New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-03-15
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING. 4"


Princess Theatre.
The Princess Theatre which has been altered and
made more nearly safe than 81 formerly was. once
more invites The public atteUJion,-hav!us been
opened last Night with performance uf Shakes
peares brilliant comedy OF Much Ado About
Nothing" given ~ miscellaneous company, &C.
nominated 'ILe Century Players" which has been
organ,ze5 ly 1Ir. sidney E0alafe.-. Tie principal
member OF This company is Miss Jessie Ml'ward,
ar actress whom 81 has usually fecn a pleasure 10
see and whose presence. on this occasion, supplied
the shakespeariau revival with its only element
Of sny considerable interest Miss Mlword, who
appeared as Beatrice possesses some natural quail
acatiors r5- the gay, impCroEs. energetic com
batve phases ~ t,rat character and also she pos
sessCs remembrance ot FalUac-e professional isso-
cisti1r with it.-a remembrance that should clearly
Indicate both the right Ideal and the sure executive
raetiod-fo she played Hero. 81 Henry lrying's
nlaruIaceut production o. Much ADO tat the
Iyccun Theatre. London, in 1852 and later in
Amc-ica). and thus she might have been Instructed
by the incompatible Beatrice OF Ellen Terry Sle
docs not Better Tire instruction nor does she
closely approximate 10 Il. notwithstanding a very
strenuous imitation OF that model Ia the partiru-
lars OF arch pisyfulness. silyery banter, and de-
mare, COuuettsh. e1tiriCal, delicious mOckery:
there Is but one Ellen Terry. and her Ike
VII not again be seen: but Miss MlIlward's
strength her seii-Ooutrol. her vivacty. her
buoya-t aui--C. spirits. and her carabltty 70
in1ar sense OF passionate feeling are c0asElcU-
ously shown. Ier performance OF Beatrice,-tAe
claiac,e- being sppreEerLud as = dashing, flip
pant inlno-tufate. irritating teaser and being e--
pressed iu "a strain Of almost continuous rattle
consistent. harmonious. fO-c.ble, and spirited;
and. although 81 lacks the Ere distinction q innate
superiority and alec the cuchart-ert OF genius Il
amply indicates the superficial qualities. Il 81 does
not completely C-rnGy.-by marifest,nE her lovely
srirlt-the most Diluaut @ shakespearcs women
Beneath impetuous. aggressive. provoking, tan
islzins manner Beatrice Is ardent, generous, az
fectl0ultc. passionate romantic reritahlc worn-
an WHO desires love even while. IN a mood o.
naughty set reliance and yet OF sef-confict, per-
rersey rosertng the Imperl0us impulse that impels
her desire. "Dlsdain and sco-u ride sparkling IN
he- eyes" but there is q world Of tender feeling
il beg heart Miss Eillwar5s acting, IN this in
stance has not euthoritativey touched the note q
feeling Ier irapersouation O. Beatrice il incisve.
brittle keen. rUnrent. not anywhere suggestive %
latent tenderness; not anywhere indicative OF the
sweet exul.aut enchanting gladness SO sympathet-
fcsly implied in her delicious exclamation, There
WIS q star danced, and under tnat was bora
Victorious. Il a. az, b. force and not by charm.
There is no performer ia Mr.. Bosenfeld's com
rauy competent fully 20 impcrvonate either Bene-
c.ck Claudio. Don Pedro, Don John Several
heavy persons went on Tor these parts and 1narrcd
them, while completely sophisticated player made
win cTort 20 net Hero. part requiring The grace
q, the lily. Benedlck. who clearly and decisively
SLOWS himself ln his EoLloaUy on marriage, is a
whimsical man. Inclined 20 wsggsh pleasantly and
playful runinance. not a swashbuckler. and Ger
talny rct THAI creature OF bucl1ram, buttons, and
bounce a stage soldier. From the crown Of his
head o. ,fe sole o. his foot lie Is all mirth" says
his rov2I comrado, Don Pedro; but at the climax
o. tire church scene. anE also 81 the scene % the
challenge De shows very serious SIDE a oeep
heart and a formidable. dangerous personality;
aaie al al times he Is a or polished and ele-
elnt ceueanC-. Perhaps both Benedick and
reatTloe should be viewed as. 10 some extent pre-
tehet7s 70 Che mood o. levity ana sarcasm. Both
o. D--- an characteristic manner. brisk alert,
nnolahr oie4aeunE. and yet both OF them are
capaDIe o. eeN'eiess and repose. II Is the coz
het OF toeir Aaoreo wits that draws them 10 each
othcr-this. and the Intuition q rv,nna.b,. 7-,s
adequate inte.I retation OF thern ana % the com
eCy, CcCoIdHgiy, requires nuer mentality and "a
more subtle and exquisite nrt than we're sr,,r,.
r. any o. the Proceedings o. tho Century Pisvers
Giecms o. merit were visible ~ most OF the -o-
RESERVATIONS. ana as whole, the product3o, -,
snaL stage. and w4th players as yet mao
cGstouel &c their association, 10 crcditable T3,,t
thore Is room Tor radical Improvement The seen
ery Is painfully new. lacking meilowness and tone.
~. Putnam. as Don Pedro has no repose and il
81 no wcy r. Prince. The part is one OF calm su-
thority. and 81 can he made very effective with
shouting like q stentor neighing Ike nanny
goat ST. Morris. as Benedicll is burly Rnd com
moupace. intelligent doubtless. but careless IN the
distrbotlon o. emphasis the said. For example,
speaker showing no skill in sha.ng tones or
Words 10 express delicate shades OF meaning.
AZ Asop. as Don John. presented black scare
crow and q perfectly obvious and transparent
villain Mr. j. ~. AlbauEh. g.. converted The
exquisite CLAUDIO" into a peevlsh frivolous, *
lsesise snip. with the least tenderness. sentiment
" dignity. Mr. Roberts. as Leonato though con-
Nenuonal DOB style and deacient OF aristocrauc
MARINER. gave good performance acting from
- heart and moulding and guidirg his emotion
~'leh IN the church scene was that OF truth and
power. But 81 IS useless TO dissoct butterflies
AAe COMEDY o. Much Ado.'-to say nothing OF
- earlier memorable history.-was included IN the
-eteiar repertory o. Edwin Booth: was conspicu-
S-1@ presented by Lester Wallack: was habtu-
- used By Julia Bennett Barrow, Laura Keene.
- scott-sddous. Miss Rose Eytinge Adelaide
-''-@ fanny Davenport. and other fayorites;
- STOCK piece al Days Theatre. in the early
ii ~ 'nat house; was rcsplendcntly produced br
- -L.lNb ''he best Benedick Of the modern
maj L. ~ m