Los Angeles herald., 1907-09-20
APPEARS AS
FAT KNIGHT
JAMES REEVES MERRY WIVES
OF WINDSOR
HIS FALsTAFF is A HUMOROUS
CREATION
Makes Sir John Mellow Old Rounder,
puII-Witted but Good-Na-
tured, Jocund
Wight
BY sIDLE LAWRENCE

Louis James returned to the Mason last
night, again presenting "The Merry
Wives of Windsor" in which he appeared
on the same stage last year. His per-
formance was witnessed by an audience
OF only moderate size, but of exceptional
discrimination, and the jocund old knight
was given most fattering reception.
Mr.. James Falstaff is the FalstafI of
this one comedy as, doubtless, it should
be- He is quite different fellow from
the Falstaff of Henry W. or Henry
"" His wit is gone and he is made the
sport of two women whose ingenuity
might naturally be supposed to be far
inferior to his own.
Falstaff in 1.-THE Merry Wives is
probably the most ludicrous of all Shake
speare's characters. He never is pre-
scented in other than ludcrous light
From the first act to the last he is bam-
boozled, tricked and befooled. He is
fat in person and in wit; very carica-
ture of man; meriting contempt. but
escaping it through the very multiplicity
of his humorous misfortunes.
No Sympathy for Knight
In the entire comedy there is no line
that bespeaks sympathy for Sir John
The utter absurdity of his pretentions to
conquest among women arouses our
smiles and however gross his conduct
laughter is it's only recompense. His
passion begets ridicule; his misfortunes,
derision. Yet through it all the fat
knight exhibits his one redeeming char
acteristic, an unfailing good humor,
however desperate his plight.
Mr.. James Falstaft has no hidden
meanings. His picture is a very obvious
portrait of fat old fellow, dull witted
a coxcomb, easy to cajole, the legitimate
prey of any woman with an ounce of
brains in her head. He is a rounder, this
Falstaff; a good natured leach with an
exaggerated idea of his own Importance,
corresponding to his exaggerated girth
In the acting version the play has
been carefully expurged anu considerably
abridged. There is left nothing of Of
Tense. Mr. James passes over the gross
ness of the character to emphasize it's
humor. Even in his trysting scenes with
Mistress Ford his eyes twinkle with mer-
riment. They do not CLEAN with desire.
AS Falstaff he seems to appreciate the
rare joke of Mistress Ford's amazing
creduity, only to find in the end that
this credulity was assumed for his own
undoing. 1t is a skillful, an artistic
Characterization, in which good humor
is ever apparent. In externals. also, Mr..
James Falstaff is noteworthy His ro-
tund form, topped by a florid face, with
white up-turned mustachios and white
hair, his laughing eyes. his pompous
strut, all combine to make real the ridic-
ulous knight of the comedy.
Minor Roles Exacting
Perhaps in no other Shakespearian
comedy do the minor roles make more
exacting demands upon the players who
would present them. Therefore 1T is
little disparagement to Mr.. James sup
port to say that it is not entirely adj
equate. AS was to be expected Frederick
Paulding, an actor of excellent attain
ments and veteran experience, gives us
an admirable Ford. Aphie James is the
Mistress Ford and Ida Werner the Anne
Page That the audience enjoyed their
work to the utmost was attested by nu-
merous curtain calls. j. Arthur Young
as Pistol and Horace Lydon as Slender
also came in for their share of popular
approval.
Tonight Mr.. James will present 1.-THE
Comedy of Errors" appearing as both
the dromio from Ephesus and the dromio
from Syracuse. This also will be the
bill at tomorrow's matinee performance
Tomorrow night 1.-THE Merry Wives" will
be given a second presentation.