New-York tribune., 1906-12-25
THE LONDON STAGE.
An Ualinspired Macbeth -Mr.
Bispham in Light Opera.
London. December Is


unimaginative shyloek it VIII confirm the I'M
preston of Judicious critics that this versatile
actor, who was really great as the French sdvo-
cate in The Arm Of the Law" is not fitted by
temperament for enacting Shskespearian parts
He suggests alternately the warrior accus-
toned 70 command, the nerveless weakling de-
pendent upon Lady Macbeth's "'valor OF tongue''
snd the insensate criminal rushing from one
rnonstrous deed 20 another: but the composite
picture is not vitalized by an informing spirit.
sn6 the impressions produced by the variations
q technique blurred and unreal. Sir Henry
Ir7fng's Macbeth was Celtic dreamer rather
than rlalevolent British butcher; a play actor
rather than man Of action or OF inaction: un-
moral rather than immoral: not an inhuman
monster as much as sensitive medium for re-
oeiving impulses from supernatural agencies
snd Lady Macbeth's superior VIII and courage
Mr. Bourchier seems 10 be possessed with the
idea that the part should be underacted and the
shakespearian points emphasized by trivial bits
of byplay. When this Macbeth has heard the
mysterious hints OF the witches and learned that
Duncan VIII be hts guest overnight he writes
p letter % his wife The letter itself is OF the
highest significance. since it supplies the cues
for Interpreting the characters OF Macbeth and
Lady Macbeth. The process OF writing It Is too
uninportant TO be exhibited. When the curtain
falls upon the first act Macbeth is gazing fixed
y a. a ring, and after the banquet he is reach
ing out a hand 10 help the fainting wife. There
are many os these small details OF byplay and
the lines are recited quietly and with excessive
elaboration. As an fnnpersonation OF mysterious
ard complex character, appealing powerfully 20
che imagination. IL is futile and inadequate.
The performance OF Miss Violet Vsnbrugh as
Lady Macbeth may be criticised in e similar
vein A picturesque figure. less fantastically
oostunaed than Miss Terry IN peacock blue and
7nalachite green, with se-qentine coils. as Mr..
Sargent painted her, she was the grand lady,
gracious 10 the guests IN the banquettng scene
and forcihle in gesture throughout the play: but
he delivery was oveTstudied and too deliberate
md she failed 10 solve the mystery OF the char
Rcter. Fer LADY Macbeth was stately. ambi-
fious. ruthless. iTnpnlsive and heartless. but
never woman Miss Terry made OF her a low
.ng woman. straining the text perhaps IN bring
ilE out redeemtng qualities, but saving the char
scte- from the reproaeh Of being unnatural and
irnpsrrtng tender melancholy and weird beauty
20 the walking spectre. Miss Vanbrugh lacked
-he subtlety Of Miss Terry's art, and II may
he forgiven an old-playgoer's retrospect, neither
was so great Lady Macbeth as Charlotte
Cushnan's. When Miss TanbruRh repeated the
wonderful line, The living and the dead are
hut as pictures" she merely raised her voice in
high. declamato-y passion Miss Cushman used
70 lower her voice and tucpart so much u1ysti-
Hucltors were convinced that Lady Macbeth
vas dreamer. playing with her own imagina-
tan. while she was Turing her irresoIute husband
s--o crimes. In the seepwaIlzing scene Miss
-anb-ugh crept softly down the staircase, hung
II tie light took the centre o. the stage and re-
---H5ne6 there until her sollloguy was ended and
q was time for her q go upstairs with the
torch. Who can ever forget the restless pacing
% Miss Cushman's Lady Macbeth up and down
the stage. her means and reuorseful sighs her
sgonized movement Of the hands. her sorrowful
betrayal OF outlines. her weirdness ana
her power2 That was great acting which held
the senses in thran and overpowered the mag
.nation The new Lady Macbeth stopped short
- rnelodicus recitation. with nothing behind f.
The Vicar Of wakeheld." at the Prince II
Vsles's Theatre Is one OF the most delightful
entertainments Of the winter, and most well
come substitute for the inane and wea-isorne
musical comedy Of the period. Il Is z light, re-
mantle opera. with workmanlikA ubretto based
upon C7oldsrnirh's classic tale with ballads by
Shakespeare. Ben .Jonson and Rerrick, and
ADDITIONAL lyrics by Laurence HoUsnlRn. with
music by Miss Liza Lehman. IN 9 medley Of
STYLES as dainty as II is melodious. and with
Eeies Of effective scenes exquisite in loveliness:
the wears garden IN summer. wheat field in
early autumn and the wears cottage with snow
outside. with q coherent story familiar 70 all
rIsygoers the music and the acting have undi-
vi5s6 attention and are equally charming. On
tne opening night nearly every lyric. old or
new charmed the audience. and there was q
revel Of enthusiasm. with many recalls Of the
Performers as often as the curtain fell.
Simple and unpretentious was the general
scheme. without other novelty than the fresh
ness and sparkle OF music. with its sugges-
-io1s of folk songs, there was an evening OF
UnaIloved delight with an irresistible impulse
- the end 10 go another night. II this light
opera has the SUCCESS which il deserves-and
from the appreciative press notices and the
heavy booking this is likely 70 happen-nusical
comedy may be brought Up 70 a higher level
David Bisphsm not only sang nobody
ever sings in musical comedy, but he also gave 1
most sympathetic and effective tnpersonarion /
o. d. Primrose reminding one OF SIR Henry +.
Irvirg-and there could be no higher praise-in 4
h.s quaint simplicity and serenity and acting /
WITH fine variety and sound Judgment. His +
stern disapprovaI Of q rolliclling song by the .
young squire was finely expressed. and how Well (
hs sang Drink 70 Ne Only with Thine Eyes as /
an example % what the vicar considered the !
right kind of song. and how droIl was his rem
d--i-g ot Goidsnaith's Mad Dog"l Miss Isabel .
jay was a handsome and tuneful Olivia. acting 4
With vivacity ana charm and making excellent f.
use ~ q flexible voice Walter Hyde as the /
gay Young squire was ardent and fascinating IN /
his wo0ing and his tenor voice had therright 4
quality for his lvrics Miss Edith Clegg's de- .
ligtteuI contraIro was heard II TWO OF the most +
riquer. baUade: Master George Travis sang q
Charming rlee. aad the acting % Mrs. Theodore .
Wreht a. Mrs Primrose and of Richard I
TeuDle g. sIr Burchell was admirable. With (,
two finely scored seKtets and choruEss and 4