New-York tribune., 1910-12-09
THE DRAMA
Sothern and MarIoWe in Mac
beth" at Broadway Theatre.

SOthern and Marl0We IN Wac
beth" at Broadway Theatre.
Shakespeare again confolInds the prophe-
cies of the unbelieving rulers Of that weird
theatrical realm known 'Broadway."
Shakespeare, well presented. and at lower
prices than are charged for performances
of the shallowest musical comedy. the
newest ruelodrsma rip-roaTinG farce OF
the latest exuherances Of the freshest
pIaywrigbts. commands pubic support so
liberal in measure that the typical man
ayers and producers Of the moment must
rub their anna zed ewes. Shakespeare draw
ing money in Rroadway. Shakespeare
earning profits: A big theatre. filed with
hig crowds intent upon performances Of
poetic tragedy! VIII marvels never cease?
Has the age Of miracle returned
Outside Of those limited but influential
circles wherein are cherished certain su-
perstitiors about public taste and about
p public knowing what it wants. and get
ting IT no one will be surprised; oy the
handsome success Of NJ. Sotheru and Miss
Nariowe II has long been known by every
one but the despots Of the thea triCal scene
that thare is an enormous public for
Shakespeare-a public that always
be reached If certain simple but effective
methods and materials are employed. It
is the good fortune of Mr.. Soth4rn and
Miss MarIowe TO recognize the existence Of
this public. TO approach II with both
I faith and works. and 70 receive from il the
most cordial appreciation. These two
players have earned success by hard and
constant labor Neither IS what might be
called inspired actor-a term much
abused but not without legitimate employ
ment; each is well informed and tireless
worker: each is ar artist: neither is
great artist: and enacting tragedy without
the personal endowments which enable
them depict the sweep of irresistible
passion. the depths of tenderness, the tor
turing bitterness of remorse: marked off
from the possession of faculties richly po-
etical. Of natures highly imaginative, they
have nevertheless achieved positions which.
Il not of the highest order, are honorable
and high. Their latest presentation is
Macbeth" Their performance of this
mighty tragedy is quite good their
best performances in other plays by Shake
speare.
The Englisl1-speakIng stage to-day knows
the tread OF no pair of actors who can
play the Macbeths as they have occasion
passed away. But ii is equally true that
no actors now speaking our language can
impart to a presentation OF these two char
actors more Of the poets meaning. more OF
his thought. than Mr.. Sotheru and Miss
MarloWe can and do. Here then is no
demerit of theirs. If there is anything to
lament it is the misfortune of the age.
In view of all the circumstances which
surround the presentation of a Shake
spearian tragedy IN New York III 1916 the
inclination of critic might well be toward
the encouragement of such effort the
SOthern-Marlowe production Of Macbeth
! Indeed il may be we'll that thanks mingle
/ with congratulations. so exceptional is the
case nowadays that stage players con-
sistently direct their talents 70 high ends.
A good deal can be found to say in critical
examination of Macbeth at the Broad
way Theatre, but very little in dispraise.
The aim is good The mark is we'll hit
near the centre bur not actually there.
And it is better TO give thanks for what is
well done than to rail At inperfections
where perfection could not be expected in
a great field 50 little titled.
Actors who succeed in Shakespeare do so
bv hard work not chance They earn their
con1pensa ton. however generous il may be
Macbeth seven times a week he takes upon
himself a task that would tax a giants
strength Miss Marlowe's work in Shake
spearian repertoire would break down the
charming and fragile stars Tho are the
accidents of stage success The Sothern-
Mariove Macbeths may not be overpoWer-
ing, terrifying. soul-stricken. they may nor
be great Macbeths but they are decidedly
interesting. and they are the best now
available on either side of the multitude
nous sea which managerial inks incarna-
dine.
Cut though the text of Macbeth is and
must be- it needs cutting again ,n the
Sothern-Marlowe acting version. There are
vet four scenes which can be stricken out
with no injury 10 the requirements OF the
evening Even then the performance would
be interrupted some fifteen times by the
closing OF the curtains. If the "up-to-date'
method Of setting the stage must be en-
ployed in Shakespeare's plays. The choruses
are not effective and the fighting IS poor.
the latter lacking in numbers and il skill.
But the production whole Is highly
creditable TO the artists vino lead and make
it. And their reward shall be great in the
land a v.
CAST OF MACBETH