The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-02-20
MARKED FAVOR
FOR Miss REHAN
Brilliant Actress Warmly
Greeted as the ShPew.
Mr.. SKINNER SCORES ALSO
Shakespeare Fine Comedy Admirably
Acted by the Two Principals.
Katherine Much localized.

Miss Rehan and Mr.. Skinner disclosed
the third play iu their present roper
tuire last night Shakespeare laugh !
able and brisk comedy of "The Tanning
OF the Shrew." The play has long been
one of the most popular from this
source and yesterdays audience re
hected this popularity admirably. by
virtue of size distinction, and a gen
er,u disposition to laugh with sympa-
thetic understanding whenever situation
and text permitted. The evening was.
however. most remarkable for this-that
TWO OF the most picturesque roles in
Shakespeare were performed adequately
and brightly and that the Capital was
thus given one Of the most distinctive
pleasures Of its current dramatic season.
For seventeen years Miss Rehan inn
PRESERVATION of Katherine has been "A
standard. She is perhaps me most salts
factory shrew in the history of our
stage AN inquiry into her conception
and portrayal of the part mas, therefore,
aR extraordinary .ntef, 81: and par
Ucular light is shed upon that portrayal
boy an article written by Miss Rehan her
self and published i'm The Times of last
sunday
The Shrew localized.
"Katherine's own words" wrote Miss
Rehan. point out her fine Intelligence
which places her far beyond the com
mon acceptation of the word shrew.
look upon her as "A grand creature, q
very noble nature of high breeding
spoiled. willful child. who had always
her own way wiki everyone. Highstrung
and nervous. though at the same time
strong and thoroughly healthy. she
could nos bear a shadow OF contradic-
zion I liked. when playing to remem-
Der General Sherman's expression one
evening. after seeing her-that Rather
ire always reminded him Of soldier
who had hsd victories all along the line.
until she mad. at last. met her master. 90
Tor the delineation OF these qualities
which are. il should be said. idealiza-
tons % Shakespeares shrew rather
than reflections of the text-Aiiss Rehan
employs an anti-ciimax Of force and
obtains steady cresceudO of effect
Fier embodiment is begun at the highest
pitch OF excitement on a plane OF wild
speech. furious temper and unwomanly
violence which only a trained actress
could attain without an act or two for
development. II dashes impeuously on
ward in "A storm Of passion; and il sub
sides gradually and irresisubly from
that mood or storm and lightning into
The sweet calm of anectionate woman
hood
The chief value Of this impersonation,
when viewed without relation 20 its i'm
tcrpretatiVc character. lies In its reveal
ton Of kath rine rs "a woman capable
of the deepest love and deeply moved by
~ In the person OF her rough and inn
perious sutton. IT has. moreover. a
al Iva r
gasps OF feminine JUNCTION and delight
heard from every point of tine tbeater
are 10 be- taken aS sign. and thlt
special delight depends. apparently. on
"a hundred little tricks of voice and
gesture to which women are accus-
toned. and which are completely hidden
from masculine eyes
High praise and unbOunded pleasure
have marked the perfOrma nee Of this
role by Miss ReHan In America Eng
land. France aiHl Germany There
. can be- no e1ca 56eIatiOn. SAYS one critic
o. great commence. ''iu saying fuat the
possibliles o. tEe character were never
fuly realized until ADJ Eehau assumed
IL 81 cpnEc-eure demands that tlus
praise should be qualified here. "a is
true 2U DOUBT. that the possibilities or
the character as thus eSemphlied. were
never before appreciated. and iOr the
very good reason th3J Shakespeare
himself GA uot contemplate amy such
pOseibiues.
f-ne PetTrCh,0.
AS drvn in tbe text Petruchio is n
wiIlfUl us,asIte. yiuperatiye. witty
and -ll.l gCu"g man Custom of th p
stage las added Go tleac characteristics
d-s-iact kiniliuess and suggeste.
humor with these contributions the
cIsss. ctCr can never be made attractiy .
except ss through its adjournment by
the actor with bland good nature ana
F..'f.r..-..er
This Be- in part tire achievement OF Nj.
Skinner iu tIe roles But 30 has % virtue
beyond 40 th,s. indeed. IN a fine grace
OF manner and dignity OF mind whlen
make tna iuleIeoldtion am unusual de-
light and rank Do equal with Miss he
ban Katherine. Last night tne atteu-
zion oft the audience geItered rather ON
PsUucl.J tlal Ou bis wife. Tlls would
be. uTleT ordinary circumstance. e.
fact i.EuIIcdut OF exceptional pUwe-.
MleI the Katherine is that of Adj
Eehau. however IL is su extraordinary
compliment
other tlsn Katherine aud Petruchio.
the roles oi the ui-y were adequately
but not c3pHDiE performed. y ht cast
doomed bis vita utmcs familiar IN mod
ern perormHuceS Of Shubespetrc. The
ingredients iOI au even. sustained.
smooth and fine performance were an
Questi0n1bly there. B1t obey did not
mix yet mo- one who finds interest IN
Shdkesprs r. should lose this O~''or-
or his characters splendidiy acted. n
10 "a nue OPPORTUNITY. and Washington is
awaiting Itself OF 81 4. u. A.