Omaha daily bee., 1912-04-06


y Pedant.. .Mayne Lynton
lauof. ........... Malcolm Bradley
haoerdasher......... Walter Connolly
Grumio. ,....-...,...,,.R Rowland Blackstone
Katherine. ................... Miss Marlowe
Bianca................Ai Miss Norah Iamison
Widow........Miss Millicent McLaughlin
Curtis. Miss Ina Goldsmith
Even with Shakespeare as the author
and Sothern and Marlowe and all their
excellent companions as actors in the
cast. Tanning of the Shrew." does not
become any more beautiful to contemp-
late, nor attractive to listen to. Mr..
Sothern has done one service; he has
eliminated Tinker Sly, and the absurdity
OF the opening scenes Of the drama as or
iginally produced. 1t might have been
jolly good fun in Shakespeare's day for
q noble lord to pick up from his sleep in
the ditch drunken tinker. take him
home. deck him in fine linen, provide
him with at least the semblance of a
wife. and then have enacted a play for
his amusement. At present the noble
lord would In all likelihood be anticI.
pated by the watchfuI policeman, and
Christopher Sly would find his rest at
IL.
scenes that have to do with him are In
no sense needed for the action Of tho
farce, and so have been done away with.
What Mr.. Sothern can not get rid OF is the
fact that what remains OF the original
was enacted for the sport OF his lordship
who was amusing himself and his retlnue
at the expense OF besotted Kit. flaming
| If A..
tumble farce, full Of absurdities, proceed.
ing With much noise and commotion, and
showing but little OF genuine beauty,
either in comedy or philosophy. Were II
not for Hates counsel TO wives, beautl-
fully spoken by Miss Marlowe last even
ing. 1t would be all but aimless. And
II will be a really brave man who will
go home to the partner of his life and
insist on that platform being adopted.
Not in these days of militaney!
But the play is sanctified to some ex.
tent by tradition: 1t Is the one avowed
farce by its great author, and II has been
played by any number OF clever and
gifted people. and perhaps will continue
to be SO played. because of Its laughter.
producing qualities. 1t has such ele-
ments as TO arouse light merrlment, and
with no appeal to deeper sentiment, II
affords an evening of amusement un-
broken by problems of conduct, personal
or otherwise. 4
MIR. Sothern makes his Petruchio ram
bunctious from the word 60; his intro
duction to Hortensio, Gremio and Lucen-
ito might stamp him as a very braggart,
so frankly does he announce that his ad-
vent in Padua but presages his wedding
with a wealthy wife, and she may be
as foul and shrewish as number Of
feminine undesirables he freely mentions,
save that he takes his audience into his
confidence at times, and by a twinkle of
his eye or a nod Of his head gives as
suranee that he is all right. and is not
the arrant blusterer he appears. And
having pitched his performance In this
key. he doesn't relax an instant TO the
very end, save in those asides that make
It certain that when Katherine has been
properly tanned" she will find as de-
voted and dutiful spouse as ever blessed
a woman's life: when Katherine has bid
den the other wives to place their hands
under their husbands feet. Petruehio sets
her foot on his hand. to show how per-
feet is the partnership. This is the
most graceful and about the only gracious
thing Sothern's Petruchio does.
Miss Marlowe, whose name is more
closely associated with characters any
thing but shrewish; the ardent Juliet; the
gentle. wise and patient Portla. the ten
der Rosalind, the loving Viola. the duti
full and devoted ophella-the list is as
long almost as the catalogue Of the
Grecisn ships-she finds Katherine some
thing Of a problem; at times II seems as
II she wanted to stop long enough to
have q good laugh with the folks out in
front over her efforts TO appear suffi-
eiently ill-tempered and intractable. Now
and again she shows a rare burst OF
temper Just the sign that she was not
called in vain Kate the cursed" but
when a chance IL offered she let's the
sweet laughter have its sway and shows
that smile that so becomes her. She is
far more a source Of delight as Kath-
crime than Sothern is as Petruchio.
OF the company and staging Of the play
much might be written. and all in praise.
Mr.. Sothern has shown excellent Judg-
ment in his planning Of the scenes and
action. managing to keep the current
moving swiftly and providing a reason
able setting for the incidents Of its prog
ress. so that it has the advantage Of
continuity at least. His company Is made
Up Of excellent actors. and the humor
Of the piece Is greatly and agreeably
heightened by the good will with which
all enter into its enactment
The Boyd was filled last night by an
assemblage such as shows the esteem In
which the stars are held. and curtain
calls at the end Of each act. with much
unfeigned merriment during the progress
Of the play. must have convinced the
actors that their efforts were not in vain.
For tonight The Merchant Of Venice"
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