The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-02-23
The Passing Of a Fad
For '1No Scenery" Plays

- He noticeable decline In the en-
thusiasm with which the Ben
Greet productions were received
I'm Washington last week as
compared with the marked success of
his engagement here two years ago
would seem to Indicate that his methods
were fad rather than well-grounded
admiration on the part Of the theater-
going public for Ihe simplicity of the
ELIZA bethan" presentations.
Mr.. Greet is a shrewd manager and he
has seen the handwriting on the wall
He is gradually abandoning that sim
plicity of stage production which he
several seasons ago championed as the
only acceptable way in which 70 present
-Shakespear plays. He offered three
plays last week with scenery, not seen
cry to which one might point with any
degree Of pardonable pride. It must be
said but at any rate it indicated a
change OF purpose. and We may expect
this English actor TO return 10 us some
dav with as elaborate a scenic iuvesti-
rure for The Merchant of Venice or
Romeo and Juliet" as was ever offered
by Sothen and Marlowe.
Minor Parts Well Acted.
There is another feature in addition
TO the mo scenery novelty which has
attracted 10 Nh. Greet's performances
the attention Of lovers of the classical
erama, the excellence with which the
1ulnor characters IN shakespe arean trag-
edies and comedies have been enacted. I'm
der our present staring system IN this
country thelesser hgures in CLASSICAL plays
are allowed 10 take care OF themselves
1he producers seeming TO think that all
public interest. like their own spotlight
Sc ceptered on the principal character.
This has given rise 10 such eNecraole
supporting companies as that with which
Robert B. Mantell was surrounded last
season, a support prejudicial 10 the well
fare Of the stage and damaging TO the
reputation of any actor. The result OF
such a policy is invariably unsatisfactory
and unsatisfying. for in the hands Of un-
discriminating clowns and stupid players
all the finer touches in a Shakespearean
play are lost.
Mr.. Greet went 10 the other extreme
He gave equal attention 10 all charac-
tiers himself frequently assuming such
unimportaut roles a. tie porter in Mac
beth This was a relief On the other
hand. with the exception 90 one or two
productions, notably Much Ado About
Nothing" I'm which Mr. Greet was cast
as the Benedick and Miss Scott as the
Beatrice. the major roles have not been
handled by the Greet plaeyrs with
the care and power essential to
an adequate delineation This was
particularly noticeable during last
weeks engagement in Macbeth, In
which there was. much rantinK and little
really intelligent Interpretation. Credit
must be given 10 Miss Agnes +. Scott.
however. for her thoroughly saUsfaC tory
portrayal OF Lady Macbeth. Her work
was both illuminative and convincing
More Fortunate in Goldsmith Play.
The Greet players We're more fortu-
nate i'm their revival of Goldsmlth's
comedy, she Stops to Conquer" than
On Macbeth" but even I'm the former.
en- an effort 10 present the play in the
spirit of the age i'm which it was writ
ten. Ike auditor was frequently offended
by the bUoadness Of the comedy and the
noisiness with which some of the more
hilarious scenes were enacted. There
was lacking that smoOthness and u5USh
which we OF the twentieth century most
euiOy in our comedies Of manners The
Greet conception may be, and very
probably Is, much nearer too oliver
GOldsmith's own ideal OF his comedy
than the William TT. Crane production
which was seen here last season, but
Afr Greet Is playing 10 an Augustus
Thomas. a Rostand. Pinero audience.
not 30 audiences of Sheridaus ana
Coldsmith's day.