Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1905-10-08
ak

CNNE thing was fairly well estab-
lished In Omaha during the last
week-if, indeed. further testl-
RA mony on the point were needed
<AN and that. is that classics and
carnivals do not mix freely in this
section OF the world. Mr. nobert
Manteli gave nine performances at
the Boyd theater Of plays that should
appeal to the intelligence Of any commu-
nifty and the attendance at the nine per-
formances did not exceed what was mer-
tied at any one Not that the venture was
n desperately losing one, for the business
was enough 70 pay expenses, but because
at none Of the plays did the public attend
as should be the case when an earnest,
capable actor comes TO town to present
reries OF classic plays in an acceptable
manner II is the within Of people at times
to be amused in one way and again In an
other This time the people preferred the
lighter things offered at other theaters and
on the midway TO the more substantial
pabulum afforded by Mr.. Mantell and his
associates That probably explains the
condition TINT prevailed as well as anything
could
Whatever Mr.. Mantell's visit might have
lacked in success from the box ONCE point
OF view. II was certainly a glittering tri-
umph from the standpoint OF the stage
manager Much discussion has been had
as TO Shakespeare with scenery and stage
settings. Surely the magnificent pictures
designed by the poet never had more APP
propriate or effective settings than were
Afforded in this instance. The various
scenes were set with correct backgrounds
and were richly appointed In all regards.
so that the plays were given In the most
effective manner. While this n true, II Is
also true that at no time did the action
Of tho play suffer through the manipulation
Of the scenery that accompanied It. The
waits were remarkably short. a tribute TO
tho stage manager and the effective force
he directed and each time the curtain
rose II was on new setting properly estab-
lshed and perfect as a surrounding for
the events that were to transpire. This
excellence surely added greatly to the en-
joyment of the plays, and It would be hard
to convince anyone that their artistic
beauty or literary merit was in the least
detraeted from by tho presence Of the
painted canvas or the rich draperies used,
.
Mr.. Mantell is not yet a great actor He
has gone a long way on the road and should
not be denied the full measure OF success
he has achieved. but he yet lacks that
power to move and sway his audience that
ness His work shows the infinite pains he
has taken to prepare himself; his scholarly
undertaking is one that will bring him the
grateful appreciation OF all who love the
classic drama for he has brought ntelli-
gent understanding and patient endeavor to
his task. His methods are those that
satisfy II they do not win for him the I'M
stinted praise that crowns the efforts Of a
genius He shows excellent discrimination
In his work, for In not the slightest degree
does he cOnfound the one part with an
other and no trace Of his Richard is dis
cernlble In his Othello, nor does Hamlet
impinge on Richelieu. Each is distinct
and complete in itself. He was never
identified with a mannerism Of any sort,
and this is a great aid to him, for he is
able to easily sink the identity OF Mantell
In whatever role he assumes. His voice
and physique are both of a quality that
odd to his force as an actor and he will
always he remembered as one who pleased
. II he did not actually triumph in his ef-
forts.
Some OF the stage business introduced
by Mr., MantaE may be questioned on the
score OF taste In the main he is quite ac-
ourate in his valuation Of situations, but
once or twice It appeared that the purely
artistic had been sacrificed to the merely
theatre. In Richard Ill.," for example
the leave taking between Queen Elizabeth
and her boys, soon to be murdered, ID
sufficiently narrowing without being pro-
longcd. when II Is drawn out to the ex-
tent that children and mother race back
and forth across the stage twice or three
times 10 embrace each other and be torn
apart all the time screaming and calling
to each other, the effect drops from pathol
perilously close TO bathos The evident
effort to enlist the sympathy Of the auditor
beyond the point already assured IL sucf
as to rather turn the thought in tho Other
irection, and the revulsion nearly brlngI
laugh where tears are demanded SO
200 in the death Of Othello. All that could
pc done TO establish the unreasoning atti
.ude Of the Moor, the unspeakabe mean
loss Of Iago the lneffable Innocence Of
0egdemona, and the injured honesty o.
-assio had been done. The murder wal
over. and the Moor had been exculpateC
so FAR as he may ever hope 10 be; he SPOKE
very softly and pathetically. broken ans
uneven as natural to his great emotion
the lines, II have been OF some SERVED
TO the state" etc. and then stabbed him
self That IL Othelios cue 10 die or should
be- and his death ought to be in accord
snce with accepted physiological belief
Not 50 the Mantell MOOT. Atter ne mas eN
pressed wish that Iaso live, and THUS b.
deprived Of the happiness OF dying, h
makes a few farewell remarks In broker
whispers. surges around the stage seveTa
times and finally iunges savaEsly At tn
villain who undid him, Cassie intercept
the plunge. and with n howl Of rage ant
anguish mingled othsiio whirls, starts 10
the bed where Desdemona lies. and the
sinks slowly 10 HIS knees, falls headlon
Rnd expires amid the groans Of all assem-
bled, All OF this, 10 which should be adde
the concerted shrek ~ the company pres
ent at the time he stabs himself. is just
tribe suggestive Orwell, say that Josep
Grismer had been preparing shakespear
for production as he has hitherto prepare
Lottie Blair Parker, It doesn't go a 81
we'll with Shakespeare, and Mr. Mantle
should be above such shallow articles,
.