New-York tribune., 1911-09-20

that svtraordinary character, Benjamin
Disrseu But what he does give and what
he does suggest are OF perfection's SER
so far as acting goes. In the old phrase
too. he fills the stage AS the other cnar-
acters are reflections merely, or s'uiieu
figures. Disrael stands out with more
prominence, as he was meant TO 40 ihe
actors easy command Of all his resources
reveals an artist OF real eminence' aS nir.
Arliss has revealed himself before but
how much better Il would all DC IL Ine
rreat man be depicts were shown In con-
tention with great men, rather thah WI"
puppetsl No governor Of the Bank OF Eng
land could grant unlimited credit 70 PIT
vate banker threatened with ruin. OF 10 any
one else, without the express consent OF MS
directors in meeting assembled, and no
governor Of the Bank OF England wouid
be hoodwinked by a Prime Minister'S threat
to withdraw the banks charter ana 10 rum
the bank. But IN these threats MT faIA-
ers Disraell INDUCES, and succesSlu'S.
When praised for his benefcent use OF
power he says, with chuckle' Ou' l
haven't the power, but the governor
doesn't know that" But that is precisely
what a governor OF the Bank OF England
would have known. Yet. upon such tissues
Of theatricality Mr.. Parker has ouilt
his play. II is a proof OF MI Arhss :
art that he makes his audiences forget
these shams OF the dramatlst and conpels
them TO feel in some sort the power OF
the man he portrays.
DisraelIs wife was unlike. absolutely ana
boundlessly unlike, the Lady Beaconsne'd
OF this play. Perhaps 1t was thought that
not many persons in America would kno"
the difference. The dramatist may have
missed a point here. or he may have gained
one He wanted mis- audience 70 sympa-
thize with, not 10 laugh at certain cnar-
acters He wanted an air OF softness ana
romance thrown over all He has thrown
II over all. He may be content Nay ne
may be elated, for "Disraeh Is sue
cess because the dramatist and the ACTOR
know well enough that the public cares
nothing for history and biography on the
stage; that II prefers romance 10 all tninss'
and that the course IS entirely SAFE "heh
a great man is portrayed IN the theaue ds
II the portrayers were preparing chlld
garden OF verse. Mr. Parker and MI AriisS
please the public with this "DisraeH play
There can be no question on that point
Politics the audiences do not consider for
imperialism versus parochialism they may
or may not have a care; but for the story
they have the greatest liking. The old the
atrical hands know well enough how 70
bring all that about Mr.. Parker's play Is
interesting, the proof is-the audience Iol-
lows II with zest. Mr. Arlss's perform
ance is masterful and makes the play
seem bigger than It is. And at the end Oh
the third act the audience lets its feelnss
go and calls and calls actor and autnor Win
a warmth Of gratitude that tells you thlS
entertainment will hold the boards at VA
lacks as long as did "Pomander walk.
And. after all why not? The CHER aims OF
this dramatist and this actor are true as
their play IS clean and pleasant ana the
plaving Of Mr.. Arliss is as fine as anything
that can be seen now. These are reasons
a-plenty why 'Disraeli" should draw the
town. Still, IT IS just as well tnat ma
tons are governed with wisdom "mch
is not Of the stage. BY the way there Is
not word about primroses. y. W.