The Detroit times., 1913-12-16
pErRir OPERA HOUSE.


The Stratford. Upon.Avon Players,
from the Shakespeare Memorial the.
alter. In the bard's birthplace. began O
weeks engagement. in the Detroit
opera house. Monday evening. pre-
senting for the opening play King
Henry w." The company came to
America q few weeks ago. visiting
Canadian cities before entering the
United States.
In recent seasons. with the scenic
ally magnificent Shakespearean pre-
auctions of Mr.. Sothern and Miss Mar
lowe. william Faversham. and Mar
garet Anglin, It has become the
fashion to speak OF these actor-man-
ayers stage presentations Of the bard
OF Avon's tragedies and comedies as
modern In contra-distinction tho
Stratford Players presentations have
been heralded by their active advance
publicity agents with the claim OF
Shakespeare as he should be-" Just
why either OF these applications
should be used. whether in some.
what scofYing manner. or In spirit OF
commentator. il is difficult to under.
stand.
In the Stratford Players production
version OF the play given seemed 10
differ very little to the best of ones
memory, from the famous production
made several years ago by the late
Richard Mansfield and acted by him
on the stage Of the Detroit opera
house. At the time of the aMnsfield
production, the opulence Of the pro-
duction, Its splendor OF scenery and
costumes. and the manner In which
Mansfield massed his supernumerar-
les, marked a new era in Shakespear-
can productions and won Mansfield
much fame as q producer. Mr.. aMns-
fields King Harry was different pre-
sentation Of that character In many
respects than the one given by F. r..
Benson. Of the Stratford Players. but,
there 10 no necessity, or need. Of CON-
parison at this time. Mr.. Mansheld's
admirers were divided In his life.
time on his ability to successfully In
terpret Shakespeare. but his staging
OF Henry w." as of Julius Caesar
will always remain as q wonderful
example OF modern stagecraft and set
q standard for American productions
of Shakespeare that Mr.. Sothern, Mr..
Faversham and the others later had
to meet and endeavor to excel.
With every possible resource at
command for the historically accurate
mounting of the plays, the Stratford
Players weeks stay In Detroit will
undoubtedly offer Shakespearean stu
dents the greatest opportunity Of a
lifetime to see the characters. scenes
and events Of different periods in
English history, as written Of by vii.
liam Shakespeare. presented In a. cor
rect and perfect guise az historical
records, thoroughly and carefully
searched. could disclose.
The play. Monday evening, was
beautifully staged. Mr.. Benson, who
enacted King eHnry. IN director Of
the company. The Players are units
OF excellence, hitting into the whole.
For agreeable reading Of blank verse.
good diction and clear enunciation, It
cannot be said. however. that the
Stratford Players. except In one or
two instances. equal American Shake
spearean actors. There IL not . man
among the Players with the grace OF
speech and the beauty OF voice that
Sothern, Mantell. F'aversham and q
hundred members OF their companies
possess.
Murray Darlington, 40 Duke OF Ex-
eter; Henry Game. as the Welshmau
Fluelien; Frank Cochrane. a. the
aged king OF France. and +. Randle
Ayrton. as the rascally braggart. Pts.
toll. were of especial excellence. Dor.
othy Green gave q charming presen-
tation OF Katherine. daughter OF
France, wooed by King Harry.
Tuesday evening. King Richard
H." will be given and the repertoire
for the remainder OF the week will be
"As You Like It," Wednesday after
noon: "The Tanning OF the Shrew<'
Wednesday evening: king Henry
w." Thursday evening; "The Merry
Wives of Windsor" Friday evening:
"Much Ado About Nothing" Saturday
afternoon. and Hamlet" Saturday
evening
ELLA NAE HAWTHORNE.
~ TEMPLE.
Only the fact that Charlie Doom.
manager OF the Philadelphia National
.y..p onA uouAayfllfan hos