New-York tribune., 1912-04-28
n" I@lAT zHe THEAT RE s !M
LONDON DRAMA
Sumptuous Production - Unln-
spired ACting-A Charm
ina DeSdemona.
London, April 10.


sumptuous Shakespearian productions.
It does -ot matter whether vivid pas
sages of acting are repeated or slurred.
Graybeards may gossip about the trad
tions of the old fashioned art Of acting
and exchange "reminiscences over Sal
vinrs impetuous Oriental Phelps's
eentlemanly Moor or Booths saturnine
Iago with the final glance of sheer dew
itry. An easygoing world, made up
mainly Of the thoughtless and the Fay'
does not take classic tragedy too seri-
ously. A series of beautiful stage pict-
ures Of Venice, the glamour of moon
light on the lagoons glints of barbarlc
color in the costumes and dances OF
Cyprus. storm at sea with breakers
rolling landward, glimpscs of the state
liness of a DOGe's council and Of the
pomp Of medieval warfare are more
timely than poignant passages OF stage
craft. These make up a great spectacu-
lar production which will fill His Maj
esty's for many weeks; and the story of
two highminded unsuspecting natures
exposed by their own simplicity and no.
bility to the subtle power of wickedHess
comes out with logical directness and
picturesque pathos.
Sir Herbert Tree has his triumph as
a stage manager in this magnificent pro
duction, and that probably satisfies him.
He has not the temperament for Great
ing a new Othello like Salvinis; and
while he has rcarranGed the scenes, re-
duced the part of Emilia, suppressed not
a little Of lagos jaunty and cynical
talk, supplied a new setting for Blanca $
handkerchief episode and introduced
many minor changes, he cannot claim
credit for a unique We sion. He has not
Mr.. Forbes Robertson's talent for olocu-
ton. and so the recital of the wooiuc
does not go as well; but he is a splendid
Oriental and a valorous soldier, and Sn'-
Ceeds in conveying a vivid impression
Of the ruined and broken Arab when his
faith in the innocence and purity ol
Desdemona had been lost. The hyTi2y
is constantly illustrative and often ir-
genious. for this is his chief resource as
an actor The cumulative effect oI so
many little touches must be consider
able: vet attention is inevitably diverted
by minor details from the broad issues
Of tragedy. Othello is simple. master
ful and grand as a tragic figure Sir
Herbert Tree thinks OF him as complex
character because there are so many
aspects to be illustrated by byplay.
Mr.. Laurence IrvinG's 1ago was also
clogged and Uttered with unnecessary
business It may become one Of his best
parts. but on the first night the lines
were slow and labored, and eXaggera-
ton was carried TO the verge of carl
cature. The imporsOnation was weird
and highly imaginative The straight
forward soldier. converted by envy into
an irresponsible mischief maker, became
the diabolical representative Of malice
and envenomed hatred. Edwin Booths
sinister. mocking Iago could never pass
out Of remembrance. Mr.. lrvings IS
more restless and theatrical and less
distinctly devilish; and yet the facial
EXPRESSION is ingenious and varied and
there are reserves Of power untouched.
If he comes in future to play lago rs
star part without the restraint OF subor-
dination to an actor-manager Othelio,
II may easily become something really
great among stage representations. Mr..
Laurence Irving has made great prog
ress since his early performances on his
fathers stage, but he is not yet TO lie
numbered among the inspired actors Of
the English stage.
The one romantic figure Of the great
production was the Desdemona. Miss
N Phyllis Nelson Terry brought TO it tie
VI Vaccinations Of youthful beauty and
grace and the charm Of melodious voice.
She played the part with unaffected
simplicity, so that it had the truest ring
of anything on the stage. As the catas-
trophe approached, hers was moving
bit Of acting that touched the coldcst
spectator. She crooned her songs and
awaited her doom with q smile OF
serenity. She was the poetic emboai-
ment OF innocence, betrayed and plotted
against by Envy and Malice. The strain
of three generations Of actors families
is in the young players blood, and II
has enabled her TO take one great part
after another without doing anything
that is crude and amateurish. Her DeS-
demona from beginning to end is beau
tiful bit Of work. it is an indication
that the Terry family is TO he repr"-
scented for many years TO come in