The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-05
SALT LAKE THEATRE.

"Othell0," the last of the four great
tragedies, was given at the Salt Lake
theatre last night with Mr.. Mantell as
the Moor and Fritz Leiber as IagO. In
this play there is the unusual circum-
stance of two roles of first-class i'm
pOrtance for male actors, and MIR. Man
tell includes both in his repertoire. 1t
would seem matter of cOngratula-
ton that Salt Lake saw him OthellO,
since it is a general feeling that the
nobility of the part should accord with
the nobility Of his acting.
OtheIIO is pre-eminently the drama
of passion. 1t runs a swift gamut
of feeling from the calm and steady
affection aroused in the Moor by the
gentle virtue of DesdemOna TO the ferO-
ciOus blind Jealousy of the tragic end
ing. The birth of suspicion in the mind
of OthellO OcCaSiOned by the machina-
lions of IagO, is the fOTerunner of the
catastrophe. In Mr.. Mantells portrayal
the suspicion comes unWillingly. The
noble, almost august parsonage which
he makes the Moor, cannot stOOp to
greet one sees the proud nature aroused
TO meaner passions.
The character of the Moor in the
hands of Mr. Mantell is tempered as
finely as a Toledo blade. At his first
appearance he invests the part with
chivalrOus honor and nobility Of bear
ing. Moor and half barbarian, he is
splendid figure of a man. That OthellO
n
or MaUritanian, is in accordance with
the best traditions of the stage which,
since the days of Kean, has accounted
the role as one of the greatest in the
Shakespearean repertoire, and given it
every attribute of distinction and
charm. Distinguish ed above all was the
bearing of Mr.. MantelI as he gave the
speech beginning,
Most potent, grave and reverend sig
nOrS,
Nv very noble and aDDrGVed good mas
terS,
That I have ta'en away this old mans
daughter,
1t is most true"
An artistic touch incident to the pas
siOnate excitement caused by lagos in
situations was Othelo's attempt at self
control. 1t was so foreign TO the nature
of the Moor that Mr.. Mantell showed
| him with shaking hand, unable to put his
mind to the business Of the papers that
| lay upon his desk. From that moment
| passion had full sway until 1t eliminated
| in the sad catastrophe. With pathOs al
most unbearable in its appeal and a pow
er of e1oquence that is his greatest attri-
| butte, Mr.. Mantell spoke the closing lines:
| Il have done the state some service, ana
they know't.
! No more Of that, I pray you, in your let
tiers,
When you shall these unlucky deeds re
late,
! Speak Of me as I am"
| The most important role yet essayed by
Fritz Leiber is that of Iago in this play.
| He pleased the audience greatly and was
called back again and again. In its mo
| tiVeless malignity" the character is the
most hated of the villains of Shakespeare,
| but gives so great opportunities for the
display of talent that many great artists
| have played it. Mr.. Leiber's portrayal
was vivid and effective. Like lovely
| flower, Miss Russell appeared as BESIDE
mona. She played the part of the gentle
ana timid girl with a grace and distinction
! that won all hearts. Her acting in the
death scene was a finished piece or az
/ tiStTy.