The Washington times., 1906-02-09
SOTHERN TRIUhPHS IN
TANNING OF THE SIREN"
Ingenious and Artistic Interpretation
Calls Attention to Actor Rather Than
Play-Marlowe Effective.

magnlftcently acted ana so suiiiPt"N'
mounted a play as The Tanning "l ''i0
Shrew" has not been given more Pr"ii--
inent place IN the Suthern- MarioWe
repertoire. THE Tanning OF the Shrew
is one OF the few notable exceptions IN
the list of Shakespearean productions.
II is here we find that the playing
rather than the play is the thing. There
are but few familiar passages TO be
found in the lines and there is wholly
lacking that cogent philosophy Whlch
makes the PLAYS of Hamlet. Mac
beth. The Merchant OF Venice, and
others a source of pleasure and profit.
whether seen upon the stage or enjoyed
in the library.
Characterized BY Spontaiety.
The entire company seemed to enter
so thoroughly into the spirit OF The COM
edy that the audience forgot that every
bit of stage business" was the result OF
careful study. There was an entire alb
sence Of forced comedy. but pleasing
spontaneity characterized every scene OF
the performance.
AS Petruchio. Mr.. Sotheru's comedy
was so contagious that it gave ground
for the wish that he would devote him
self more generally to this phase Of
Shakespeare. In the second act. in
which ne begins his tanning of Rather
inc beneath his boisterous manner there
was suspicion of kindness and con-
sideration which characterized his Petru-
chic as a gentleman in spite of an over
bearing exterior In the scene at his
country house while there was outward
horseplay. Petruchio was never coarse.
for a subtle philosophy governed his ac-
sions and the audience did not have 10
q A--n fafae~ Of he MS q
Realize that beneath the rough and
tyTaniZing outer man there beat the
heart of lover.
Reveled in Wife's Virtues
One of the most delicate touches of
Mr.. Sothern's Interpretation was the
manner in which Petruchio demon
strated throughout the play a genuine
admiration for his shrewish wife. Him
self OF turbulent nature. he recognizes
in Kate those traits CT character which
when once placed under control would
develop qualities free from alloy. In the
final scene so ddrOitly did he deliver his
lines boasting of hatheTines submission
that he gave the impression of reveling
In his wifes virtues rather than in his
own conquest OF her fiery temper
Her Interpretation Artistic.
Miss Marlowe's Katherine was equally
as artistic as Mr.. Sothern's Petruchio.
In her most shrewish moments there
were evidences OF womanly traits which
won the sympathy of her audience AS
We're her Trades tempered with beWitCh-
ing grace so her submission was height
ened by charming philosophy which
dlcta ted acquieSceuce to the inevitable
rather than Improbable contention for
the sake OF PRIDE. IN her final tTactioil
lty there WAS no evidence of a SerVile
doclIity which would have denoted a
broken spirit. A subtle smile now and
ha a T41 - E h. .
SetruchiOs two friends made clear the
fact that the ''shrew" had not lost her
spirit. but that she had come to recog-
ME the TACT that PetTuChiO was to be
ruled not by coercion but by diplomacy
Miss MariOwe's personal charms never
appeared TO greater advantage than as
moods there was a piquant beauty most
enchanting
When Genius Fairly Flashed.
In the hrst scene Of the fifth act there
was a bit Of stage business" which was
a verItable fash of genius. After the
colloquy about the sun and the moon
When Kate Is apolOgiZfng TO NfncentiO
LOT having addressed him as a girl tat
FelTuchio dictatiOn). she pleads that
her eyes were dazzled by-and turning
toward Petruchio, she adds In a cues
uonlng tone. in which there is 4 tiuge OF
raillery-the sun
OF the minor characters Fred Eric. as
Iranio, deserves special mention He
mas prep0ssessing appearance. and de-
MYERS MS lines with artistic understand
ing. His Interpretation last evening
gives promise Of greater things in the
future Rowland Blackstone again gave
an eNceiit-t account of himself as the
grounding comedian. Grumio
ne play was given an artistic mount
ing while the costumes were rich and
accurate
twelfth Night will be presented To-
hight- and the Tanning of the Srreyy''
VIII De given at tomorrow's matinee.