The Washington herald., 1912-02-13
AT THE BELAscO.
sOthern ana HIsrIOvve In "The Tam
ing of the shrew.n


ing of the Shrew."
Those honorable players. Edward H
Sothern and Julia Marlowe, whose artis
hc union is now probably the most cele
5rated, not only on the American but OF
any other stage, are once more in Wash
ION. and there can be scarcely theater
yoer in the city. no matter what hi
tastes may be, who does not rejoice a
he benediction OF their presence.
Sothern and Marlowe are now the onl,
International artists on the English
speaking stage whose efforts are con
hned exclusively to Shakespeare. Ever
Sir Herbert Tree, the leading actor
manager OF London. finds II essential Il
desert the Bard OF Avon now and theI
10 hold the public acclaim. and also thu
public purse. But our own land for th'
last three years has demonstrated no
only an unwavering loyalty to Sotherr
and Mariowe in their Shakespearean rep
srtoire, but much more than that. INT
players can make more money-to put 4
on dollars and cents basis-workinG
together than they can separately. Fur-
thermore It is doubtful II the public
would ever eountepance their joint ap-
pearance in any other plays than th'
Shakespearean classics. All Of which
goes TO show that the much-malignec
public requires only the union OF noble
acting and noble plays to support th'
classic drama with enthusiasm.
The Tanning Of the Shrew'' was pre-
sented at the Belasco last evening be
fore a distinguished audience which hlled
the playhouse TO capacity. The rare OLD
farce, retaining all Of its EliZabethan
iroIlery and roistering wit, was present
ed by Sothern and Mariowe in the same
= ali
the public in previous seasons. Mr..
sothern. II anything. is gaining in mel
Iowness as a farceur. Never has he
played with greater freedom and aban-
don than he did last night He declared
effects with a broad and sweeping stroke;
he played Elizabethan farce as 1t should
be played, and the result was that there
was seen vivid. vigorous, slashing Pc
trucIo, truly a blade fitted to tame a
shrew.
But there is little need to expatiate on
The performance OF q classic comedy
which has already delighted many. a
Washington audience. An enactment so
firmly established in public favor, so
well known, needs little critical attention
at the present time. The proof Of the
pudding Is in the eating. and the proof
OF good acting is continued popularity
with discriminating public.
Miss Marlowe's Katherine gains in au-
thority with every passing season. and
she seems to-day nearer to the true
farcical spirit than she has ever been
before. She is not, TO be sure, the self
willed virago depicted by Ada Rehan,
nor can she give the rollicking abandon
TO the part which, to some critics. seems
necessary. But when this is said, all
criticism vanishes Miss Marlowe's clear
Und silvery delivery has lost none Of Its
gharm. and she remains to-day the one
american actress whose stature as q
s5hakespearean actress is unquestioned-
In her voice is the magic OF music, and
her delivery has all the polish OF the
''clearsst ray serene" Particularly ef-
Tective, for instance, was her delivery
Of that final speech Of Katherine:
such dut as the subject owes the prince.
Eren such a woman oweth 70 her husband;
And when she's frowErd. peevish, sullen sour, and
not obedient to his honest viii. ...
What Is she but foul contending rebel
And graceless traitor 10 her loving lord!
am ashamed that women are 50 simple
To offer war. where they should knecl for peace;
5r seek for rule. supremacy and sway.
When they are hound to serve. love, and obey.
Nhy are our bodies soft. and weak. and smooth.
Unapt TO toll and trouble in the world:
But that our soft conditions. and our hearts.
Should well agree with our external parts?
Tome come you froward and unable worms
My mind has been as big as one Of yours.
My heart great: my reason, happily more.
To handy word Tor WORD ana frUWn I0r IroEns
Iut now ] see our lances but straws;
Our strength as weak as weakness past compare,
ThAt seeming TO be most, which We least are.
Such decidedly Elizabethan doctrine
seems strange in this day OF suffragettes
and other things. 1t sounds the keynote
OF THE Tanning OF the Shrew." which
Is farce as "'merrie England" enjoyed in
days when drama was more content with
the simple conditions OF life than # is
to-day.
The cast, largely veterans Of the Soth-
ern-Marlowe organization, requires no ex-
tended mention. Frederick Lewis was
seen as Lucentio. Rowland Blackstone as
Grumio, William Harris as Baptista, and
Miss Nora Lamison as Blanca The
mounting is in the true Sothern- -Marlowe
style, and the production is excellent in
its completeness. A. MI