The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-16

rissa, my uttle booy . 2WeAxy % UNI
great world"
sothern's shylock il unique. II have
tried to conceive the character from
the book-not to correspond with what
others ave DONE" he explained.
"There has been q fear that 1t would
prove offensive to the Jews to portray
Shylock AZ he really is-The Jew - tne
devil himself Our house II hell one
must give the Jew credit Tor more m
telligence than that"
Irving made Of Shylock q prosecuted
outcast. Mansfield made him repui-
sive. Forbes Robertson u emphasizing
his hatred Of the Christians. his desire
for revenge-an eye for an eye, tootn
for a tooth. NovelN had another m
depreciation.
Now comes Sothern with his snin.
his shuttle. his exotic Yiddish accent
When he bemoans the loss OF his tur-
pity. When he sharpens his knife. ne
is wolfish. When he gasps Il am con-
tent and staggers from the court
pity predominates for q second. Sotn-
ern's portrayal of Shylock thrilled the
thoughtful reader of history through
and through. He shows the Jew OF the
middle ages. The Jew prosecuted, r1ch.
revengeful. cunning, the product OF
fire and gold and hatred and the deep
set passions Of his race.
The Shylock on tho stage OF the
Grand last night fawned flrst upon
Antonio the merchant and Bassanto the
spendthrift. He led them with crack
ling laughter and feafful Jest to sign
the bond for the pound Of flesh. His
grief over his daughters flight was
the grief Of Israel. His exultation over
the loss of Antonio's ships was PRAYER
OF thankfulness that was dreadful.
he In he
walked with some majesty before the
tribunal During the progress Of the
trial Sothern played with q master
hand on every emotion to show his
Jew at the best and worst. He scoRed
at Antonios friends and their offer OF
money. He argued with dignity when
the Duke Of Venice addressed him. He
gloated over Antonio like a tiger. He
fawned on the young doctor Of law.
Portia. kissing the hem of her gar
ment. And then-when her woman's
wit saved Antonio from the closing
jaws of the trap, this Jew crumbled
like shell before the break Of a wave.
Sothern's greatest acting came here.
Great in its simplicity. His audience
thrilled and sat-and nothing more.
For they had seen a master present all
the passions of revenge at its height
and all TIE sodden sorrow Of its fall;
ness.
The stars do not meet until the fourth
act. the trial. The audience was kept
alert, watching every move, every ges-
ture beginning with the dialogue: rs
your name Shylock?'
"Shylock is my name"
Frederick Lewis. who has been with
the company for years. is a charming
Bassanio sayre Crawley and John
OBrien. as the princes Of Morocco
and Aragon. are not as convincing as
Thomas Coleman and Francis Bendt-
sen, who formerly read the roles. Geo.
wilson. as launcelot Gobbo, has a
wealth OF elaborate nonsense.
Consideration Of Thomas Louden. as
old Gobbo, calls forth the one criticism
to be made of the play. Fostering of
the sand-blind father was exquisite
numor IN Shakespeare's day. Now the
nnes could be eliminated without det-
r1ment to the production.
No pains are spared in PRODUCING md
costuming. Features Hike the Venetian
TeveI and singing Of the serenade add to
piece. VI e"e
sui. Julia Marlowe. whose real name was
b baa,a Frances Frost. was born in Cald-
years old she starred in an amateur per
c3nci anee e WSsr BY X public school in
Later she adopted the name " ef F iv1nE;
brough, and played juvenile roles. She
read read Shakespeare from a.: M until noon,
Salu, Il m going to climb''-and she did
She first appeared as Juliet in New York
in 81.
Edward Hugh Sothern was born at 70
Bienvtlle street, New Orleans In 1859, the
second son OF e. A. sothern, the famous
English actor He made his first appear
ance at the Broadway theater. New York.
Sam and collapsed when he encounter
ed his father. His first production of
Hamlet come in 1900
The Sothern-Marlowe combination is the
strongest in the states Beneath the ''S.
NJ" in gold monograms on the dark green
velvet curtain the Sotherns have selected
to be engraven the words:
mot of an age.
But for all time
T.. IT.