New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-03-31
''SHAKESPEARE'S TIME"
Second Lecture at New Theatre
by Professor Brander Matthews.

The New Theatre gave Yesterday the
second q n series OF afternoon perform
ances on the development OF the Eng
lish Drama" Professor Brander Matthews
lectured on Shakespeare Time after
which scenes from The Winters Tale"
were presented ION the Ellzabethan stage"
Both the lecture and the acting were
much enjoyed by an audience that COM
pletelv filed the house. The widespread
popular interest in this series OF Illus
trated lectures IS to be accounted for by
the businesslike circularization Of the
teachers Of this city by the press depart
ment ~ The New Theatre This Is com
generalization" which can be condoned.
for many a worthy movement is lost ny
reason Of faulty advertisement.
Professor Matthews detailed ir interest
,nc fashion the origin OF the Elizabethan
t-oops Of strolling professional PLAYERS. II"
told how they first acted in the YARDS of
the public inns. how thev were driven 10
erect their own theatres by the opposition
Of tho puritans He explained that the
early theatres IN England were fashioned
after the inns. and they multiplied more
rapidly than IN any other country OF
Eurono The character Of the plays &c
veloped through the demand FOR better and
a greater variety Of dramas on the part or
the public and the actors. Every subject
he said. was exhausted. including me
chronicles. Inc legendary heroes anc the
Italian novels
Shakespeare. he said. wrote particularly
for tho theatre. and he wrote in terms of
the stage He had Polonius killed behind
the arras of the stage and not in the king
ralacc Falstaff. in The Merry Wives
he said hid behind the arTas Of the stage
and not Of Mistress Ford's house. accord
nC n the stage directions. Falstaf. IN
Henry "" lay drunk behind the arras IN
Mrs Qugleys tavern. place SO disrepu-
table that E.. could not have been deco
rated with valuable tapestries.
Professor Matthews was positive in MS
statement that there was no scenery on the
Sha kespearian stage He said that he
would answer his critics III advance on thls
score Elaborate properties there we're, he
said but no scenery.
In these days. he said. dramatists arc
criticised for writing PLAYS for stars.
Whereas sophocles. Shakespeare. Moliere
and Racine he said. always wrote for par
ticuiar players.
Dramatists in Shakespeare's day too ne
said. made every appeal TO the eye ana ear
Of the crowd. as they do nowadays
The costumes, he said. were not indica-
tive Of the times OF the play. They were
he said. generally speaking. CASTOR COS
tunes Of Shakespeare own day given 10
the PLAYERS by lords and ladies'.
The New Theatre presentation or scenes
from The Winters Tale was on stage
which gave some idea Of the shake
spearian stage II showed the inward
origin Of the theatre and gave a good IN
diCatior If the inner stage shut OF ny
a~ras. the galleries and the doors on either
side The apron extending out into the
audience was indicated presumably
number Of those who appeared on me stage
were not supposed 70 represent the actors
but favored ones of the public. vho by the
pavr1ent Il a few pence were given tnree-
legged stools and allowed TO sit on the
rostrum. An indication Of daylight and me
omen air effect Of the Shakespearian the
atre was given Lv use of yellow hgnts
placed in the gallery.
II is 70 he regretted. however, that Inc
New Theatre did not see ft 20 have me
women's parts pla cd by men since til7
performance was supposed 10 he illstra-
tive Of the lecture and historically true m
So far as possible the MANAGEMENT should
have gone 10 the trouble Of doing niue
recsstine Fducatonally. therefore. the
dramatic part Of the entertainment was
not so valuable as that which was given
last Monday in the nrst 81 this most inter-
esting series The atmosphere of the piece
was too modern. II was an ideal. II NOT
correct. performance. beautifully done by
Mr. 4 +. Arson. who was a royal Le-
ortes. Mss Edith Wynne Matthison. love
lv Hcrmione. Mr.. Louis calvert. Pedro DE
cordoba. Miss Rose Coghlan. Miss Lean
Bateman- Hunter and others.
CAST or THE WINTERS TALE
I.eonfes. ......... -...-.e u" NI-'l