The Washington times., 1906-03-20
AT THE LOCAL PLAYHOUSES
COLUMBIA.
Robert Mantel Gives Masterful Pre-
sentation of King Lear.


Robert Mantelrs portrayal OF King
Lear at the Columbia Theater last even
ing marked the fruition OF Washington
playgoers' long cherished hope; that
there should arise tragedian with ali
the intellectual capacities and discern
ment OF the school of actors or three
decades ago. who at the same time
would be able TO adapt this knowleoge
TO the modern school Of Interpretation
which demands rIaturalness of express
sion and an elocution devoid Of extrava-
CANT gesticuIation ara stentcrian rhet-
oric
Mr.. Manten could not have selected a
moro difficult role with which to make
manifest his great talent in the inter
pretation of Shakespeare's creations. but
when once overcome every diiticulty
adds its modicum of reward. Inc char :
acter of Lear is so colossal II cannot
be fully conceived in WORDS It's ue-
velopment and elaboration depend upon
the pathos and the tragedy OF voice.
while the harmonic rage and relentless
sweep of the tempest make up the re-
quired setting. -
The dramatist has laid bare human
soul encomDassed by the contendlns 9
forces of good and evi- typified and
idealiZed in the characters OF Gonerll,
Regan and Ed;lund on the one rand anu
by Cordelia Kent, and Edgar on tue
other No moral lesson IL drawn. none -
taught. none can be evolved Ine tenn
pestuous action of the play marks out
The one fact OF mans unceasinG COM
bat with his own destiny II presen1eSS =
I'm iuxta position the fury or elemehlai
There is no ground for the assertion
that Shakespeare has written monu-
mental essay on inf1delity. 1t is equal
" certain that the stolca' eInlcs oi .lre '
FNW
play do not complete the crSle @ VI t,o,e T,.,
omnipotent philosophy. He has gone
beyond the shallowness which Noulu
have caused lesser intellectS 10 atleihpI
TO answer the ineXplicable riddles -oI
life. which he has set down me, ne pa So
has risen above the conventional de-
mand for a solution TO all the prootenns
which NAV be presented. he mas held 70
the verities and the mysteries OF NE
as they exist. and has not attempted 20
solve the l1nsolvable, that apparent u
tanic Injustice and unfathomable cruel
" of a universal law. which roos man
of his reason. yet leaves HIM the sem
bIance Of that reason, mere mocKery
of its former self.
Tho r-ro+esoueness and the sublimity of
Lear are so closely interwoven and so
skillfully blended that there IS no Jarf-
ing of sensibilities as first the one ahu
then the other phase of the character
predominates It is in his ability 10
rise to the heights Of impotent rage ana
revert TO the insanity OF seninty thst
Mr.. Mantell excels. His touch IN TINS
respect is truly masterful. Particularly
IS this true in the foursh act IN which
Lear appears IN the habihments or the
Onodmon.
Mr. MantelFs intonations OF voice and
wonderfully expressive face supplement
the lines of the tragedy with such con-
summate skill that his Lear may be
considered one OF the most masierfnl
conceptions of the role ever presented.
In the storm scene the incongruity OF
Iear's rage as opposed to the plaintive
waii of the fool forms one OF the most
lasting and Impressive pictures ever
drawn.
The supDortinF company was NOT alto-
gether satisfactory So preponderant is
tho character OF Lear. however. that the
erthsidio~v perSOp pes arc - litf'N NO
ment. FRI ,,lin Bendsten's Oswald was
commendable. while Marie Booth Rus
sell as Cordelia realized much from her
less than q hundred lines.