New-York tribune., 1907-04-09
THE DRAMA.
TIE ACTING OF sIGKOR NOvEILI.
Lyric Theatre.

vow Fo+ and TO feel not only regret but, per-
-osentnent- The reward Of success, II sue
- be achieved. is not munifcent, and ii seldom
~ racoInpenses the adventurer for the physical
-. and the mental strain that are inseparably
e. ., a his enterprise. None but daring spirit
.H a, assured position at home TO tempt fort
t-os5-the spirit described by Herodotus
~ aid that 1T is better. by noble boldness' TO
", N. evils we anticipate than 10 remain In su-
1,H - ,na,Ference. for fear Of what may happen"
80 snIrit defiant OF danger. is always TO be re-
800 In the dramatic profession It has several
go displayed itself, particularly within the last
. ,-.sre-aud with at least explanatory reason
~ course & IS especially advantageous 10 an
80 who IS distinguished In his own laha 1hat
t0,,1d become distinguished elsewhere,-sinee
-. ta enlarges the area of his fame and, IN the
W" orqrerts his local revenue. That, no
-. Sc the reason why America is visited by
,, actors and,-the conditions being Vhat
-, ere-t is 10 be regretted that each new al
-.,-.r cannot be acclaimed with enthusiasm In
49,. 49,. where the notion that a dramatic ie-
.r can direct the current Of stage ahalrs ana
.+rol she fortunes Of actors is even more MlosiS
eO-.. ..s than il is in some parts of America "a
;,eDt critic once said, 10 an anxious actor Nho
.bout 10 visit this country; Nhat they 'ii'iiA
p- :, America. way or the othef' Is OF no
o. ~ .o-saoDenoe than a sword thrust in bucket
n..sr~ THAT IS a comfortable doctrine al u
- - =. earnestly hoped that foreign actors' III gen
.,ar+ain r. and, particularly. that u Is en-
80, 4.s5 Al ,lns time by our latest foreign ora-
- ,tsitor, Ssnor Ermete NoVelh
-,or NovelH has appeared here Wen'y- y-'"0
esH', a.,trg IN sixteen characters, and he has
- -eci,e lions: but no decisive reason mas oeeH
FA0N !, his acting for either amazement or
o..,.l sarniration: while, as matter OF 3usuoe y
- - found essential TO record some aoNeisny
!. .,,ior 1Ir.ou his achievement SlSnor NoNeiii
.bo5 NJ acting is the Photographic melnou, us
~ On she continent Of Europe methoo 1haI
.fsrrra of
,r..l,, sbor1ive when applied 10 imaginative
.,,ons snd especially when used for inteFpre-
80. - the poetical classics of English drama AS
Is and with due exception foreign sctors Oh
- latin race excel in the portraiture OF superheai
80. uttls details the surfaces and shows OF
s-oc+er and conduct; but, when gTand images OF
- rsture are 10 be embodied. when great
Eot,ors are 10 be greatly expressed when the
.,.ipafion IS "a be liberated and the heaIt Is 10
.sl, tba Anslo-SaNon actors transcend theln IN
- urav That truth could be ilusHa'eu ps
, stations ana comparisons II Is the maj
.,,ion Of many judges. among them the Frencn
ttn,or Talssrte who certainly knew something
-, sctIng. and who pointed out that 'Engiaho,
.ss s,ig. ana undemonstrative as IS the genera
h,,riog Of her sons has Yet produced the greatest
,o,ors that the world ever saw
c,gnor Novelf has performed here in hve SNAKE
,,asyian psrts. and he has expressed tne Wlsh 10
- so,sisere5 as an interpreter of Shakespeare
rr. pa,rlrlio is spirited and commendahle' but II
soss not seriously signify He took great hoerlies
,.5g the play Of The Tanning OF the 9hie".
