The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-01-04
THE BELASCO.

lovers. Romeo and Juliet, was enacted at
the Belasco Theater last evening before
an audience which filled every part OF the
house-a brilliant and attentive audience
who gave full color TO the understanding
that not only Miss Marlowe and Mr..
Sothern are popular and favorites. but
that one William Shakespeare also is
held in high regard by the best and most
intelligent theater public.
Since one may not dissect the play or
its author, after three centuries survival
as the greatest of all poetic tragedies.
and since both our leading American ae-
tor. Mr.. Sothern, and Miss Marlowe, too,
have appeared here in their respective
roles. a review of the performance last
night must perforce be limited to plain
statement Of facts already known But
Il is always pleasure to record success,
and this both Of these splendid players
have achieved In the reading OF Shakes
pearean roles.
Miss Marlowe's Juliet is an intellectual,
as well as an artistic performance. Her
conception Of the part Is based on years
of accurate study. and a public render
10 mark her as our leading exponent
OF this, the Bard of Avon's, greatest fe-
male character The handicap OF Juliet's
being a girl still in her teens has no
bearing on Miss Marlowes playing of the
part.
The maturity Of a splendid artistic
career, such as Miss Marlowe's is a far
greater asset than mere physical appear
ance, and yet Miss Marlowe might have
passed for sixteen in any Of her scenes,
and her acting throughout perfectly re-
produced the awakening OF the girl Juliet
into her womanhoOd. beginning with the
first touch OF Romeo's lips and so on
through the racl1ing times that followed,
and ended so peacefully in the tomb OF
the Capulets.
There is always something Of peace
and happiness in the tomb scene, In
spite of the flown earthly Joy of the
unhappy lovers. II is the quiet and rest
that association with death always
brings. even to the very young. when
life has been hard and cruel and offers
no brightness or relief from despair. The
tumult of emotions which have ragged is
hushed the passions which have ragged
are quelled. and over all steals death and
the promise of the hereafter. which IS
joy and a reunion of tortured souls.
Miss NarlOwe's acting Of the potion
scenes was. Of course. her best. since II
was here that she best showed to ad-
vantage her fine experience and complete
familiarity with the emotional requisites,
Her balcony scene was exquisite, with a
gentIeness and a tenderness. and withal
a throbbing and yearning love pervading
all. Her reading at all times was de-
lightful music to the ear
Mr.. Sothern's Romeo IS not nearly so
impressive as Miss Marlowes Juliet.
While one detests a jaunty Romeo still
one wholly melancholy is almost equally
undesirable. II a certain and subtle air
OF Hamlet hovers about Mr.. Sothern's
Romeo. It would be unfair TO say that
this is his fault entirely, for so excellent
and scholarly a Hamlet has he become
that the part unconsciously obtrudes
itself when he Is otherwise engaged and
more particularly IN a role such as
Romeo, where "A tinge Of self-deprecia-
CURED One would rather he did not use
the far-away expression and the down
cast gaze so much. or that he would be
more ardent lover Of the eager and
enhancing Juliet.
His protests are OF love that is Of the
intellect rather than of the heart, and In
this he shows that in spite OF HIS splen-
did and accurate achievements in many
other parts, he has not had sufficient
time TO let Romeo sink into his soul, as
il we're II he should abandon the part
altogether there would be others by
which his fame would mount higher.
As a reader Of Shakespearean verse
however. Mr.. Sothern is really great. anC
his acting in several scenes is brilliant
notably the one in Friar Laurence's eel
and later in the tomb scene, which al
ways seems TO have a quiet!ng and up
lifting effect on its participants
There is no desire TO be csptious re-
garding Mr.. Sothern's Romeo. It is simply
a fact that it Is not one of his best parts
nor is he an ideal actor of the part. A
role so rich in tradition must inevitably
take on a personality, and every actor
may not fit 1t to his own
Frederick Lewis was a conspicuous
MercUtio. reading with a verve and ar
understanding that was delicious. snC
the swagger and the bravery were moi
lacking Mrs. Woodward acted the Nurse
well. and so did William Harris the FriaI
Laurence, but the balance Of the cast
was not up to standard, and they read II
a perfunctory way that lacked indi-
viduality. There We're no roles that stood
out with force among them.
The play is magnificently mounted, and
the numerous changes were made rapidi1
without annoying waits The final scene
showing Juliet lying among the white
flowers in her tomb. was impressive anc
beautiful. The music Of Gounod's "Romec
ct Juliette" was an enjoyable adjunct
to the performance. WILLIAM OsRopv