New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-12-16

Shakespeare. The Shubert hcdtre.
THE CAST.
Duke Of Venice ........... Montague Rutherford
Brabanuo a senate -..............I Ian Robertson
4 Sem tor .......... sam r. PearCe
Gratiano brother 10 i,rabantio Grendon Bentley
Lodovico. kirsman 10 Brabsntio Robert Atkins
OthelIo ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. Forbes Robertson
Cassie his lieutenant. ALEX Scott-iaiiN
Roderigo Venetian gentleman Georg Hayes
Montana. othelio's predecessor walter kinGhah
First Gentleman ..........N Arthur fltlEeldl'
Second gentleman ING hoSs
Third Gcntlcman................ ...Efic AGENCY
f-Irst Messenger. ............. Gordon Richards
4 Herald .........................R Richard Andeau
rcgdcr,ora daughter to Brabantio and wife
10 Othelo. Gertrude Elliott
EmIIa wife TO Iaso ............ Ndcline bourne
Blanca mistress to Cassie Maud Buchanan
Gentlemen. citizens. guards. officers. attend
ants, etc.
There was more than usual curiosity in
the air at the Shubert Theatre last even
ing. when the trumpets sounded Othello's
entrance and Forbes Robertson finally
strobe on the scene OF all the Shake
spearian parts which this distinguished
artist nightly be likely 10 attempt, this
was perhaps the furthcst from his natu-
raj habit and personality. The fine tas-
tidiousness Of his Hamlet. continually
played across with light intellectual hu-
NOR. his Shylock. harsh and acrid, to be
sure. vet lacking I'm the impression OF
weight and deeper power; the essentially
civilized quality OF his whole manner
look and specch-all this seemed at the
uttermost pole from the tempestuous AM
nalsm OF this supplemented barbarian
And there was a certain thrill OF sur
prised satisfaction when the tall. white
wrapped Moor STROBE across the stage
twiight-a majestic figure, silent, SIMS
ter, commanding with n strong suggeS-
ton Of wild force and fire I'm the quick
fiash Of white teeth from the dark. H.
scrutablc face.
vivid figure this Othello remained. a.
ways striking and picturesque. I'm ia
duictcr. more statuesquc moments always
impressive The Moor OF Shakespeare IS
something other than a picturesque
statue. however, or even the perfectly
imagined and intclgenty expressed coun-
terpart OF emotions on the part of cul-
tivated gentleman who. TN his own shape
could never. by any stretch II fancy be
seen as INDUCING In them himself.
There is no need Of splitting hairs over
this rough soldier OF FORUM. this Eliza
be sure. the nobility OF stoic red Indian.
but he was very bull Of man. DRIVING
head iirst In simple-mindcd taurine iash-
ion nj IN, nrst rcd naC Iago trailed IN
front OF him. OF tho Moor as iago hit
him or TN his contcmptuous descriptions
10 his easy listcncrs-"thick Nps, the
'old black ram" ''Barbary horse and
% on. thcr. was naturally little IN Mr.
Forbes Robertson performance last
evening
doubtless he. himself. would be tho last
10 suggest that any one expect II. There
were beautifully delivered lincs-the 'Shc
loved mo for the dangers ! had passed
speech. especially 500 succession Of vivid
pictures. an imaginativ" UNDERSTANDING oil
O,hollo's states OF mind. and such visual
OPPRESSION o, these emotions as an aftst
Of Forbes Robcrtson's accomplished teen
niaue IS capable OF. II was. IN short
distinguished artists interesting tour De
force. although not, even In this way that
less accomplished but more naturally
fitted players might succeed In realizing
II. tho real Othello.
The force OF Forbes Robertson work
Was not a little Iessencd 10y Mr.. S. A
Cooksons curious Iago. Othello is not
a one-man play. The peculiarly poignant
quality OF the Moor's tragedy consists, OF
course. not merely in the fact that he
became Jealous Of Cassie and strangled
his innocent wife, but In the ironic con-
tras, between his own free and open
nature" and the vcnOmous craft OF TINS
more subtle and sophisticated man. lago
* a bad man from way back lie says
so himself He is as obviously bad IA
any cigarette smoking villain in modern
melodrama. He has solloquy after
solilo1uv to tell the audience so. The
vickedor he IL. the more does Otheilo
einrleminded directness stand out. the
more pathetic Is he, the more are we
moved by the play. All this Is obvious
enough. but IL remained for Mr.. C"okson
10 play the part almost i'm vein OF hHht
comedy He might have been an anaoie
legation secretary or visiting tennis
pIayer. or anything else in TN" world so
far ay any idea of lagos malisnitS was
concerned To be sure. Mr.. Cookson
might not he able TO play lago in any
other way. though he is pleasant young
Englishman decidedly agreeable In his
own set OF parts. But why have Mr..
Cookson play laGo!
Miss Elliott was a gentle and appalling
Desdemona, IL a trihe monotonous IN her
sweetness-a quality which made the
more pleasant Miss Adeline Bourne's
comparative raciness as lagos VIE Emil
liza. Mr. Alex. Scott-Gatty was an easy
Cassio and Mr.. Montague Rutherford mad
"A few urbane and authoritative moments
as the Duke Of Venice.
This is Forbes Robertson first presen-
tation of "Othello" in this country ana
the first OF several that are To be seen
here this winter. Mr.. Faversham ana
Mr.. Hackett are both TO play "Othello'
in January.