The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-12
ADJUSTMENTS.

With profound respect and with more
reverence that is accorded some preach
ers or the day. sympathetic audience
at the Salt Lake theatre last evening
viewed Robert B. Mantells mastery in
depreciation of the tragedy of king
Lear 1t was beyond doubt the most
Impressive production of the season now
nearing Its close and was thought by
many TO rank in artistic accomplishment
with the greatest performances that have
ever graced the boards of that historic
playhouse. The play presented was the
version prepared by William Winter for
Edwin Booth. and it is not going too far
TO say that the work of Mr.. ManteH NAV
be judged upon the high plane of Amer
lea $ foremost actor
While the title role is such as almost
to submergs the other characters in the
immensely of its score and the force of
It's character, there were no Earring notes
in the well rounded and capable cass
The production was magnificentlv staged
and adequately costumed. All of the less
er attributes were attuned to the theme
and the result was an impressive offer
ing in the realm of serious drama
Ripened by years of experience and
mellowed by the faithful application of
his studious career, MantelI has entered
upon the golden heritage of the classic
drama at the zenith of his powers. with
the equipment and temperament of a
great actor. Perhaps the richest note of
all in his portrayal last evening was the
subtle quality of reserve which saved
doddering old man and clothed it with
the majesty of a great soul struggling
with base environment. All through
the senIle Tanting of the waning monarch
who gave away his kingdom to his daugh-
tiers and then ragged blindly against their
inSratitude. and even to the tODnost
frenzy of his madness. the audience never
lost sight of the regal character of the
men who. even with his mind o'erthroWn
was every inch a king"
The hush that fell upon the audience
was the highest compliment that cOllld
possibly be paid to a great artist reveI-
ing in the choicest traditions of the stage
Shakespeare WOVe no golden thread of
romance to relieve the dark settings of
tins sombre tragedy. and yet never for q
moment did the interest flag. The eIe-
mental truths and the basic dramatic
power. which have carried the play from
generation to generation, were transmit
ted with compelling eloquence to an aI-
dience at times almost surfeited with
feeling The readings of Mantell were
clear and intelligent and some
thing closely akin to inspiration seemed
to hold the actor in its spell. The scene
in which King Lear denounced his daugl-
tiers and hurled violent imprecations upon
their heads was a finished rendering of
those most difficult lines. The closing
orable in its unspeakable pathos and un-
woe Tt was the epitome of hui
man anguish and heartbroken affection.
it were vain TO attempt to analyze the
motives of the tragedy or describe in
detail the subtle fascination of its varv-
ing moods and scenes. Students of the
drama who were so fortunate as to wit
ness the production viii have something
to ponder over for months to come.
Tonight the same company will appear
in Macbeth.
From the opening overture by the or