The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-01-22
Richard Ill. Seen
in Vivid Pictures
at the Academy

Those who have imagined that they
/ have seen Shakespeare King Rich
ard III" should 20 to the Academy
sometime today and tomorrow and
have another look at tire famous old
play presented under most modern
circumstances. All who await them
selves of the privilege sst,l Ae of the
dptnfUn That up 10 the preE''ut time
they never fully realized Just how
great Richard III is.
Al least that is the impression gath
cred at the Academy last night when
the lay was presented for the first
time II Richmond during its present
engagement To say the audience
was entertained beyond expectation is
expressing a very evident fact mildly.
Richard III" produced with the
aid Of moving pictures, is a most Won
derful drama. 1t is a pageant, a ro-
nance of the wars of the Red and
White roses a page from history pre-
scented viyidIy to the mind Of the spec
tator, and with Frederick Warde to-
interpret Shakespeare great drama
and greater verse. one who IS not en-
tertained is certainly hard to please.
Frederick Warde has long been
identified with the play He has play
/ ed Richard for many years. at the
head of his own company and with
| Louis James. He is the last OF
]
| James and Thomas keene-~and II
Warde never could say: Aft with
his head. so much for Buckingham"
| in the inimitable way that keene
/ could deliver it. still he nevertheless
gave great performance and prob
ably q more consistent one than the
more robust reader
| Richard III, ;" presented by the or
binary travelling company In the good
| old days was sometimes fully as
| thrilling as the greatest melodrama
/ and as funny as farce comedy.
Richard, marching at the head Of his
I troops TO put down the rebellion OF
/ Buckingham. usually traversed a fair
modern highway with a neat farm
house In the distance. The armor of
his troops was from the Viking period
( to the days of Charles the First and
the dress of the courtiers was as much
Italian as Norman English. ofttimes.
Under Mr. Wardes able direction,
- r = r. presented -t-t-rr-rtcfy
historically correct in all the es-
sentIal details and II the setting for
the moving pictures is not the Brit
ain Of the period when Yorkist and
Lancastrian were arrayed against
each other there are few in the audi
ences who will detect it.
The moving pictures make the
scenes appear real. Whether 1t be
] the fnur06f OF the Iittie princes an titS
tower Guildhal1 or Bosworth field
( there is a vivtdness of detail. that
lifts the pictures out of the frame for
a mere mechanical set Of views, into
pulse stirring story.
Bosworth field no longer is a merry
I Jest where Richard and Richmond
] fight battle that determines the fate
! of a kingdom on a little stage, with
( their tents pitched within twenty feet
/ of each other. Ordinarily Bosworth
/ field is as good as q comic opera to a
| person with a sense of humor, espe-
cially when the two armies engage
and the "alarums' Of the war drums
are heard off stage.
| Richard III" with the aid OF NOV
/ ing pictures is a play perfectly pic
tnred, and with Frederick Warde to
relate the story and, when necessary.
| read the verse of Shakespeare, it
comes very near being an ideal pro-
duction. 1t certainly is great aid
to the rising generation of Shake
spearian scholars, and high school and
academy pupils will get a better idea
/ of England in the time of Richard as
we'll as OF the great play itself,
| through Mr.. Warde's dramalogue
/ than they ever will from an ordinary
/ reading and study of the drama.