The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1908-05-13
ADJUSTMENTS.

On the second night of a week that will
mark an epoch in the theatrical history of
Salt Lake City. Mr. Mantell and his com
pany last night presented Shakespeare S
wonderful tragedy of Macbeth The
sombre story never had more mastery
telling on the stage of the old playhouse,
and it is stage that has been trodden in
their time by the worlds greatest play
ers- Mr.. Mantelrs reading of the won
derfully human lines was magnificent Ii
has been said of him before that he
stands at the head of ShakespeaTean in
terpreters of today. and that is stating
the simple truth. If he had done moth
ing worth while last night except the
speech in the last act. when Seyton an
nOunceS the death of the queen. his per-
Torrance would still have been worth go
ing many miles to witness.
She should have died hereafter;
There would have been a time for such a
word.
Tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow.
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day
To the last syllable of recorded time.
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out brief
candle,
LIES but a walking shadow. a poor
That struts and frets his hour upon the
stage
And then is heard no more: it Is a tale
Told by an idiot fun of sound and fury.
Signifying nothing
In Mr.. Hantelrs reading Of these lines
there was all the majesty of heart-break-
ing grief. He spoke them almost CONVEX
sationally, without gestures, naturally.
His sorrow was so real that. UnlOvely
though the character of Macbeth is. sym
pathy went out to him in a rush that
could not he checked. And as he finished
there must have come back to the minds
of many that heard him recollection of
the tragic lines spoken by Lady Macbeth
earlier in the play, the\ lines that are
really the motif of the tragedy: 'Tis
safer to be that which we DESTROY than
by destruction dwell in doubtful joy"
Mr.. Mantells Macbeth is the Macbeth
most readers Of Shakespeare know. A
man not bad at heart. but a weak man.
a man easily led and especially by one
he loves 1t was hard in the beginning for
the Lady Macbeth to awaken his ambi-
ton to screw his courage ito the stick
ing place. but. once aroused, he carried
the fight to its tragic finish. Mr. Man
tell possesses the talent, rare I'm the
ShakesDearean school. of making his au-
ditors forget the player in the play. He
compels the belief that they are seeing
real life.
Miss Marie Booth RusselFs Lady Mac
beth was magnificent. She was the sort
of woman who could inspire courage in
a weak man. ambition in one of purpose
less life II was not surprising that Mae
beth yielded 10 her. 1t would have been
surprising if he had not yielded. And
through all her monstrOus Vaccinations
it was clear that she cared nothing for
herself. Her one thought was TO place
her husband in a lofty station Miss
RusselIs voice IS deep and sweet carry
ing in bell-like tones to the furthest
parts of the house. and conveying every
shade of expression. And her facial ex-
preston. particularly in the scene where
She listens while Macbeth tells how he
has murdered Duncan's guards and so
fixed upon them the death of Duncan,
was a study in human emotion.
Miss Russell most deservedly shared
last nights honors with the star. She is
a leading woman of extraordinary talent.
anc a Shakespearean reader of the high
est intelligence. The entire company, in
deed, is altogether capable.
The house last night though thoroughly
appreciative, was not as large as it should
have been About the time the week is
nearing its finish Salt Lakers are going
to realize that they are missing the great
est opportunity presented them in years.
The bill this afternoon VIII be Hamlet. y
This evening "The Merchant of Venice"
will be the offering.