Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-03
ADJUSTMENTS.
Belasc0.

1t is Shakespeare of the distinctly popu-
lar description that the E. H. Sothern
and Julia Marlowe Company presents
during the annual engagements that are
expected with so much confidence and
pleasure. 1t is none the less admirable
and scholarly Shakespeare because it is
popular The original function of the
plays was to amuse and not to instruct
They have been made the subject OF so
much studious and serious attention,
owing to the mysteries woven about their
authorship and to the glimpses of history
and folklore to be obtained among their
printed pages, that there is often dam
ger that the impression OF human inter-
est will be subOrdinated to that OF dry
research. shakespeare is dead! ex-
claims some producer as he send re-
jected production to the storehouse; and
almost on the instant the public halls
another presentation with the shout
Long live Shakespeare"
Last nights presentation or Much
Ado About Nothing proved beyond a
doubt the efficiency of the elaborate ma
chinery set up by the Sothern- Marlowe
organization for not merely the presenta-
ton, but for a vital Interpretation of the
wonderful list of plays announced In the
repertory for a two-week stay. To be-
gin with the superticialities which content
the eye and induce confidence as to a
spirit of sincerity in matters OF detail,
the scenery does not merely suggest 1t
realizes. The spectator is carried back
through centuries into ancient days in
Italy where landscape gardeners and
architects had labored through genera
tons Of Opulence to construct hitting
backgrounds for the magnificent eayeties
where amorous revelries on the instant
turned into the tragedies of bitter hate.
The costumes are revelations of ele-
gance and are worn with grace which
h.. IL.
whom imagination has for the hour trans
ported across the centuries to the stage
OF the BelaScO Theater.
The MANAGEMENT of the scenery is eX-
cellent, the entr'actes being reduced to a
minimum
While the cast is not free from the I'M
evenness that seems inseparable from a
Shakespearean performance. especially
one of series OF productions or varying
requirements, the minor roles are, as "a
rule exceptionally we'll taken. In no
case is there a deficiency so great as TO
destroy an effect of broad and beautiful
harmony.
As the performance opened last night
there was preponderance OF method
over spontaneity in presenting the two
characters whose names have become
typical of the rebellion OF bachelor and
maid AGAINST the shackles OF matrimony.
AS the evening draws on, both Mr.. Soth-
ern and Miss Marlowe seemed to become
more and more alert and sensitive to the
influence OF the brilliant repartee, and
entered into the frolic OF wits with AN
enthusiasm which made familiar speeches
spark forth with the electric brillmncy OF
the eXtempore.
Miss Marlowe is womanly and withal
dignified Beatrice. She Is never tempted
into the momentary hoyden. Always
grace and gentleness, her most memo
rable scene in the play is the one in which
she arose to tragic earnestness in her de-
mand that Benedick kill Claudio.
Mr.. Sothern is a serious-minded Bene-
dick; not the light-hearted cavalier who
loves words for the diversion they may
be made to yield. but rather a cynical
person who has come to take his philoso-
phies as matters OF weight and impor-
lance. His change of opinion is not a
merry capitulation SO much as a CONVEX
sion from one set of principles to an
other. His exposition is intensely human
and studiously direct. In many respects
the comedy is enhanced by the fact that
Benedick utterances seem oftener those
of forceful purport than simple badinage.
That good old friend. Dogberry. on
whom the poet might seem to have show