New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-31
THE DRAMA.
--aEsFIELD AS RICHARD III.
New Amsterdam Theatre

Yen Amsterdam Iheatre,-has been many
iae -s,fsyre6 in this place. and as IL remains
-.--f-r, unchanged. present record Of it can
s--..s the record Of the past % was d
on. . .-ra--rance when first shown. and il has
---- Gained u brllaucy and in power. The ac-
-. zaeicn was 10 remove as far as possible from
p Ia stage custom Of making Richard d violent.
NH noisy hlool-holtered ruftiar, 10 present
~ as an image OF intellectual evil; TO invest him
- certain elements of humanity; and TO display
al -tre OF self-confict.-ambition impel-
-f-- 10 crime ln the pursuit of imperial power
~ ---..-a IaceratlnE his bosom with remorse. the
Sod VIII 40 mortal man. opposing itself to the
.,-sf-e adauauriue moral law OF the universe
-. eternal decree of retrbutive Justice from
s..- rhera is no escape. That design was full
~. and therewitlal the actor strove TO indicate
I'D r7easurab.y did indicate. the dreary change. in
f,-r and ID uiuE.-the mortal tenement being raw
80 Hy The torture OF the spirit-that super-
-s-eg upon life Ct crime from the bloom and
f---yancy 5s youth % the gray and aEonized desc
r--.7r boz premature age That course he stu pur-
s-ss and therefore. now as always. his embodi-
--s-, o. Richard IS a magnificent emblem Of tow
eng intellect. predisposed 10 evil: rnany-sided
--5sss ability, busy in wickedness, an acutely
sensitive Conscience tormented with remorse: and
an ssdaclous viii stcruly despotic toward man and
r---.ly defiant o. God.
Il actual -fe although 10 some extent moulded
IT hf fer1--7us and terrible spirit OF the iron age
- rs-a He lived Richard was, iuteIlectuauy su-
-1-t % -lr Barous OF his realm and considerably
3 shanrs ~ his time. Stu6ious investigation OF
III Hs-ori-a- records, En- the light that has been
zs upu. them by modern scholarship, will con-
wee The impartial reader that this was the great
a. @ tEe plsl-zEeuets and one OF the best Of the
E-rash Kings. He favored learning. he helped
JIol The printer; he provided for the free intro
dls0l ~ books into his kingdom; he fostered the
csz be- especially cultivated music; he laid the
bass q Tie postal system; he caused las Lord
C1-7beI las recorded the enactment Of some OF
re most beneficial OF English laws; he entertained
and practically applied magnificent ideals Of archi-
.s-lre. re- married, for love the playmate Of his
yo1-h. and their marriage was IOve-matcL. and
entirely happy III death deprived them of their
SCI ald only child; he was an afectiouate father
conscientious and scruQulOus 10 the last degree IN
-1s education Of his boy; he was uagnan nous
toward bis foes he was an intrepid soldier. a sr-
ls-l fighter. equally potent and fearless: his de
tTul-y az one shoulder was very slight: he was
b fact brave accomplished, handsome prince:
-- 1e lacked political craft he made mistakes: he
--111e1 both The Church and the Nobility; and he
---saa enemies l0r acquired them. as able and ex-
---1la- men Invariably do, by being able and ex-
-sll7Ea- who finally proved 10 be too strong for
EE li-- standard went down at Bosworth Field
and bis name and memory were Immediately and
---s-r.aL=g hlackeued ly hostile historians led
- old Cardinal Morton (the widest and ablest poll
r-sE ~ ms rlmcI IN the interest OF the usllrper
<
nan b. English history Of whom so many lies have
izsn TOLD and perperuated. In Queen Eliza beth's
tine -.e corrupt and cruel mind of Lord Bacon
participated u that iuiquitous process Of calUmny.
