New-York tribune., 1910-03-22
DRAM A
Mr.. SOthCTH and MiSs WGriO1ce
On rs You Like IT..

The popular interest in Shakespeare vas
shown again last night when Air. Sotne1h
and Miss AIarloWe appeared al the Aeao-
emy ~ Music IA "As You Like H. The
big auditorium was well dlled the atten-
ti0n Of the audience was keen and con-
slant. the enjoyment general Never be
fore. r. Is understood. had Mr. Sothern AMI
Niss MarlOwe played together in this most
delightful ~ comedies. and. u may be fair
ly added. never before have they PLAYER
we'll But Mr. Sothern. b II noted, did
not play Orlando Jaaues was the feiio"
FOR hts metal And an admirable Jaques
10 proved 20 be: none better. lie coulu
not play Orlando half 50 we'll; he knows ~
and has the good sense 10 b. guided by the
knowledge. His Orlando would he wooden.
Ike his Romeo. But as the comedy con-
tsins another good part. which actors OF
distinction have not despised, he turned -
that and left Orlando 20 another player.
And his Jaques proves 20 be one OF the
best imPersonations Of that well known, oft
quoted. and too often spoiled part II was.
for that reason among Ot,ers. memorable
performance.
Miss Marlowe's RoSalind was. on the
whole. . work OF much delight There are
of any OF her contemporaries; there are
other moments when she sldrs her lines
and lets her utterance oantsr without due
restraint But IN the wooing scene she is
delicious.
Orlando was PLAYED By Mr.. Frederick
Lewis. lie seemed 10 feel the spirit Of the
part but did not at all times project that
spirit into the great spares Of the Academy
very good. and no one could have been
better than Mr.. Rowland Blackstone I'm the
small part of William. Mr. Blind was much
better as Charles the Wrestler than he was
as the banished duke. The latter was
much TOO mild and confidential person
age. Miss I.amisOn. the Celia. was quite
effective Al times. and ineffective az other
times. Effective Celias are as rare as sat
isfsctory Rosalinds. Il IS marvellous how
little the impersonatOrs OF the daughter Of
Duke Frederick see in that character. Miss
Valentine Was the conventional Audrey.
As You Like II" is by far the hest
performance given by the SOthern- -MarlOwe
combination this season. II Is enjoyable I'm
every act. And the audience followed IL
with every evidence OS appreciation. The
play Will be repeated throughout the week
In the cutting OF the play. which Mr..
Sothern and Miss MarlOwe have compressed
into four acts. there Is no indication that
the last scene runs from one day into an
other. And yet ROsalind has 10 say; To
morrow meet me altogether. I'll be
married tomorrow You shall BE-
married tomorrow" But at the Academy
they all meet and are married before the
end Of the scene in which the promise is
made.
The old songs Ia the forest We're well
sung and the old charm Of the play wa
everywhere revealed \ good part Of the
audience seemed 10 be quite as familiar
with the text a. were the actors-seeIned
10 watch for the lines and situations The
quick responses of appreciation. never
boisterOUs or out Of place told as much
Tie performance was almost sree of mis-
pronunciation and misplaced emphasis.
The most interesting. by far the most
significant. fact connected with the SOthern-
MarlOwe season At the Academy OF Music
this year Is the attraction that Shakespeare
has for the great ruc Os playgoers From
the front ~ the stage 20 the dim reaches
OF the gallery the big theatre has been
dlIed with people who manifest a real pleas
ure in anything that concerns the Shake
speaTe plays. These audiences are not
moved .1y fad or fashion They 20 20 the
theatre fOr pleasure not for mere amuse-
ment or 20 kill time. They are fond Of tile
stars, % course, but they are fond OF
Shakespeare. too. although Managers gen
orally doubt that Shakespeare can bring
prodt. MI. SOtheru and Miss MarloWe
know probably more than am one else
az the present time about the attitude OF
the public toward Shakespeare They souId.
an II they would. say something instructive
on that theme A ".