New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1910-03-19
DRAM
The Ben Greet Players in
DR.. FQustus."

The legend OF the man who sold himself
% the devil IN exchange for the gratifics-
ton Of his earthly wishes has been traced
over fourteen centuries Of recorded time.
How much older u may be Is M great
matter. Three hundred and twenty
three years have passed since the legend
now associated with the name Of Faust
first took literary shape. ana three hundred
and ten years or thereabOuts since Chris
TOPPER MarlOwe made the first dramatiza-
ton OF the story. This dramatizatiOn was
last night presented az the Garden Theatre
by tne Ben Greet Players. This presenta-
ton Of the play Is said 20 have been the
first ever given on a professional stage Or
this country. II might easily become a
performance OF as much merit and interest
as was that Of 'sEsveryman'' when Mr..
Greet had a better choice IN players than
he has now. But u needs. as Il deserves.
better acting than il received last night.
"Dr. Faustus'' Is. as compared with any
other stage version Of the venerable legend.
what Hamlet r. % the curious concate-
nation sometime uncovered IN Broadway
BY Mr.. z. Toy. But IT has taken three
centuries 70 find a manager courageous
enough 20 attempt a production Of the
drama even in the simple Elizabethan man
ner.
How greatly il Is all planned" said
Goethe OF Kit MarIOwe's Or. Faustus."
How greatly Il might be acted. must be the
thought OF any one who reads II. must have
been the thought OF many who saw II last
evening az the Garden Theatre Last
nights acting was. with two exceptions.
commonplace. The impersOnations had
very modern and sloppy appearance. But
Mr.. Robert WhitwOrth. as MephistOpheles.
was excellent. looked vel. bore himself well
and spoke admirably. Mr. j. Sayer Craw-
ley had the part Of Or. FauStus. or. rather.
Il had him He did not quite master IL.
II II. however. an exceedingly difiicUlt part
and an exceedingly long one. Mr.. Craw-
ley's best moments were IN the death scene.
There he deserved especial praise. But he
fell far short IN that famous and beautiful
address 70 Helen. beginning:
Was this the face that launched a thousand ships
And burnt the topless towers Of uium?
And one OF hts SHORTCOMINGS is a lisp.
which Is most vexing 20 the careful ear.
But there was scarcely an actor who did
not lisp last night. The letter 81 quite
vanquished most OF them. II Is perilOus 20
say lit Is thin" when the line runs lit II
sin" But Mr.. Greet has been successful
In gathering about him number OF gentle
men 20 whom the letter 80 presents ap-
palling difficulties.
The version OF Marlowe's play has been
somewhat clipped FaUstus's visit 70 Rome
Is omitted. but the omission Is due, OF
course. to a desire 10 avoid offending the
adheFents Of a great Church The actors
seem TO pronounce "Faustus according 20
their individual hkings. Almost all Of
them say "Fawstus," but some call the
principal character "FOTcetus," and the
actor who plays the Emperor calls the un-
happy doctor "FOWstus." There should be
some agreement. but IL is common habit
among companies Of actors 20 indulge IN a
general disagreement in the pronunciation
Of names The Ben Greet performances
are curiOusly uneven Som OF them are
very good. some are not good at all. and
some are only middling. Last nights was
mlddling. with an extraordinary Oppor-
tunity 10 be very good The audience
seemed much interested A. ".