o-1e- pens have aided. Hume adopted Sir Thomas
El-es narrative which, undoubtedly, was inspired
By Aorroa.-aitlout question But the enduring
blight upon Richard III was cast by Shakespeare
Prom -aa- --er--ess portrayal The memory Of the
great King has never emerged. The world behoIds
Richard III $ De stands in Shakespeare tragedy;
WIN .a.-.E .-11er.s cor0lary-which makes him a
Savage. sl-r-- brute Shakespeare. II Is probable,
troubled himself nor AT ali about the accuracy OF
~ chronicles rs him, doubtless, they seemed
'E-e. There H-s --a st0ry,-and. for dramatic pur-
poses. Story IS obvious and signal value In
Sra zp9ares play Richard is q monster Of wick
e61ess. bur- also DE IS of genius and of acute
moral sens 5Lity-as is clearly shown in the broken.
sFrr1a. teLricus s0liloquy on conscience, that ne
speaks when awakened from his terrible dream.
H. ezers che force Of prodlgious will he achieves
earthly dominion by means Of ruthless and hldeous
crime. bur his soul is burdeued and racked with
.su-rs6 ts spirit is appalled, with haunting shapes
horror and so. al last he is driven 10 desperate
de-.r--u and the catastrophe Of a violent death.
Looking through the fabric Of dramatic mechanism
az EFFORT 10 discern the core of the whole sub
feet tae student perceives that the poets theme
s me rrraE1uisu between mortal life and divine
Law, associated with the omnipotence Of divine law
i1 me government Of mortal life AS history the
play IS radically false As drama it is wonderfully
abe. ~ ethics II Is profoundly true.
G- Mansfield, as before iutuated. shows the
1zTaio1-ert OF the Prince from a youth OF evil
---le--t"es. underlying b0undless ambition. 10 a
manhood Of evil deeds. whereof the conscious re-
-e---a-re is a continual affective torment The
purpose s 70 make an atrOcioUs character in so
r harmonious with nature that the representation
% . T-. awaken a certain measure Of sympathy.
s- -rely must have been the thought Of Aris-
r.s Vlel h. defined the province OF tragedy as
r.ar 6 ga ala
---ts..E Edwin Booth and Lawrence Barrerr-in-
-l-a. me -r=t lapse in the Kings VIII as coinci-
.--t WIN nc curve that is launched upon him by
- mother -lat beautiful Rose of Raby." grown
al. r-gsard and made 10 derest her wicked
l- Mansfield indicates il earlier.-au acces-
.- r.. rsmorse oyertaklng the monarch. even be-
T :. me- been r0ld thar his royal uephews have
.7-r r--- cred The whole fibre of his enb0d rneut
p tz-- Is rrenglols with that subtle play of con-
---1s --a1l-Ou--Dvete purpose 10 proceed in
9lrs -e~p ered and frctted with vague cuinous.
Ees-r Tread The gay. bIi-he. jauuty. cynical ce-
asarar ~ me Duke Of GIo'zter thus slowly but
''r --a force OF contrast. Iapses into The fey
.-- r... Jess. watcnful suspicious. arrogant ana
--a-r ..laea-rr Of the haunted. desperate King.
Ills Z. exquisite art. original IN conception ana
-=----t-..H employed. The character remains un-
---- -ra man IS leveIoped.-uith an tie CON
ss-s.re- - as 3aietul conduct and experience ex-
@-ss.- his ravaseL person and on MS scared
-- l--- face The nervous system becomes en-
@-f- almost shattered. the frame is euaciated.
eyes -. eaFeTnOls; the voice has become harsh
-- student. the body. except for an occasional
-.=lr ~ s-=altEy. vlsiaut self-euforced calm, or
% -e a.zE ~ aljecJ fatigue. moves continually,
AS j + rra nature Of man 20 do when stricken
N.1 mortal sickness and doomed 90 die Acting
'1oH shows such serupulous care OF such a su-
'-5 result swift firm. and potent in execution
--- ra-.a.l and finished in form. Mr. Mansfield s
1-lara IS e9usuu-uats type OF gl-terinE evils a
Ha al
.1.t ...-. ~ whom nevertheless there are llua.
..- which f.e avelEiue blow ~
DOOM H.I f-l. U..a fatal effect Iu the
- ....a is s.sa-fast concentration Of l-toIIea.