New-York tribune., 1909-03-16
THE DRAMA
Mr.. MANTELL AS MACBETH.
New Amsterdam Theatre.

New Amsterdam Theatre.
~ Nartels impersona1ion Of Macbeth which
ras given last night at the New Amsterdam The
- i1ss become clearer in ideal and finer in exc
,tor man g was when last exhibited here and
therefore il is more worthy than It has ever yet
raan alike OF the theme and of the actor. Among
an the characters in Shakespeare, Macbeth is the
,,st ezaciing I'm the draft that It makes mon the
,,arfuatlon and in the ccincident strain TO which
!, Subjects The physical resources. Analysis Of that
Spfiect. however. has. from time time. been
,lsntfflly supplied in this dramatic column. and a
nartioulaT reconsideration Of it is in
,snded. The performance that Mr.. ManteH gave.
last night vas indicative Of a right ideal and it
us evenly sustained. Macbeth. originally Of a
noble nature ia which there turks the seed OF evil.
3 fend-driyen into crime. That fine thinker
Thomas De Quincy acUtelv remarks that every
man has two-edged tendencies lurking within him
sef pointing in direction to what Will expand
he eIevating principles of his nature. pointing in
snas her 20 what viii tempt him its degradation.
Perhaps he learned that truth from Shakespeare-
+ra-7 vuo11. indeed, most learn the most and
,he best that knox- That truth certainly IS
illustrated Macbeth, and Mr Manten
the part in TIE clear light of Il. and not as once
re did. in q wandering and obscure way.-confused
with haste end mcerttude.
One of tn great disadvantages under which act
, labor is thar Of being compelled by the exgen-
cie- OF 1he profession. 10 act,-snd sometimes in
-,srts Of the most difficult and exacting order
irrespective Of either their readiness or their phys
d and naturally. It Is seldom never considered,
rscause il IS seldom never known. at the time.
Al audience comes a theatre 70 play acted.
mt 10 cogaTnissraIe suffering actor That great
,,-uelan ;ne la;e John I. Toole, once sharply re
rrzed a young for iueficienCy, who. years
.fterxa-d said 10 him Mr.. Toole if you had
zaa4n the truth. think you would have been less
s--cra. / had Just received news of my mothers
d4atiL- My boy" said the old actor. I should
have been sorrv for YOU ard should have spoken
ls1rE E-rg T771rz a
s-ri,si audience concerned with the death OF
vor1r mother with the state Of YOUR health and
feelings Ire spectators have paid and have come
- See You act and. Il YOU go on, YOU wust act -
" Ns7telTs experience with the part Of Macbeth
,-o-5s an illustration. When il was first made
known fe-e it was made known for the arst time
~ anv stage mot 4ountirS single youthful vent
re in q provincial British stock company ano il
was acted IL only few DAYS notice The per
farr-g2ce. accordingly. though effective. was in
definite incorrect. and unsatisfactory. It has sew
e-al times been since then. and Il has shown
marked improvement The chief defect in It then.
however. and the chief defect in it now. is the
ttnee Of zyhst-for the lack Of filter words
-sIlsd rneodran,a: the quality which indicated
by Charlotte Cusaman tsnd Of which she seemed
70 a-,rro-e4. when she declared. 70 Edwin Booth,
that Macbeth i the great-gTandfather Of all the
Fozerv rUfzlaus-
The finest element in Mr. Mantelis performances
IS ps,rrr- the direction in which II should grow IS
that Of tho syritJa Iized imagination In tho crea-
tior or visual effe-+ Mr.. Mantell has a great ad-
vantage. The average theatrical auditor Of Mac
beth' desires, first, to see whether the martial
Tha-a is = veritable warrior in appearance as well
- in rrete7oe-zae1her he is a who has
zsxed % the fuIl. in theNs and bulk II h. finds
him otherwise. matter how great may he the
ir-sIactusl and poetic value OF the embodiment,
sucr an auditor Is dissa tisfsd. No an be els
appointed with Mr. MantelTs Macbeth in that
respect He is a man OF large and powerful frame;
incssed Fl xarlke panopiy; self-containsd: out
Esrdy calm but stirred and shaken within strong
~ feature pale OF face. with dark hair anc long
sweeping dark ruustaches.-he presents ragnih-
cent picture for the eye And there is, in his de-
raesnor striking impairment 81 the atmosphere
of mystery and dread. strange sudden Sae
glance of TIE usually bold, clear blue eyes Which
indicates that this though he fears no
man else. yet fears himself NT MaIl1eu : strong
points IN this performance are subtle oelineation OF
character vcIubility in utterance Of passion
sud intense feeling - the attributes Iha'
make his Lear and his othello the best now
visible on our stage. There l.. likewise IN ulelT
e--rrss-,arr Visible Increase OF poetic sensib'it1.
as If the -r,c nature of tho man. as distinguished
fTam the apparent nature. acre obtaining greater
freedom through great fuency Of artistic expires
son His aurror-iate. :uUlrltuouS action, ~ IN"
climax Of the banquet scene, produced superb
d-sr1atic effect The pathetic speech beginning
she should have died hereafter could not nave
been better spoken. Mr.. Msntell Is doing Z great
service 10 the stage and 10 society and II sh"old
q the earnest hope that he will everywhere meet
with the success he deserves. TIE repertoTT winch
h hzs laid out for she coming Two weeks Is one
ef berculean labor and, though lis presentment
nus enforce admiration. II cannot be forSotiHl
tbst such erdeavcrs have cost the stage dear oe-
fore rovr-ss might occur - any one who WOULD
fake the trouble recall for example the careers
o. Booth Me- 'ullouEh Barrett. and Mansneld- Inc
audience cannot be expected 10 bear the fact IN
mind but II is not insignificant that Mr Manteil'
10 longer yoang, has, within about four years
added 70 his repertory the tremendous characters
Of Lear Macbeth Richard. Brutus, ShElock, laso'
and King John Il can. however. reasonably, be
expected that vyiIl receive the hearty support
that he so richly deserves for doing great things
greatly. He has his honors, hard and Ne-l'
rusv be wear them easily ana long! ". "
CAST OF MACBETH
Nanteli
FVs--h Lillian kIngshurF