The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1911-03-08
THE STAGE
oARRIck.

The hold that the Sothern- Marlowe
production OF Romeo and Juliet,
Shakespeare's immortal tale OF III
starred love, took upon the audience
was strikingly illustrated In the invol-
untary gasps that came from the aud
fence In the Garrick theater Tuesday
evening when the arm OF Juliet Imply
moved just as Romeo had taken the
fatal potion I'm the final tomb scene.
II was a tribute to the art OF the
actors that was genuine, spontaneous,
tribute far more convincing than
the tumultuous applause with which
We are accustomed To greet our fay-
orites. IL was tribute well-earned,
too, a tribute 10 the compelling power
OF the tragedy and the consummate
art OF the portrayal. AS long as the
world loves lover Romeo and Juliet
will find favor with playgoers.
The Sothern-Marlowe production
apart from the Intelligent and COM
pletely consistent grasp OF the char
acters by the stars, Is notable for the
elaborate fidelity to details OF staging
and effects that takes the audience
back into the old cities Of Italy. The
architecture. the ornaments, the cos
tuning all the details OF the produc-
ton. are carefully worked out so that
there is nothing to Jar or distract the
attention from the poetry OF the play
Mr.. SQthern makes an ideal figure
as Romeo, fiery, impetuous and over
whelmingly In love. He departs some
what from the conventional interpre-
tation in making the young man
rather more consistently gloomy than
we expect lovers to be. There was
hardly smile on his lipe through the
whole play, though there seemed to
be occasions when one would have
well-fitted into the part. or course,
there was great deal In the over
hanging tragedy OF the situation to
justify his dark view Of things and
there is much in the play to make the
Interpretation logical.
Miss Marlowe Is somewhat larger
perhaps, than the ideal Juliet should
be, and yet under the spell OF her art
the detail of physical adaptation to
the part Is quite forgotten. She APP
pears best In the balcony scene, where
the sombreness Of the tragedy Is lift
ed by what has come down to us as
the superlative degree Of love-making.
The beauty Of the stage setting, the
moonlight Illuminating the stage with
Just the proper paleness, adds much
to the artistic effect OF the whole.
Her other great scene is In Juliet's
chamber, as she is about to take the
sleeping potion with which to simu-
late death. She portrays the tragedy
OF the situation as completely as the
sharply constrasted balcony scene.
Among the lesser characters the
Mercutio of Frederick Lewis was the
best bit of acting The famous Queen
Nab speech gave him the best oppor-
tunity and he read 1t well. II may be
noted, however, that all the minor
parts In the production seem to have
profited from the skill of the stars in
their rendition of blank verse. Eric
Bin did well as Benvolio, and Sydney
Mather as Tybalt, the fiery young
feudist. who causes most OF the
trouble for the unfortunate lovers.
was also good. The comedy character
of the garrulous old nurse to Juliet
was cleverly done by Mrs. Eugenia
Woodward, and Albert G. Howson
made a handsome Paris. Thomas
Coleman, as Friar Laurence, seemed
a bit too violent In voice for his &C.
clesiastical robes, lacking in the unc-
tion and gentleness that we associate
with the priestly role. His acting.
however. was quite adequate aside
from this.
The Sothern-Marlowe production OF
Romeo and Juliet is poetry, poetry Of
the sort that does not jar with rhymes
too sharply marked or loud-jingling
rhythm, but flows smoothly, leaving
behind only the effect without the rec
objection Of the mechanics by which
the effect was produced. II Is truly
artistic.
The plays for the rest of the en-
gagement are as follows: Wednes.
day night, Hamlet; Thursday and Sat
urday matinee, Macbeth; Friday, Mer-
chant Of Venice, and Saturday night,
The Tanning. of the Shrew.
In the Detroit opera house, Wednes-
day evening, William Gillette will re-
vive Secret Serice." This play,
written by Mr.. Gillette, was a big
favorite a decade and half ago. II
Is a drama that will never grow old
and to those who witness II, In this
revival, It will doubtless prove as In
teresting as in the first days OF it's
success. Secret Service" will be re-
peated Thursday and Saturday even
ings with a repetition Of Sherlock
Holmes for the Saturday matinee
and single performance OF "The
Private Secretary" Friday evening.
Attractive and beautifully gowned
Bessie Wynn heads the Temple