New-York tribune., 1909-03-30
THE DRAMA
MR.. SoTHERN AS RICHELIEU.
Daly's Theatre.

acting that part for the arst time in this citv.
The comedian has made a wise choice in choosing
Richelieu; for the reason that, while It contains
the potentiality OF splendid dramatic effect il COM
ports with the refinement OF his style and II eIic+s
the effective use OF his best serious powers which
though not OF a high order, considerable and
worthy OF being exerted. He gave 2 performance
OF It. not only intrinsically good, in purpose and
particulars OF detail but-yyhicb is moro
important,-auspiciOus Of ampler fulhlrnent by and
by. He did not. indeed. express either the deem
tenderness Of Richelieu's nature. as it has been
drawn Dy the poet. or the pathetic loneliness the
intellectual isolation. of his austere age but he
gave a worthy and creditable representation Of a
part 10 which. Yet he is not fully equal There
is. in Richelieu. massive distinction OF COM
manding personality, which can, indeed be irni-
tated. but which cannot be embodied ,lress II is
possessed; and that weight of majestic character
reposes on a basis OF profound feeling the pas
sions have been uled TO rest but they only slurn-
Der, and when they burst forth they irradiate a
noble intellect and make It sublime IN its pro-
tective vindication Of virtue and honor
There Is fortunately Cbecause everybody can
thereby, sooner or later be peased) a wide differ
ence Of opinion to the province Of Drama and
10 what should be considered the essential con-
Etituents OF a great play. The comedy OF "Riche-
lieu" which has held the stage for seventy years.
contains action, story character. situation, sus-
pense contrast. and picture, and II blends humor
and pathos- The central character-lnique. SYM
pathetic. essentially human and continuously in
teresting-is a great man, whose inspiring motive
is patriotic devotion. No actor since Edwin Booth
left the stage has fully manifested Richelieu.
cready. the first representative Of the part was long
considered supreme and Incompatible in but the
veteran John Ryder.-vho came. to America with
him. and acted with him. and idozed hIm.-said TO
Edwin Booth. after seeing Booths Richelieu: You
have overthrown my idol Forrest was. of course.
effective in II: John Mccullough, Lawrence Bar
rett and Henry Irving gave admirable perform
snces Of it-that Of Irving being notable for
srtful infusion of the French temperament
OF
rose 30 the grandeur which invested embodi-
rnent Of the Cardinal given by Edwin Booth That
performance perfect 1t enthralled every be
holder, and It will dwell forever in the annals OF
great acting The best representative OF Richelieu
now on our stage is Robert Mantell.-the best, be
cause he possesses the deep heart, the large
perfence Of life, the philosophy, the repose and the
power that innperatively essential That state
rnent is not made IN disparagennent OF Mr.. Sotn-
ern-but only explanation Of judgment II is
Inevitable, when two prominent actors appear al
the same time the character, that COM
parison Of their performances will glide into the
Observers thoughts In particular Mr., Soth-
ern has the advantage: in his performance Of the
Cardinal there is a little-though very litte-nore
Of that deliberation and that attention TO detail
which vitality essential TO the effect OF the part
rf+ he has only recently assumed Richelieu, and
his personation, not yet developed lacks that in
erent majesty of soul, that simplicity Of demeanor
and that overwhelming power which are so prom-
rent and right in the performance given by Mr..
ManteT
NJ Sothern's acting shows careful and thoughuul
study and likewise # indicates acquaintance with
some OF the stage examples.-probably those OF
Barrett and Mccullough we'll as that Of Edwin
Booth and possibly that Of Creston Clarke Booths
-ephew who gave a striking performance OF the
part. closely copying that Of his uncle Ny Soth-
ems makeup good. although the hair tde-
scribed In the text ''writenng'D, IS rather vel
low than gray. His execution IS firm and gener-
sIlv neat though deficient OF hexbility. His de-
velopnent Of the Cardinals slightly ironical humor
ss instinct with satirical but not unkndiy play
srfpess: shozrn 10 the auditor, while veiled from
fb. tnterioc1rtor by expert use OF transparency
radical defect is fnical NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. In the
case OF al actor longer young The Rcheileu
Of fact died az the age Of fty-seven; the FcheHeu
Of the play is, prematUrely. much older. A more
serious defect is the hard brittle unsympathelc
vocsffsrn In the climax Of the fourth act-where
che decisive test IS appled,-Mr- Sothern Is ooNl-
s,1sly and conspicuously artificial 1he sl'uilIoh
no doubt, that has been artfuliy devised 10
7rreate a theatrical effect; but, when II Is rlshtF
treated the artice OF its fabric is not apparent eN
rant 70 expert observation: and, Notwithstanding
the commonplace notion Of top-ofty criticism that
things done the stage shotld be done only De
cause you can see reason why they should De
done the situation neither forced nor unnatural
Z was one Of the peculiarities Of the Richeileu
CT fact that by power Of WILL he was aole at
times 10 compel himself 10 vigorous exeruon "lleH
almost al the same instant, he had been tanning
Moreover great situations do, sometimes occur
even in actual life and sometimes they are greatly
met Genius could enforce, an6 has enforced the
truth Of nature. that pivotal situation IN the
MAY NJ ..Richelieu'' The expedienJ Of obvious
strength obviously pretending 20 be weakness VIII
not serve an actors purpose there The tremendous
excitement Of that moment suddenly aninlateS
l.reak king age with the visor Of intense nervous
sner,-- and the threat Of the curse OF Rome leaps
<-or1 ,ba Cardinals lips like lightning from the
cloud That great supplies one more iIIustra-
ton os the paradox Of acting The ernotloh IN
volved is tremendous, and the conditions raplo'y
change The actor is at full tension; yet he must
+ske nreciselv the right amount of time; must
make every movement with precision; must place
srsht every infection Of tone and every shaolng OF
verbal accent; and while his passion must nc tn-
,,,,ltt,ous and terrible, hold both himself
and his audience with grip Of iron Nj Sothern
annareutly has not absorbed the fun meaning OF
the fact that Richelieu when de1ed as the Minister
Of State asserts himself the accredited Minister
of cod Voice and vigor imperativey require TO be
reinforced by the towering conviction OF eceesiasu
cal SUPREMACY The actor frequently cheered
,y,tb spplause and after the third curtain he was
three times recalled. He has made Ii good begin
ming with Richeleu, but much remains 70 oe ooie'
s W. w.
CAST OF ''RIcHELIEU"
King ;syoney ta1 9l'11e
cs-dinei RIcheleu z Il Sothern
Baradas E'lc f5llna
Adrian de Mauprat- FREDERICK & @ i1.|ls
Ne Fer7ghen Rowland B1c ckstoIe
Joseph --'--'--'--- Irbr TaToT
FIuguet -. ~,
Francois -ti.rIy lIHes
-91Aio iIieIl
Captain OF Guard Leslie King FAIng
secretary Of Malcolm Bradley
seoond secretary Of p J. Kelly
Third Secretary State Fre1eTck ltolahd
Julie de Aorterar J-itris y, nn1ond
,rnxrT NAV ATT TIT cAPnFN