter
ry as Portia is like June without the
rose.
Such are the chief qualities of "The |
Merchant Of Venice" as produced by 1
Mr.. Irving The several scenes are nc |
curate, picturesque. and appropriate 1
The company is exceptionally compe-
tent And. finally-as the foremost I
critic in America has already said-Mr 1
Irving's Shylock is not only the bez.
that the stage can now show. but 7
Judged by every standard except that OF |
sonorous. oratorical defamation (Which 1
some, people suppose to be acting) the /
best that II has ever shown.
A d A.