The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1909-02-23
THE NATIONAL.
Robert ManteIl.


Last evening. al the New National Thea
ter. Mr.. Robert Mantell. who is about the
only player we have left who dev0tes his
talents 10 Shakespeare and the classical
drama. presented Macbeth to an audi
ence that filed every part Of the thea
ter-except the boxes. 1t was a finely
adequate Interpretation Of this. one Of
the most powerful and Impressive Of the
tragedies Of Shakespeare. Mr.. MsRtell
has 50 many plays IN his repertoire that
Il might well be excusable # any one
OF them were less gorgeously staged or
costumed than, in this era OF expensive
productions. we have been taught to ex-
pect. But with Mr. Mantell no apologies
are necessary. The productions are ade-
quate in every way. and the presentation
OF Macbeth" last night needed no ex-
cuse.
The performance was, throughout, an
excellent one The part OF Macbeth
suits Mr.. Mauten in every way. The deep
and beautifully sonOrous voice which Is
one Of his chief assets as a Shakespearean
actor chimes in well with the heavy
lines, and so frsught with dire meaning
and with his fine physical makeup. his
environment and his voice. the direness
of the tragedy was abated not one jot.
The version Of the play hs uses Is that
prepared from the prompt-oooks Of
Edwin Booth. with Booths omissions OF
text and Characters These were designed
to omit the non-essentials. the English
characters and scenes, and the result is
9. more compact and stern work OF art
OF course. the interest last night cen
tered in the acting Of Mr.. Mantell. but ne
got able support from his company. Miss
Marie Booth Russell. as Lady Macbeth,
did some splendid acting. The Banquo Of
Mr.. Hales was remarkably good. and.
amid the host OF other characters. there
was not one out OF the picture or lacking
in anv material way. II was a fine treat,
this performance Of Macbeth" so good
In every way that D; seems 20 promise
that Mr.. ManteI VIII have fun houses
Tor the other fine plays he is due 70
present during his engagement
At the afternoon performance. which
opened BIr. ManteHs engagement The
LADY Of Lyons was given 20 an audience
OF fair size OF all the so-called classic
plays. this one. by Sir Z. Bulwer-Lytton
has become. perhaps, the most archaic
and old-fashioned. with It's old stage de-
vices. its soliloquies. its "asides." thai
seem. in these days OF striving after
some semblsnce Of approximation 20 hu
man conduct in real life. so absurd and
/ far-fetched.
I And get, IN spite Of its obvious defects
/ its decIamatory language. its stilteC
/ phrases. there is something about th'
main theme 81 this story that Is vita
/ enough 10 grip audiences and appeal Z
their hearts and emotions
/ The part Of Claude MelEOtte IS. perhaps
/ the one character IN his extensive roper
toire that Mr. Mantell must find difficult
/ for none OF Us can ignore the passing o
the years. and OF al illusions, that o
I youth IS hardest 10 maintain But Mr.
ManteI falls short IN this part only q
the critical eye. IN spirit he fails not a
all. his voice Is as musical his hear
/ as buOyanr his limbs as agile as OF yOre
and he really invests BulweT's lines wit
a majesty ard dignity that is impressive
Miss Marie Booth Russell. as Pauline
gave an excellent performance. and s
did NIr. EtheIbert Hales as Col. Damas
The rest Of the cast may be set dow
as merely competent.
Tonight the bin viii be Shakespeare
King Lear HECTOR FULLER.