The Washington times., 1904-03-20
BY
uATTHEW WHITE, R.

n HAKESPEARE displacing musical
comedy, and at a New York thea
ter! Surely the days of miracles
~ are not yet over, when Glitter
ing Gloria can be ousted from
Days 20 permit sceneIess Twelfth
Night TO continue its metropolitan run.
Much has been said about Charles Froh-
man belonging to the commercial class
OF managers-aS If indeed any OF them
went into the business from pure love
Of it-but surely there was little Of the
commercial spirit in his sticking to
''r.veryman" last season after New
York had turned the cold shoulder to it.
And for a. manager Of M Frohman's
standing to give US Shakespeare in the
Elizabethan manner manifests a public
spirit that is highly commendable, for,
even at it's very best. he cannot hope
TO reap the box c6lce rewards that CONE
TO him from Three Little Maids and
The Girl from Kay's." And yet there
ought 10 be a large number OF real
Shakespeare lovers in town DESTROYS 10
see once at least a play by the master
dramatist produced as nearly as posi-
bic in the original manner.
And how the actors must enjoy this
simplicity of environment. which per
force concentrates all the attention on
their work.
The Rival viol-s.
Altogether different from Viola Al
lens is the Viola Of Edith Wynne Mat
thison- Miss Alien accents the comedy
side Of the character; Miss Matthison.
the sentimental The latter possesses a
charming voice and manner. and her
success in the part OF Everyman has
given her a large following who will be
anxious 70 see hcr in various roles. 1t is
animated that during the tarrying Of
the Greet company at Daly's other
Shakespeare plays VIII be presented in
the quaint Elizabethan manner. minus
curtain. scenery and entire actes, with
the two beef-eaters standing guard at
either side OF the stage. and only
stretching their limbs by crossing from
side TO side during the one five-minuta
interval in the course OF the evening
Miss Matthison was born IN London.
and 1t is noteworthy that on the oc-
casiOn OF her first appearance on the
stage Gin one Of Ben Greet's touring
companies) she was distinct failure
The part was Mlady in THE Three
Musketeers," but Mr.. Greet (the Malvo-
Ito IN Twelfth Night'O saw the posi-
bilities IN the girl. and at his school Of
acting trained her for several years in
private performances Of such parts as
Juliet. Rosalind and Peg Wellington.
Rise of Edith wynne Matthison.
The morality play. "Everyman. was
first put forward by Mr.. Greet at OK
ford University in 1901, with Miss Rey-
nOlds IN the name part The success Of /
the piece was so pronounced that a Lon
don production at Mrs. Langtry's I'M
perial Theatre was decided on Then a
peculiar thing happened. The role Of
Everyman was taken away from Miss
Reynolds and given 20 Miss Matthison,
who had failed in The AIusketeers."
She was practically unknown in the cap
ital, but It was her work that obtained
for the odd little play the success IL
achieved. It was the same when the
piece was brought to this country. As
those who have seen 1t will recall, no
names OF the performers are given on
the programme. but It was known that
Miss datthison was the Everyman.
and wherever the play was presented
she created the same favorable impress
sion-by her reverence, her beautiful
voice. and her intelligent appreciation Of I
inner meanings
Last Spring she made another hit as
Rosalind 70 the outdoor performance Of /
Gas You like It." given on the grounds
Of Columbia University. and IN Boston
she was the Portia in an Elizabethan
production Of The Merchant of Venice"
In the same city she enacted the Arch I
angel Michael in the miracle play The I
Star of Bethlehem" and on the campus
at Harvard .ook part in a pastoral per- 4
Torrance Of The Comedy Of Errors.
She returns 10 England In the coming
Summer. under engagement TO appear at
one Of the London theaters-
On the programme Of these old-tirns
productions of the Shakespeare PLAYS II
Is distinctly stated that only up 10 a
certain point Is IL possible 10 give a
performance IN the manner Of the six
tenth century. For one thing, the pub
lie, or as much of it as could gather
there are not seated upon the stage as
they were in Shakespeare day. No
doubt Broadway theatergoers would
take eagerly to this innovation. more so