New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-10-06

4, there Is 70 the scene. We don't plant
lot of trees and shrubbery around IL. a
| back drop of soft tone let's you look into
the distance. You have the cottage and
I the distance. We ruggest the whole scene
| and your imagination can supply tho de-
! tails.
THAT Is the whole idea Of the produc-
ton. Simplicity and suggestion, and OF
near as We can get 20 what the Eliza
bethans would have done with the facili-
| ties OF the present
Well il Is good idea. Perhaps the
fault lies with the players, though MI
| Barker will not admit that there Is any
fault or that the players are less than
perfect
The stage setting Of the palace OF Lee
| ontcs Is quite satisfying. but the Leontes
OF Henry Ainiey is not q madly Jealous
king, but q neurotic decadent of the He
rodian variety. This IL particularly EN-
phaeized In the scene in the kings cham
Der at night, where the stage picture Is
all that could TO asked and every detail
OF scene and acting only brings out more
strongly the pittable neuroticism OF the
king.
There is some radical fault In the hand
ling, either on the part OF the players Or
tho producer. or both. With a fine con-
ception, the execution often falls lanen-
tably. Mr.. Barker denies vigorously and
with fine fury of manner that he had
any intention of producing mere spec
tacle, yet that is what the accusation OF
Hermione by Leontes becomes. The stage
setting is splendldly simple-the same pill
Jared hall In the palace, with few neces-
sary accessories 10 convert IL 10 the
throne room. And into this scene the
players move and take their places with
the ordered precision Of trained soldiers.
Surprise. horror, grief. are all expressed
BY the most strictly conventional gestures
and attitudes, each player Duplicating ail
the others and all moving In perfect
rhythm, 30 that the decorative effect shall
never be disturbed. Hermione, cold as
| ice and passionless az marble. totally out
Of sympathy with the spirit OF the drama,
takes her place in the picture and with
studied gesticulation declaims her lines.
| The only spontaneity is IN the neurouc
antics OF Lecntes doing his Dervish dance
among the automatons
The court scene is again only series
Of pictures, ending with pitiful creature
writhing across the stage among 4 group
OF lay figures. One wonders under what
influence Mr.. Barker read his Shake
spearc, and where ne got his IDEAS OF
full blooded, rushing, hurry!ng, flamboy-
ant generation who knew that there was
| n God ahoye than 4"
The shepherds cottage is q beautiful
picture, full OF suggestion, and then the
scene is spoiled b. total Inability to
handle crowds. Pandemonium is turnei
loose on tire stage. and the producer goes
| away to have a cup OF tea and wait for
the time to pass until he shall again have
! 70 deal with only few figures for whom
ne can arrange the gestures.
In the last scene AL the poetry OF the
! awakening OF tho statue is lost. The pict-
dres are carefully planned, and Pau ina
| ioes her best 70 wake UP the principals,
out Hermione remains frigid, and Leon
ties, though ne has had sixteen years to
think It over. has not changed his way
OF life and comes on the stage weak and