etshesDsare. however, was responsive LOT 'iiis
h,yrt one bslf Of that play. as il stands IN the
- vroUo When however. a Shakespearlan
,v a. radically changed and turned into some
80. slss n ought not 10 be offered as one OF the
rsvs Of Shakespeare Signor NoFelil as <e't ueio'
Foss some OF the same incorrect ana tauieats
-s1ons .fsusiness'' that was done by NJ. Coauelln'
rsmelr. sfter Katherine has fallen asleep as sne
so.s an his presentation. he covered her Win ms
rlosk so that she should rot take cold mat
.oua nuliify all the Tanning" process as soon as
,hs shrew should wake. and II directly counter
,.,.s Petruehio's explicit statement ar ns inten-
Hor ~ inoessant clamor. in case katnerha SHOWS
,he slightest likelihood OF sleep;
,,ve, .s. s,spt not. nor might she shall not
a. Win the meat. some undeseryed fault
~, ens .horf lie making Of the bed.
Ana heFs IN fling the pillow theTs 'hs e solsteF'
THIS way the coveret anOiher way the shes's'
Ana in CONCLUSION she shah watch all night:
ana sith the clsmor Keep her stiil awake
srBor NoveH has tried 10 act otfello. Lear
ebyjoek ana Hamlet, and he has failed in all OF
,bem The radically wrong ideal that he has
formed Of shakespeare's Otheno (Which ne re-
rs,,ss las, night, is manifested not only In his
fscisl aspect ana general demeanor. but IN ms
dressing and in the business that he has devised
with which TO develop and illustrate the character
N respect 10 business" he IS even more incorrect
than the eminent Salyin WAS, who at one point
The great third act OF that tragedy hurled lago
% the floor and lifted his right foot over the head
o. the prostrste ancient, ar If intending 10 stamp
hs brains out-an action which, inevitably would
have caused such man IagO Zone OF the most
Intellectual intrepid, snds dangerous men ever
drawn IN hoton) 10 thrust his dagger into the
bowels Of his assalant and thus bring the tragedy
a. once 10 its close. Iago cannot be used TO mop
q ao0r. signor NoyeIli after throwing him 70 the
ground, indicated cisappFoval OF his own i'm |
peluons conduct and helped him 10 rise IL should
H remembered that OthellO respects and implicitly
trusts lago. being completely duped by the tre- /
nsnl0us weight, insidious candOT, and absolutely /
Internal spec'oUsness of that character. Thou /
or eenspire against thy friend. Iago," etc; yet
trs Othello's almost invaTiable manner toward /
i-sn vas that Of contemptuous master, address, /
ng aekey. There is place in the tragedy where /
vihslo says that his blood begins his safer guides
y rule. In SignoF NOvelis OthellO his blood be- /
ts that operation in the first scene and continues
T. einest without change, throughout the repre- |
-Hailen HIS customary attitude Is that OF bully.
-Nsea hoderigo every time he behed that /
-As onpe, he glared and glowered, like |
lss mastin When OthellO is required 20
.,sf the accusation that he has used |
-1NeiAlt 70 entice BTaDantiOs daughter, Sig /
E Aeseli Introduced a silly business" with Des- |
-nslh' sgniiying, in dumb show and with much 4
-@eee tshe coincidentally intimating anxiety lest
= sa9uia speak unkindly 20 her father. that he /
- A MOI Tor moment think OF being disrespect- /
~ NIiiSidDie parent MUCH OF lne tlnes
ot.sheut that Senate scene. Signor NOVefs /
., s'ao turned his back upon the audience. 50
ll voice could not always be distinctly heard. /
- ms iaoe. at those Zines, was invisible: but /
- Ie spoke Most potent. grave. ana reverend /
- h@4sA' "A speech during the delivery OF which !
st & actor should face toward the Senators (uyho in
st Aoveiii's setting OF the piece, were ranged /
- - me back Of the scene. from left 20 night |
f2, ne stood IN the middle Of lhe stage. with /
~ -pfA 10 the Senate, and colloanally addressed |
-. -lllenee Toward Brabanto. after tho old |
.lsr had spoken his warning 'I.ool, 20 her.
,-' etc, his demeanOr was that or wrath and /
,s, as he rushed after him, fairly bawIlng the |
=. ny life upon her faith words that should |