New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-26
THE DRAMA.
NovELLI AS OTHELLO.
Lyric Theatre.

Ia The Lyric Theatre last night Signor No'ei--
endeavored 10 impersonate othelo ana again az
clearly manifested his complete oiscoroahcy WIN
az noe+fe concessions OF Shakespeare He mas
sano5 an King Lear; ne has failed I'm Shylock'
80 now he has not only failed in otheAo out
- hrs made an exhibition OF that character Whch
!. abborrent End loathsome. His ideal OF Otheilo-
S,,ctl,- and in every particular.-is false TO the
,-1qlish original. Othello, as drawn by SNAKE
rosre is an image Of simplicity, integrity mag
nsnimity absolute virtue. There is no higher type
"a authentic ana grand manhood in all snake
xneares works. Othello's love for DesueHlsna -
romantic; self-repressing Infinitely genue ana zen
asr. very humble; a human passion comhlheleu
Non idolatrv It wonders at its own daring; IL
onders still more at its attainment OF acceptance
- ~esronse Othello's love for Desdemona, COM
,res with Roeos love for Juliet IS almost ceres
80 when Otheno and Desdemona are met at
,Tnrus the lover can only indicate his emotions oy
.-rin1 that If It were now 10 die 'twere now TO
- most happy" The tenderness and the ecstast
AZ grateful devotion. in that meeting marh lie
.erfection OF human love. There is no sensuaHlg
A. II Othello and Desdemona are not antony ana
,-laonatra Othelo's mind, moreover as Johh
79ruin Kemhle long ago remarked. is SLOW, ana
she poet has taken care 70 make Othelo specll-
,csuv declare OF himself. that he is mot easily
seslois but, being wrought, perpleXd IN the eA-
srene" The means that are employed 10 poison
O-bello's mind against his wife are slight almost
,ransDarenf: such as. IN themselves, possess bur
little facility 10 deceive: IL is the acute subtle
ae,4-ish speciousness. the Internal ingenuity or
Iaro in tho use Of those means that accomplishes
she fatal object OF his wicked intrigue me
baI-born intellect OF Iago IS the great motive
rov-er IN this tragedy The malignant mentality
OF that hend holds othello In Its grasp
and plays with him as If he were 10Y
lagos definition Of Othello, should. by ltsen'
Il sufficient decisively 20 define the character.
Nothing could be more explicit "a constant. loving
0ohlc nature" That noble nature is precipitated
into frenzy, which eliminates In an ephepnc NJ
md terminates in calm. concentrated desoaIe
mania. The atmosphere Of the closing scene "I
the tragedy. as Il stands in Shakespeare Is that
ri a temple Of religion. Othello is now a solemn
fanatic He must destroy that beautiful woman,
Desdemona, because, II she is permitted TO i've
she VIII do more evil: she win cause more anguish;
Ehe VIII make men miserable: she VIII rum
more lives as she has ruined his. Ihet is the de-
ceiyed suffering heart broken, agoniZing mans
conviction. There can be no other way than that
OF death 40 remonstrance must be considered
no plea for mercy must be permitted TO turn the
avenger from his sacred purpose. His words are
definite end unmistalable You make me can
what intend 70 do a murder schacs thought
sqc,Sfce" There IS. OF course, nervous tension
which would show itself in some measure OF physl-
cal trernor: put there is no wildness; no excess
no Negro business OF gnashing teeth and o. the
snoring ebultion OF rabd animal FURY me
Fos,ure OF othelo Is that OF incarnate Justice and
his total deuneanor should be that Of terrible
,7efestv That posture and demeanor have always
been preserved in the acting OF OtheIo by al the
really great actors OF the Engish-speaking stage
Foreign actors. on the contrary, without single
exception Cunless. perhaps. IL was Dawson, who
acted Othello. with Edwin Booth as Iago. at the
old Winter Garden Theatre, December o. 1866,
ara gave hne performance, have taken the com
nletely diverse view of the part and have grossly
,uisrepresentcd IT, Signor Salvini. undoubtedly
great actor IN parts that Re could comprehend, such
as King Saul. Conrad, the Gladiator, etc, was
radically false 10 Shakespeare IN Othelo. for the
reason shat he was sensual in his love and Zero
cious IN his vengeance. Signor NoyeiA takes the
sane course. only that his Othelo is somewhat
more untrue and more offensive than tha: Of Sal
.ari fer the reason that he does not possess a
re-sonaIty as Impressive art as proficient
ns tat Of his renowned predecessor. It pieases
Flrnor Noveui 70 make Othello buck African.
Jls does that well enough. in his horid way; but IN
50 doing he deprives the character Of every YES
fige o. nobility and poetry; and thus he converts
n great tragedy into n seetaing. turbulent, DIS
gushing portrayal Of Just and slaughter. u IS
an offence against English literature that SUCH eN
hibtcns should be called art. II would be an out
rage upon common sense 20 commend them
slgnor NoveIi has published the assurance that
Shakespeare is the god Of his idolatrs. Re would
be wise 20 worship that god in private, az least
zrtf ne has obtained some comprehension Of him.
". ".