The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-02-13
This Is shakespeare.

Judging from the performances Of
'Richard the Third" given last night
by the Stratford- Upon Avon Players
and guided by the knowledge. common
to, many others of the general theatri-
cal conditions in this country, | venture
with the utmost confidence the asser-
tion that the public al Richmond Will
never have another opportunity to see
Shakespeare played with the same
rounded. BALANCED. polished and schol-
larly perfection as is offered ny the
eminent organization now Interpreting
the works Of the master of all drama
| lists ut the Academy OF Music-cer-
tainlN not, unless by some strange and
Iunanticipatcd turn OF fortune. the
lStratford Upon Avon Players should
again appear in this city.
And this statement is made with n
lively recollection of many brilliant
\ performances presented by great or
famous or noted Shakespearean stars
/ in the theatres of Richmond, but
there's the rub. they We're performances
/ by stars. Tor stars.
But this company OF artists plays
Shakespeare, not for the value and cr-
! feet OF one overwhelming part. not for
I the exploitation ANA eXaltation OF one
| forcefui actor, but FOR the blending Of
every part. the characterization. and, II
necessary. the subordination, Of all the
actors into n dramatic unit and an ar
| ttstic whole-which unit. which whole.
! is William Shakespeare. his play.
| We have, many Of us, seen Il more
tremendous. q more appalling Richard
! OF Glostcr than r. II. Benson made last
night. fine as lie was In his sardonic
cruelty, his cold hunors his Machia-
vellian dnplicity and sinking hypo-
crisy, but We have never before seen n
Clarence, an Edward, n lieutenant OF
the Tower. second murderer. whose
acting was not dwarfed by the mere
performance OF tho man who PLAYED
Richard. Last night these characters
were. OF course, subordinatcd by the
sheer weight Of Glostcrs wick ctiness
ana mighty power, but the men who
represented them We're in no wise over
| shadowed by tho art of tho actor who
assumed the part OF Richard
| Nor Ia this To be taken as In dcro-
cation OF MIR. Benson's strength as an
actor. but as an appreciation OF his
AFFINITY as.nrt director of this endowed
\ institution, since IL is to be assumed
that he has potent voice In the Sc
lection Of the players, and primarily rs
u rccog milton OF the rare quality Of the
whole company
And herein Hes the cause OF the
wonderful perfection which the STRAIT
4 ford Jpon-AVon Players have achieved
every part is played by an actor. not
hy n nguTe upon which clothes and
armor may be hung and from which
WORDS may be persuaded To spout doll
like. but by a skilled and schooled nc
Tor, who Is not only competent to pan
tomiine his part, but who, thanks "a
the beautiful. clean-cut English enun
Grated ~ every one OF them, is able
10 read Shakespeere's verse in such
manner ne 10 make his every sncech
= lesson In the art of unaffected clio.
cution.
Clarorces dream was narrated and
rs erect upon him conveyed by Muir.
ray Darlington so yividly that even
the accustomed shuddered; Edwards
reinorse after the death OF his brother
was 30 poignantly pictured by 1,
handle Ayrton that his Immediate
aeath seemed only 4 welcome relief
= Warburton and Frank Cochrane as
the nrst and second tnurderers plav,,
the scene Ill the Tower with such com
ipeiiing and realistic art that-to dc.
scend from the subime--it would hay,
made 4 complete ana telling sketch
even IN modern vaudeville. the voice
OF James STEAMERS. tho lieutenant OF
'he o"er-oh! IL Is impossible To 60
through the whole cast.
why. the man who played the bit.
part OF Lord Stanley, william caIvort
rs 10 do Falatar In The Merry Wiye,
OF Windsor" tomorrow night. IL i,
Ijust that sort Of company--the small
SS' p"ltS are played by the stars, an,
yet there are no stars
The version used last night IS TN
usually employcd--Collcy Ctbher,s-
>hc iirst scene or which is taken IRON
the third part of Henry the Sixth
and the production vas altogether AIDE
qhate, Int these arc wholly aside from
The nam point. which is that In
Suhtford-L hon-ATon Players presen
Shakespeare la manner which hnl
never been even .d!stantly approache,
, IN Htehmond--certa!niy In my day.
Douglas Gordon
Piles Cured In to ID DAYS