New-York tribune., 1909-02-07
LONDON DRAMA
a Shasc ReUiual-Efectiue Ad0eT-
tising.
rnndnn- January q.

London, January Il
The dullest weeks Of the year may be epoch
making for somebody. This is apparently hr'
George Bernard Shaw's week, for he promises 70
H,ob I'd twice and 20 dominate Il with al inc
Er-tnkfF,r n,odesty OF q coy -debutante in white,
whose court costume has been exposed 10 'he
waaton operation Of the chamberlain's shears
Most dramatically at the Labor Congress open
.nr today at Portsmouth. where, health per
,,,.t+ing he appea-s as a peacen,aker with an
srorgc h;,rnor when stalwart Socialists like Mr..
J,hiun Snovden and Mt. Curran are howleo
down as opportunists and traitors; but most
I,slilanthropically at His Majestys Theatre 1or
The relief OF the unemployed intellectual crenks
who have stayed away from playhouses since
the suspension Of the vedrenne and Barker per-
<o-manoes at the Court and the Savoy theatres.
I hops 60 witness both TeapPea-ances. as am
starting to-day for Portsmouth; but speak
definitely only Of the revival Of The Admirable
Bashv4ne- as one Of the afternoon theatre Sc
ries. That is his first play. written primarily
Sor The protection OF his stage rights IN his
crude novel "Cashel Byron's Profession and
incidentally, as he has himself explained with
the stark naked candor OF q sandwich man. IS
q ~craftsrnan's masterpiece" after the compile
ton OF his apprenticeship and evidence that
he had at his fingers ends the easiest technique
an the world-ShRkespeare's own II has been
enacted with brilliant ability by al experienced
company OF players, and with handsoner set
sing and more garish glare OF linelight than
81 received when II was originally produced
Afr. S7aE1s plays may not be dramas in the
Elizabethan sense, but they require good acting
snd effective stage management
IN both respects the so-called MASTERPIECES" IS
vel served at NJ. Trees theatre I cannot
make comparisons, as I did not see the first
~ ia 81 fS an infer
ence that there has been marked Improvement
in tbs acting. Three Of the original players
have resumed their parts. and enact them with
perfection OF technique. Ar. Ben Webster Is
Cashel. Nfr. Hearn IS Cetewayo and ME. Quar-
ter-naine Is Luc1an. and each acts 50 earnestly |
that he ceases to be burlesQue performer
ridiculous as his conduct and phrases may be
AIr. webster IS one Of the most uncertain &C
tors On the English stage alternately satisfy !
ing and disappointing his friends but his i'm
.7erscnatton OF CasheI is so flexible IN move
ne1t and brilliant IN texture that nobody
ever wants 20 see anybody IN his place Mr..
Hea-n also has q stenturtan voice and q COM
Enaoding stature for the savage King, and
plays the part with tragic style Of his Owl.
Among the new players Miss Marie L6hr lends
a charming presence and dainty girlishness Of
manner 20 Lydia's mock heroics; Mr. Henry
Ainley IS e handsome Bashville. with a fine
voice Sor poetic cadence; Mr.. Lenox Pawie is
irresisubiy ridiculous IS MsIish, the trainer;
Miss Rosina FIlippi Is an accomplished come
dian Adelaide: Mr.. Edward Sass Is an agile
and irresponsible Paradise and Mr.. Courtney
Eoote. Lord worthington, and Mr.. Haui-
vel Hobbies, the erratic policeman. complete
g most brilliant cast. MI. Shaw may not write
plays which are permanently popular, but he
succeeds invariably n interesting actors In their
work and in enabling them 10 play with their
paints with the ughtest possible touch.
The stage management is ingenious and re-
Eourceful II its adaptations Of Elizabethan Gus
toms, and from the outset IS source Of unceas-
ing nnerTi-nent- TWO beef eaters n fuu uniform
are in charge OF the stage throughout They
dispose OF the curtains. arrange the entrances
and exits in stage within stage advertise
each scene BY unfolding q large placard, keep
the players attendants, promenaders and Zulu
chiefs IN proper order; regulate the rounds Of
the prolonged glove fight and sset up huge flags
behind which the corpses OF the slain can crawl
Of without being observed. The various scenes
are together n the Elizabethan style. and
the single break OF ak minutes IS justified by
the necessity for effective clearance Of the stage
after the great combat scene While there IS an
effective reproduction OF the curtained theatre Of
6hakespeare's tine, use is made OF modern IN
ventiOns IN supplying the forest orchestra OF
BIRDS, tie hurly-burly Of the coming storm and
q concentrated glare Of Hmelight az critical mo-
ments. The incidental music from wagners and
other scores IS managed most artisticaIly The
Ehzabethan methods and traditions are dis
family followed. but with modern innovations,
which tend 10 car1catUre them. 4 coarse trav-
esty would be q vulgar burIesQue This Is one Of
the best productions ever seen at His Majesty's
where stage management IS the main resource
in trade II IS proof that Mr.. Shaw1s art
whether for the few for the many, deserves
the best effort n acting and stage production
II q does not have Illuminating touches Of stage
srTs it IS indeed inane stuff-vanity OF vanities.
A crowded house Of exceptional refinement Of
taste enjoyed the first performance Of this Shaw
revival II was clever TooIing for playgoers who
had exhausted the ordinary resources Of the
modern drama The laughter was thoughtless,
for The humors Of the play were superficial The
classic forms Of the Elizabethan period were
adapted 70 q modern fsrcicaI situation and SEN
timentai drama Of The Lady Of Lyons or 'fThe
class parodied IN ianblc rhythrns,
which could hardly be described as blank verse.
u r7as good fun for Shaw worshippers, and loud
was the uproar 81 stalls and galleries over the
xegaries OF The romantic heroine. the mock
earnestness OF the constant valet and the tour
na-1ent IN Agricultural Hall before Cetewayo
when Cashel and Paradise fought strenuously
snd with many an antic with the gloves. Pos
ssbly there We're superior persons who cCnsid-
srad that the grand style Of English drama was