Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-11

sent the life of Christ in series OF swen MED
h( music. but not word VIII De spohens
from the stage. Moreover, the names VI
the actors are not to be revealed. ihe
scene Of the cruciaxion VIII 9 eo,lo Us 1.-THE the
tragedy only to the betrayal.
Mr.. Hicks who is at present appearing as
a SHORTY duke in THE Catch OF the Sed
son., declares that the whole thing WIN De
done most reverently, and adds the lnIor,
nation that It will cost between $4oVVO ano
SAX 600 to put on. The plan Is 10 produce
this Passion Play at the New Aiawycn me :
ater. which Mr.. Frohman Is BUILDING near
the Strand But one has doubts Inc CEN
sor is a squeamish person, and lew tnihes
are less likely than that he will consent TO
a 1,-a ma IN the most sacred of all themes
by the composer of "A Quaint Ola BRO.
While isolated Shakespearean revlvais oc-
casionally prosper, the old saying about the
bards name spelling ruin seems to hoio
good even in London. Because Inc lam
ing of the Shrew,' finely acted by oscar
Asche and Lily Brayton. recently proved
great attraction at the Adelphi, the same
management was encouraged TO follow IL
with Hamlet" and whole shoal OF othef
Shakespearean productions promptly came
into being. Two Of them were other Ham
lets'-those of Tree and Martin harvey
but Lewis Waller put on Romeo and Ju-
liet," while Tita Brand gave us "Othello'
and F. R. Benson king Lear" The
Adelphi Hamlet had the special interest
which attached to seeing the younger irving
as the Prince Of Denmark, but the run has
been far from lengthy, and the piece will
give way soon to new romantic play py
James Bernard Pagan. The other revivals
have been even less fortunate. Tree s
Hamlet is perhaps his least successful
py,1 nf,1xy
ances of the tragedy have been given at his
Majesty's while Martin Haryey's portrayal
of the Dane was "booed' at the hrst per-
Torrance and does not seem likely to draw
the town OF Miss Brands production Of
"Othello," about the only distinctive fea-
ture was really capable performance or
Roderigo by Henry Ainley, who acted with
Maude Adams a while ago, and the enter
prise was short-lived. Finally. despite Lewis
Walters personal popularity and the ap-
pearance of Evelyn Willard as the heroine,
Romeo and Juliet" has come to speedy
end at the Imperial, SO the tale of misfor-
tune Is complete.
It Is owing, perhaps, to these circum-
stances that Sir Henry Irving has limited
his revival Of THE Merchant of Venice" at
Drury Lane to meager eight PERFORM
ances However, this production proves
notable not only for the unwaning Vigor
and dignity with which the old knight plays
Shylock but also for the success of Edith
Wynne Mathison, his new leading lady, in
the part of Portia. 1t was her first appear
ance in this role in London, and, of course,
comparisons with the Ellen Terry OF old
days were inevitable. But the young
actress stood the test well, and the fame
she so suddenly gained as Everyman has
come to stay. She was grave, gracious ana
dignified, rather than roguish, roliicklng
Portia 1t would be unfair to expect Of her
the personal magnetism of her famous pre-
decessor in the past, but there can be no
further question of Miss Mathison's future
place in the higher levels of drama If
anything, Sir Henry lrving's Shylock is
even q more impressive figure than 1t was
twenty years ago.
Following the example set at the Adelphi,
Lewis Waller is to resume operations with
a new piece by James Bernard Pagan, who
seems to be coming to the front. This young
who, like Stephen Phillips, was
formerly an actor in the Benson company,
first attracted notice with a blank verse
drama, THE Prayer Of the Sword, pro-
duced last fall by Ohio Stuart 1t wasn't
success, but showed considerable
promise. Another piece by Pagan, on quite
different lines, was given recently at
benefit in London. 1t was called Shake
speare vs. Shaw" and proved rollicking
with the author of Candida as
the hero. Fagan's coming two plays have
nothing in common, one being a roundhead-
cavalier drama, and the other comedy of
American life called Hawthorne, u. S. A"
1t is the last named piece which is to be
given by Waller. who recently appeared
with success as the American hero of Miss
Prisoner"