The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1906-05-01
.WILLET
PRAISES
MANTELL

| -
Philip Willett, who served in the
capacity of dramatic critic for the
Manchester Guardian, in England;
several years ago, and who is making
a decided success on the lecture
stage, speaks very fatteringly of
Robert Mantell in an interview for
the Telegram.
Eve understand that you are per-
Isonally acquainted with Robert Man
tell who appears at the opera house,
Wednesday, May 8. Can you tell
US anything about him for publica-
,,tions"
Il shall be pleased to tell you any
thing know but / don't know that
it will be worth putting in the
paper"
"How long have you known Mr..
A1antell?"
u have known Mr.. Mantell for
twenty-five years. remember him
when he was on the English stage,
playing with Miss Marriott; and if
my memory serves me right, at one
time supporting Mary Anderson and
Fannie Davenport.
Il had the pleasure of hearing
him in Pittsburg last year, when his
Shakespearean repertoire attracted
the attention Of the dramatic world
and resulted in his great run in New
York later in the same season.
WHAT'S -yoilrs opinion OF AEantell
compared with the other great
|Shakespearean actors, who have been
before the public since you have
known him?"
"It is hard to draw general COM
'parison, for the reason that most
great actors excel in some particular
work; but | viii say Mantell stands
in class by himself. The old
school, to which Barrett, Forrest and
Mccullough belonged, has passed
away. If Mantell can be regarded
as belonging to any school, il is to
that in which Edwin Booth, of this
country, and Sir Henry Irving and
Barry Sullivan, in England were, in
their day, the chief exponents. So,
since they have passed away, Mantell
stands the greatest shakespearean.
actor on the English-speaking stage
today, with none to contest his title.
"Mantell has none Of the little
tricks and mannerisms whereby
small men elbow their way into pub
lie notice. He is profound and
conscientious student of his work.
Unlike many of our modern stars he
has made no sudden jumps into
prominence for season, to die out
again just as suddenly. His
progress towards perfection has been
Egradual. and permanent and the
position Of the leading exponent Of
lfhe shalesp pearean drama, which he
holds today, Is, ] believe, unquestion-
ed among the dramatic critics.
'sHis genius, as an actor, is of the
kind that has gathered strength and
richness with experience, and that
time and study have moulded into
the perfection of dramatic skill"
''How about Richard Mansfield? /?
Is he not recognized as Shakes
pearean actor of great ability ~
'.No! Or at least he has no right
to such recognition. / saw him re-
Gently in Richard Ill. Had he-set
himself the task to smother and
'emasculate Shakespeare he could
hardly have succeeded better. He
Is a pendantic dilitante, and takes
such violent liberties with the text
Of the play striking out, mutilating
and rewriting so many of the great
parts, that all lovers and students of
the immortal bard are shocked and
apined BY the mans audacity. The
dominant idea in NTansfelds mind
seems to be that the play was writ
ten for the sole and only purpose Of
Exploiting his. genius, not that bis
mission ON the stage is to find and
present true Interpretation Of
lShakespeare's lines. Aside from
his peculiarities, and they are many
he has neither the stature, voice q
stage-bearing Of a great actor. On
| the other hand Mantell comes with
~ n a..,....,.so.. ~ . .r..nnt "a