The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-01
Classic RevivaIs Prone
Growth in Public Demand
Sothern and Marion to Present Sepen Shakes
pearean Plays This Week at Belasco-BriE-
liant Shau Comedy Comes to Columbia.
Maude adams at the National
Nv JULIA cHANpLER MANz.

The present dramatic season has been
made notable for the number OF its
classic revivals.
Shakespearean plays, OF which. E. H
sothern, Julia Marlowe, and Robert Man
tell have had practical monopoly for
many years. have received remarkable
consideration by prominent players. Will
lam Fayersham has scored a stupendous
success in his elaborate revival OF julius
Caesar in the Metropolis, with hiInseiI
in the role of Marc Antony, and sur
rounded by players Of international re-
pute in the many equally important roles.
Frank Keenan,, one of the best OF Ameri-
car actors, is the Casius; Tyrone Pow
ers is the Brutus, and Fuller Mellish'
Lionel Belmore, Julie Opp, ana otner
gifted stage folk are supporting Mr.. Fav-
ersham in minor roles.
AS a successor to his Discovering
America" which was a sad failure, Lewis
waller IS adding to the Shakespeare
vogue in New York by the production OF
Henry W. in Days Theater, a seldom
ly seen play. which has not been re-
vived since the late Richard Mansneid
gave II an elaborate and notable pro-
duction.
The Mclean organization, touring the
South in Shakespearean repertoire, is re-
ported to be meeting with an apprecla-
fion equal to that accorded the New
York companies.
The many revivaIs of Shakespeare fur
nish ground for belief that we are on
the verge of a period when the classic
and substantial in drama Will not only
find acceptance with the theater-going
public, but will meet with actual de-
maud That such is the case already IN
this city is attested by the decision OF
Sothern and Marlowe to give Washing
ION two weeks of Shakespeare in the Be
lasco Theater. beginning tomorrow
night, instead of one as heretofore.
The opening feature Of the Washing
ton engagement of Mr.. Sothern and Miss
MarIowe will be an elaborate production
of Much Ado About Nothing which Will
be repeated On Wednesday night of the
second week December I'D. They ap-
peared in a revival Of this delightful COM
edy in 1905 when Mr.. Sothern made his
first essay of the role of Benedick, al
though Miss Marlowe had already won
distinction in such plays as Beatrice
Since leaving New York six years ago
10 present Man and Superman" in the
English metropolis, Robert Lorraine has
played the role of John Tanner in every
shire and city Of Great Britain. Each
year he has launched forth in some new
play, but always returning TO the bril-
liant Shaw comedy, If only for short
run each season. Accordingly, Mr. Lo-
raine's temperance at the Columbia
Theater this week, after six years, seems
like a resumption of an interrupted tour.
In view Of the interest that Man and
Superman' and other of Bernard Shaw
scintillating plays now hold, both In
America and Great Britain, it is interest
ing TO look back over those early days or
his career when he fought day and night
Dc ma
be said to illustrate the power of an
indomitable will and, beyond that, to
mark the resurgence in our age of radi-
cal spirit.
Shaw's ideas were at first but a turbu-
lent tangle in his own mind 1t seemed
impossible to relate them TO the world 5
stock of ideas. According to his own ac-
count of himself he did not start life with
a programme, but simply accepted every
job offered him. meeting its demands the
best way he could.
Going to London from his native Ire
land in the early '10's he tried his
hand at musical criticism, at versifying
and novel writing. meeting with failure
so complete that 1t would have sub
merged the average man in discourage
ment.
Asked recently what was his first sue
cess he replied: Never had any. What
came TO me was invariable failure. BY
the time I wore II down l knew too much
10 care about either failure or success.
During the years 1876 to 1855 the literary
efforts of Mr.. Shaw netted him exactly
six pounds.
He was one Of the first men in England
TO become interested in Socialism, and
he not only helped found the Sabian So
ciety, but also gave his assistance to the
writing of the ''Sabian Essays" Sidney
Webb and William Morris each had
great influence over him. In 1882 he heard
Henry George speak on the Single Tax,