Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-05
SHAKESPEARE IN
A SORRY PLIGHT
His Merchant of Venice" Finds
City of Industry Colder
Than ShyIock's Heart.

After the last spectator was gone
and the lights had been turned low
at tie Newark Theatre last night a
grave yisaged man emerged from a
dressing room and moved slowly,
sadly through the auditorium towa- j
the main exit.
The man was John T.. Kellerd. lie
had just finished the performance of
Shakespeares Merchant of Venice"
to an audience of some fifty or So
fifty who hadS striven hard to sup
press tears, forced to the eyes by the
thought that so noble a play, so nobly
played, should have been played to so
many empty rows of seats.
Il say, old top" Mr.. Kellerd heard
himself addressed He turned rap
idly. and saw the countenanee of
Shakespeare gazing down upon him,
more in sadness than in anger"
from the lofty perch above the pros.
cenium. The actor looked, scrutinized
there could be no doubt The bust
OF the immortal bard had become ami
mated and was addressing him.
Il have encountered many vicissi-
tudes in my life" said the voice
but, by buskin and cotharnus. it
has remained for the opulent City of
Industry to teach me that ! have
sung in vain and that my sweetest
numbers are less sought after than
the inexplicable dumb-show," which
is such a delight to groundlings-
Sheath! Is this Newark; or are we
fallen upon desert island?"
I'VE are in Newark" replied the
actor, calmly, but. pray, perturbed
spirit, let not thy mighty heart har.
Dor malice Had we not fifty here
tonight to do thee homage? And
hast not thou myself said that the
judgment of one discerning mind was
worth a whole theatreful of others?'
True broke in Shakespeare. 1.-The
fifty unquestionably must have been
of the kind to whom thou and I are
not caviare-for they gave generous
applause. But. yet, methinks there
must be something radically wrong;
something. besides the Passaic, that
is rotten in this modern Denmark!
For, look you now, was ever a Shy.
lock better portrayed than by thee
tonight; or a Portia more nobly given
or a Nerissa, or Jessica more sympa.
thetically held up 20 natures mirror;
or an Antonio, or Bassanio, or Ora
tiano. Satanic, Lorenzo or Laupcelot
more ideally depicted than 20 these
rows of vacant seats here,
Ills not so much for me and my
company that | grieNe,' protested the
actor. "as for thee, thou sweet Swan
of Avon. Alas! That a generation
should have grown up which could
turn it's back to thee
Let us both cease Srieving for each
other" quoth Shakespeare Let us
grleve. rather, for those who do not
appreciate us.
For know, my friend, that even il
this city is impervious and insensible
to the ministrations of us priests OF
the MUSES.. we shall not lack appre-
citation elsewhere. No, faith! ] war
rant thee, 1t shall go hard. indeed
| If even IN OSHKOSH OF fOuullh, WHICH
| to this. are moles to an elephant-it
shall go hard. | say, if even there
thou shalt not be able to muster q
greater gathering of art admirers
than in Newark. And, so, farewell"
And Mr.. Kellerd woke up out o.
his reverie: found Shakespeare's bus
silently perched where it had always
been: and. with a deep, tragic sigh
he passed out into the flaming arc
! lighted thoroughfare.