The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-03
BELAsC0.
sothern aud MarIowe-

f. II. Sothern and Julia Marlowe in
augurated their two weeks engagement
| in Shakespearean repertoire at the Be
lasco Theater last night imam elaborate
revival OF Much Ado About Nothing"
which may be regarded somewhat as a
| novelty, since 1t is now seven years since
Mr.. Sothern and Miss Marlowe have
been seen in this scintillating comedy
of THE Elizabethan bard. They made
their appearance in a revival of the
piece in 1906. when Mr.. Sothern essayed
| the role OF Benedick, the young lord of
| Padua, for the first time, although Miss
MarlOwe had scored a previous triumph
as Beatrice, niece Of Leonato. Governor
of Messina.
That Washingtonians delight in
Shakespearean plays, well read, well
acted, and well staged, was attested last
night by the most brilliant audience of
| the dramatic season, filling the Belasco
Theater to its capacity and extending
| to the co-stars a most enthusiastic well
| come, which proves that there is still
taste for what is best in classic drama,
despite the trivialities which so often
mOnopOlize the stage and bid for public
support.
A sumptuOus new production in seem
cry and costumes has been made for the
present revival OF Much Ado About
Nothing" and last nights audience
found not only a feast Of Ecintillating
wit and reason. hut a flow of soul in
delightful surroundings as well.
The time is not far distant in theat-
rical memory when the manner OF pre-
senting Shakespeare was filled with in
aCcuracies and absurditIes; when an en-
tire ShaSespearean repertoire was played
in the same sets, and these no other
than the familiar, and often dila pidated,
ones with which each theater through
out the land was equipped. In those
not far away days a travelling company
would enter a playhouse with nothing
more than individual luggage. The Gus
tomary interiors-a parlOr. kitchen, and
sometimes a ballroom. and one or two
eXteriOrs. served for farce, melodrama,
and the classics alike. A flash of genius
compensated our fOrbears for all that
was wanting in efficiency and artistry
in the production.
1t was Dion BoucCicault who started
the practice of a travelling company car
ryng its own mise-en-scene. bringing
about the change which eventually did
away with the set regularity of the
scenes. and which has evolved into the
possibility of such wonderful stage archi-
lecture as the Cathedral scene in the
fourth act of Much Ado About Moth
ing" which is as impressive as it is
beautiful.
The high standard of work in this
double love story-with a near tragedy
for Claudio, the young Lord of Florence
and Hero. the daughter of Leonato. and
the high comedy in the revelation of love
for BenediCk and the brilliant Beatrice
promises much in the way of both art
and education in the Sothern and Mar
lowe engagement in this city.
Those who listened to Miss Marlowe's
reading last night were thrilled with her
round. rich. and resonant tones. Miss
MarlOwe has no equal in Shakespearean
roles on our stage to-day. Her work at
all times is consistent her tone produc- |
ton exquisite, and her character por- !
trayal sincere.
Mr.. SOthern gave a splendid character |
izatiOn of the virulent and debonaire |
young Lord of Padua, charming the eye |
with his easy grace. delLghting the au-
dience with his transformation from the T,
soothing bachelor to the signing. melan- |
CuOly of his lnve-lorn hours. The per-
f'Ct sympathy which exists between Mr.. !
Sothern and Miss MarIOwe seems to have |
furnished them a veritable fountain OF !
youth. from which they have drunk |
deep drafts
4 most interesting circumstance Of last |
Shakespearean comedy was that. with |
but few exceptions. the cast was the |
same excellent one as that in the long |
to-be-remembered revival OF Much Ado !
About Nothing seven years ago.
One of the changes was the appearance |
of William Harris. as Antonio, instead of |
Leonato. The latter role was played last |
night by J. Sayre Crawley. Rowland |
Blackstone was seen again as DOgberry: |
Frederick Lewis was once more the
Prince Of AragOn; Sidney Mather the |
Don John: Walter Connolly the young |
Claudio. and Thomas Coleman the Friar |
Francis.
Much Ado About Nothing" will be re- |
peated on Wednesday evening. Deem |
Der II, and in the meantime the Oppor-
tunity, unparalleled in the dramatic his
tory of Washington. of seeing seven
plays within a single week
will be accorded us. J. c. MANI