New-York tribune., 1907-04-09

her across the whole depth OF the stage-or
course In a violent struggle,-threw her upon the
ped' springing upon her and dropping the cur
tains; and then he strangled her. out of sight with
an accompaniment of horrible snarIs gasDs
eroWls' and gurgles. degrading that deed OF sac
@ IIlios 10 beastly Bill Skies murder Of Nancy.
@ len ne Killed himself he cut his throat and died
rolling down steps in front OF the bed
Inc Italian actors dressing OF OtheIlo was dis-
uhcuNeiy and elaborately. Moorish. and that fact
alone Is decisive proof that Signor Novelu IS
either ignorant or regardless OF the proper dressing
OF the Character. Othelo has become Christian
ana ne Is general in the service Of the State Of
Venice As TO the latter fact there can be no dis
pute, and to the former there can be no dis
pute II the subject be intelligenty considered In
the hrst place. Charles Knight has observed
the fact that Othello marries a Christian lady is
IN itself, conclusive proof that he must have
ceased TO be a Mahometan and become Christian.
But. beyond that the direct testimony Of Iago
says;
10 win the MOOr-were't 20 renounce his baptism
Al Az. seals so; a. and d symbols Of redeemed sin
othellO himself affords explicit testimony for
(Act H.. Sc. 81 he says:
M We Hes1s6 sb s 5. aHd to s DC that
For Christian shame. put by this baTbarous bravl"
The correct dress for Othello is that of r gen
eral in the service of the Venetian Republic. 1t
is recorded by Paulous Jovous that the Venetian
generals we're always foreigners selected for that
Office lest any Of our own countrymen Venetians)
might be Puffed up with pride and grow too ambi-
tioIs." On the day of his election TO Office the
Venetian general assumed distinctive dress:
full OF crimson velvet with loose sleeves
which worn a mantle of cloth of gold but
toned upon the right shoulder with massy gold
buttons; Il cap of crimson velvet; and silver
baton. ensigned with the lion Of St Mark. In
action he would wear fun armor of the period.
which much the same all over Christian Eu-
rope. Such is the information supplied by Planche,
of the best authorities eXtant costume.
AS OthellO. Sgnor Novell arrayed himself in the
remarkable garments here specified First dress;
trousers Of dark blue or black, with white en-
broideTy about the ankles: light. paTti-eelored
vest heavily embroidered with gold; sash Of
part- -eolored silk, twisted into heavy roll around
the waist: a richly jeweIed dagger. thrust into
the middle of the sash; surcoat, the ground
color of which purple, inerusted with gold
while on the back. across the shoulders and reach
ing almost the waist. was gold embroidery:
red turban, embroidered with gold, the centre and
top OF the turban being white; and spraylke
plume OF feathers, rising from the tuThan. Second
dress Cat Cyprus); A chain-mail tunic and mail
covering for the legs: breastplate OF cleaning
steel, with large gold spike in the centre Of it:
a red under-dress embroidered with black.-whch
he throughout the rest OF The play that dress
reached from his neck to his ankleS;-the cuffs OF
II were partl-coored silk hanging from each wrist.
about three inches: II moderately close fitting
the body. loose and baggy from the waist TO the
knees. close fitting from the knees to the ankles:
parti-colored scarf round the waist. in roll;
white cloak, heavy with gold embroidery: a steel
helmet, with a Moorish paTti-colored turban round
It. and plume Of spTayike feathers in its front;
a huge two-handed sword, which he carried
sheathed: the top of his helmet was ornamented
with gold crescent-the emblem of the Moslem
faith. which Othello has abjured. and likewise the
distinctive baEon Of the Turk, against whom he is.
at the moment in aTmsl
In Lear. when delivering the great curse begin
ming 1T may be SO. my lord etc. signor NOvelli
stood with his face half averted from the audi
ence, and s9uttered like wet pinwheel When he
reached the passage in that speech
KA IT. o.s:Hs s:%D .sFs Sn:s fs E hs: bro" Of
he doddered across the stage and pinched aonerirs
face At the end OF the scene with GOneril and
Regan tAet II. Sc. - he collapsed utterly, though,
in Shakespeare, Lear leaves that scene 'in high
rage and calls 10 horse" and then traverses the
heath. with the strength of madness speaking and
acting with huency and violent power, such aa
only eugmentative delirium could impart to his
aged breaking body. In the scene with Edgar
(Who appeared IN a white nightgoWn. pinned up
between his legs, like baby's clouD Lear strad-
died a broomstlck, like a child playing horse"
In Shylock. Signor NOyello fret appeared on a
balcony. in reply TO a call from Bassanio; then
descended and discussed with him the business OF
the loan. After he nad agreed to lend the money
he departed, arm-in-arm. with BassaniO and An
tonic. as though, In complete and familiar amty
and equality, they going around the corner
to the notary; while. according TO the text. It is
appointed that they should meet there. Much OF
Shylock's tempestuous Street Scene was played by
sgnor NoVelii in sitting posture-the Jew telling
beads. wAe he gasped and hssed. and the
quence Of the scene completely destroyed by
tTanspOsitons- When Shylock came 10 speak the
passage II Jew wrong a Christian" etc. Sig
nor NOvelh got into the middle OF the stage. and
beckoned TO the two Christians Saiarino and SR-
laniO tWiddling the four fingers OF each hand
palm down. with a cFablike motion. 10 summon
them: 10 which summons those Christians.-with
a compliance truly wonderful In the Venice OF
that periOd,-at obediently responded: and
then he delivered tke great speech though argu-
Ing about the price OF onions. At the parting with
Tubal he pursued that Israete, shouting "At our
synagogue" while of the stage. and then re-
turned. prancing and lettering. in the manner OF
Pantaloon in the pantomime. In the trial scene he
sat on the steps. before the desk TO be occu-
pied by the learned DOCTOR" and removing one
OF his red morocco slippers. laid Il his lap
and sharpened his knife upon IL; then plucking a
hair from his beard, like barber, TO try the edge.
When he was offered the choice between death and
apostasy. he allowed the spIttle TO drule mis-
beard; then. almost in collapse. he tOttered out
OF the court but Immediately he returned. strong.
erect and insolent. and hurled defiance at the
Doge. such as would have caused his instant In
carcaTatfon IL not HIS doom OF death.
OF the character OF Hamlet. drawn by Shake
speare, SignOr NOvellIs performance disclosed no
comprehension. Here the point of view" nonsense
makes fits silly appearance. II Hamlet were a
stout, elderly good natured. aRable professor. in
perfect command OF his mental faculties. and much
addicted 70 medtative commentary the passing
scenes of life at the Court of Denmark, Signor
Novelli's assumption OF the part would be correct.
but even then II would pc prosy and tedious. Ex-
position OF the character and meaning OF Hamlet
has been frequent and minute in these columns.