The Washington herald., 1913-01-14
THE BELASCO.
William Faversham's Production of
.JuIius Caesar"

"JuIius Caesar"
Shakespeare's Julius Caesar" pros
duced last night in the Belasco Theater
by William Faversham and a company
whose work is in such harmony as to
seem a perfect unit. met with the keen
appreciation of a brilliant audience. as
wei 1t might, for the performance was
a notable one from both a histrionic and
artistic standpoint.
In version which contributed to the
fame of the late Edwin Booth as the
basis of his production, Mr.. Faversham
has enhanced the interest of this trag-
edy of political intrigue, through the
restoration of several scenes which give
il latter-day coloring.
Success can come to no man without
ambition. Yet unbridled ambition is a
dangerous. often a fatal, thing. From
the very beginning of literature to the
present day this fact has been cogent-
~ recognized. The play of Julius
Caesar concerns the tragedy of an am
bition that overstepped itself, and 1t
seems to have been almost an axiom Of
the Elizabethan bard that ambition
should be confined to its true and proper
limits. Again and again do We hear him
IN his plays sounding the note Of warn
slnE. but in the story of the Roman con-
querer it is the most pronounced of ALL
Mr.. Faversham has cast himself as
Marc Antony, and presents a portrait
of the noble and eloquent friend of the
Inflated Caesar with a rare insight into
the poetic side of Antony's nature. His
greatest scene is at the Roman Forum,
where he delivers his GRAFTON over the
dead body of the conquerer. Beginning
in d low quiet voice he picks up the
threads of the grevious outrage to his
friends, rising gradually to the height of
eloquent Oratory which inspires the mob
to mutiny and grips the sympathies Of
the audience. winning fresh admiration
for this noted character created by the
master dramatist. In the flowing toga
of a Roman Senator, whose very presence
in the halls of government the conspira-
tors fear, or encased in glittering armor
while leading the legions to victory at
Fhilippi, Mr. Faversham is alike fine
and Fascinating figure.
The central thought of a play of
Shakespeare is to be found always in
some one human truth that strikes home
TO the soul of some one man, through
whom il passes insensibly into the souls
of all who have been interested in his
story. The one person in the play of
Julius Caesar upon whom Shakespeare
seeks especially to fix attention is Brutus
he whom even Antony admitted on the
plains of Philippi was the noblest Ro-
man of them all" Mr.. Faversham's bril-
liant production has lost nothing through
the succession of Berton Churchill to
Tyrone Power in the role of Marcus
Brutus. for MIR. Churchill paints his por-
trait with an appreciative and skillful
artistry bringing to it dignity, and, at
gentleness of nature that is
appealing His reading is fault
nd his sympathy and understand
the character is easily one of the
representations in a long cast
TX Keenan,, who essays the role of
IS is one of the few great char
actors of the present day, and
ats a consistent portrait Of bonn
and testy statesman and soldier,
is not just the modern concep-
IF the character, but is nevertheless
i've. He clings to lines of robust
which seem TO have been much
lvor with the past generations of
Her Mellish has the title role. and
1t of the kindness OF heart with
n history credits the noble Caesar;
Characteristic which seems inseparable
the figure whose great mind and
lsndous courage made it possible for
tent Rome to rule the world His
sar. as a man of brain with little
heart, is a finely drawn character,
yed With poise and polish.
Miss Julie Opp. who is Mrs. William
FaveTsham is private life. and as the
wife OF the storm-tossed Brutus gives an
intellectual reading of the one scene
which falls to her lot. giving the i'm
preston of a "Portia'' who is quite
capable OF a complete understanding of
her lords most complex thoughts and
plans.
Jane Wheatly gives a capable por-
trayaI of the still shorter role of CAL
purnia, while Lionel Beimore was ex-
cellent as Casca. and Arthur Elliott as
Trebonius gave another faithful portrait
of one Of the conspirators.
]. c. MANI.