The Detroit times., 1913-10-16
THE STAGE
oARRlck.

Robert h. Mantelrs presentation OF
Macbeth. which was the selection tor
Wednesday evening of his weeks en-
gagement In the Garrick theater. IL y
,fedt Tor lovers OF Shakespeare which
those interested only In present day
light stage entertainment can scarce
ly appreciate. For Macbeth is q char.
acter study rather than a play In the
modern sense.
II Is written about the Legendary
story OF Scottish general who killed
his king and kinsman TO take the
crown himself, and then drove his
subjects from him with deeds of cru
city committed to make his place Sc
cure. The theme Is the development.
or rather the dissolution. OF Macbeth's
character.
With his usual power OF character
|delineation, Mantell gives an effective
exposition of how the victorious, but
overambitious. general, who at first
must have encouragement to advance
himself by foul means, becomes the
victim OF his own evil imaginings In
the uncertainty following his success
full crime. and then steadies himself
by taking the bit in his teeth In q
logged determination to see the mat
ter through.
This decision typifies one of the
stages OF his fall. II Is summed up
in the lines:
am In blood.
Stepped in so far should I wade no
more,
Returning were as tedious as 20 DER.
At last. however, Macbeth loses
himself completely In a sort OF reck.
less fatalism.
These steps are strongly portrayed
by Mr.. Mantsll, and. In addition, there
Is, for those who are familiar with the
play as literature. the attraction oil
his unexcelled ability to read the
many passages Of pure poetry 1t con-
tains. Not even In Hamlet is he given
more freedom for the exercise of his
the stage alone than in the many
soliloquies both before and after the
staying of Duncan.
That's LAwton plays q strong sup
porting part of Lady Macbeth. She
does not give the role as of leading
instigator Of crime. She makes the
part less dominant than the lines
would permit, retaining distinct wo-
manliness Of character throughout In
spite of bitter speeches.
1t Is none the less well done for all
that, and both she and Mr.. Mantell
received many curtain calls. The roles
of Macdun and BanQuo were taken by
Fritz Leiber and John Burke, respec-
lively. and that of Duncan by Frank
Peters. These, and the rest of the
supporting roles, were filed very ac'
ceptably.
The matinee performance brought
Mr. Mantell forward In his well-knOwn
and admirable impersonation OF the
Cardinal in "Richelieu." This one
presentation of the famous drama OF
Bulwer Lytton Is the only departure
from the Shakespearean repertoire
which Mr.. Mantell Ia Offering during
the current weeks engagement In the
Garrick.
Mr.. Mantells Characterization OF the
most famous son of the church In POI
litical history is remarkable for the
cleverness In which the many sided
ness Of Richelieus nature Is delineat-
ed and the fact that. while the actor
impresses the spectator with Richie
lieu's power, unrelenting purpose md
L
softer side OF the great church mans
complex character and his affection
for his niece, Julie.
jules sweet loneliness was person
flied In Genevieve Hamper, whose act
ing of the role was very good, indeed.
That's Lawton had excellent opportn-
mites for her undoubted abilities, In
the Dole OF Marion de Lorme, the SPY.
The other parts we're taken with an
even excellence that speaks well Tor
the equipment and training OF the
members Of Mr.. Mantelrs company.
Thursday evening "Othello" will be
given. with Mr.. Mantell In the name
part, although he frequently alternates
the role with that of Iago. as have oth-
er noted Shakespearean actors In the
past: Friday evening King Lear
will be given; Saturday afternoon
THE Merchant of Venice" and Sat
urday evening King Richard H.