New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-10-01
LONDON DRAMA.
sbaEespearian Fantasy Produced in
the Spirit Of Pantomime.
London. sentan,ho- -

London. September II.
=, 7r.s has produced THE Tempest' eoy "a.
-..,,ment OF plsygoers rather than for Tho
'-..,t,on OF shakespearian scholars 10 has
.,,owu any light upon the erudite theorv
,be poet was attempting 70 gatirize the
YIrbt OF q coEGuerLng race TO irnDosa SIS
- mon On inferior one. nor has he lent his
.Aorstv 10 the fantastic idea that the master
-. drama. with prophetic insight was teach
y zuglishrnen TO think imperiaIly at a time
,bsy were entering upon their colonial en-
sses and creating their resources Of sea
~. scholars in their libraries may find
p..t,on IN eonJectures that Shakespeare had
come OF the most fanciful accounts Of
ls,-.bs.han voyages of discovery. and that he
-ls.red il polite TO take his cues from SO
800 monarch as James 1 and to make a
,.e OF demons. elemental savages. spirits
=. air and magicans powers over super
l agencies: but they are not likely TO go
=. sheatre 10 obtain solutions Of these mys-
- Mr. Tree has been content to interest
,.-.0ers in THE Tempest, as a medley OF
p-,,ston and coarse hunlor and to enrich it
.,.E s,snlc detail and fairy pantomime. If the
-, srsgs IN dramatic movement and the ac-
=. have uleagre opportunities for bringing
.s,,r movers TO bear. he is not to be censured
s ean never have been designed as a spir-
- acting play. He has not altered its essen
-, character as a fantasy Of an enchanted ISL
80 where human relations and supernatural
,-ss are In a state Of topsyturvydom; and
:. has succeeded IN deepening the color OF the
49, ~ series Of beautiful stage pictures and
!, sBcircling It with poetic feeling. One critic
t,sfilv sur1nises that Shakespeare would have
sssr surprised on the first night at His Maj
sstv's TO find himself the inventor OF musical
,srs5y. He forgets Caiiban's lines:
The isle is full OF noises.
r,,,ss ard sweet airs, that give delight ana hurt
s.ne a95 a thousand twangns instruments
VTl hum Sbout my ears
Tbs NAV is introduced with a wonderful pict-
- Of a tempest-tossed Elizabethan ship sway
= and laundering in high sea. While the
eatning glares and the thunder crashes, the
"a sweep over the decks. the sailors shrek
= climb into the rigging, the tinabers crack
,.s the mast breaks. It is marvel 81 stage
wesbsnisri. and the sense Of proportion is kept
!, having children as sailors. If the opening
lpes Of the drama are suppressed, it is doubtful
d Shakespeare himself would have complained
vben the pictorial prologue so vividly repre-
s.sts the elemental strife between Nature and
nan. The two succeeding scenes are beautiful
Illustrations of Prospero's cell and shingle ~
yellow beach Fairies and sprites dance IN
graceful measures; Ariel, tall and 1.-the Glldes
IN ana out. obedient to Prosperos wand; Mi
rsnda hears the story OF her birth and falls
into q RAPTURE Of romance when gallant Ferdi-
nsns snpesrs: and Caiban. half savage and
half beast, brings into the piece grotesque de-
forlpity and british ignorance rather than the
unalignity Of z demon. The magician from the
outset is the master Of the masque, and his
triumph is so certain that he ceases 10 be an
interesting figure. The romance of the lovers
quickly pales; the intrigues Of the bewidered
castawsys Of high and low degree hardly grip
attention, and the comic byplay OF the drunken
butler and the sardonic jester seems coarse and
trivial. Ariel and Caliban. the contrasted en-
bodirents OF aerial grace and groveliing, best
sal deformity, carry on the play between them;
snd IN the end intelligence wins self-respect and
freedom and slavish ignorance is forced back
aypon its col and is left is possession of it.
Perhaps there is an expression Of regret over
deliveranoe on Caliban's face as he sees the
ship under sail and listens 70 the last note OF
Ariels song.
Mr.. Tree has carried out the idea that so fan
ciful a play needs all The resources Of stage
craft. one scene Of exquisite beauty follows an
other when the curtain rises upon the second
act and Ariel falfls her mission in an en-
chanted forest and among the Towering uieads
and sparkling cascades OF the island. One Of
.he loyeiiest stage pictures is the fairy glade.
With hanging web Of rich blooms, where she
sings Where the Bee Sucks" 10 Dr. Arne's
mssic The masque Of Iris, Ceres and Juno
IS charningly sung and danced, and is followed
By children's ballet Of naiads and reapers.
The original stage directions were: Enter
certain reapers. properly habted; they join with
ne nymphs in graceful dance, toward the end
whereof Prospero starts suddenly and speaks:
stter which, 10 & strange hollow and confused
nose they heavily vanish" These directions
are needed closely when the dainty little girls
the winding brooks leave the waterlilies and
rshes and dance on the green turf with tbs
kaaurnt sicklemen. a tricksy little Cupid points
rs Grows at the reapers. and the loyesick
rams seek 20 kiss the nymphs who repulse
lsn eoyly and leave them to finish the meas
Ne alone. Cupid now aims his bow at the
Enphs ana they press their suit with smiles
sha sghs, while the reapers harden their hearts
saa turn away. Cupid finally makes peace by
handing wedding ring to each bridegroom
ana When the veil has been flung back and the
1fae has been kissed there is marriage song,
ending with dance. This charming little ballet
5 srrunee to the spirit of the masque. and is
las osintiest ana prettiest feature of the play.
me little girl playing the part of Cupid points
Af DOW toward the audience as well as the
asacerss for she wins every heart by her CO.
soetry and swagger.
close approach is made 20 pantomims in the
s0sne where Caliban. stephano and Trinculo.
a1syed In stolen nnery, are Knocked and pun
'0ea for their plot against Prospero. Shake
peAfe's directions run: "A noise OF hunters
fa Enter divers spirits In shape OF hounds
80 nunt them about: Prospeuo and Ariel set
sls them on" In place OF pack Of hounds
us'e Is fantastic rout OF prehistoric beasts,
slOnes and hobgoblins: and as the frightened
Aorstors are clambering UP & rocky stair