The Washington times., 1914-12-01
BELASCO.

As a bulwark to protect the solid
ground of classic drama from the on
rushing waves OF froth, frippery, and
vice which threaten to engut II,
thoughtful theatergoers welcome week
Of Shakespeare such as Robert Man
tell and his company began last even
ing at the Belasco Theater with the
production of King john" probably
the least worth of all the historical
tragedies. though given a setting by the
MGntell forces that makes it of suf
fcient Importance to serve such an oc-
casion.
il requires considerable holiness on
the part of any actor. no matter how
well equipped he may be personally. to
ATTEMPT the presentation of the plays
Of the greatest of all playwrights. In
time when mel OF learning and I'M
Outstanding dispute the delicate shades
of meaning in the lines of the great
dramatic poems, when the highest in
telligence has been unable to reach
conclusions as to those meanings that
may be definitely accepted as final, no
matter how studiouslv the leading spirit
in a company of actors may have ap-
piled himself TO the task, it is an ex-
tremely difficult thing for him to sur
round himself with assistants whose
ability To understand and interpret are
as highly placed as such occasion for
| them demands. That is only one Of the
reasons Shakespeare is so seldom at
tempted on the stage nowadays, and it
! Is also one of the reasons why, when
attempted, the productions are apt to
! disappoint some of those who see them.
| There is no group of students or
| theaterSoers whose ideas are more firm
| ly set than those who regularly sup
| port the presentation of the classics,
| and no group which so quickly resents
| departure from these ideas.
| While a clear understanding of these
/ conditions is essential in the considera-
| ton of all the classics, II is particularly
| so IN the case of the play with which
| Mr.. Mantell and his company began
their weeks season last evening, king
John" There is probably no play of
| Shakespeare more unlovely in struc-
| ture or the story il tells. The chief fig
ure is the meanest and most despicable
of England's kings. A man in whom
cowardice, deceit, and cruelty are al
| ternately uppermost, who never rises TO
| heights of tragic grandeur and whose
| whole life formed a sequence of Incl
dents that brought into relief success
| sively the meanest traits of the human
| mind.
Second. in Importance to the king is
! the character of a bastard son of his
! brother Richard. a boasting ribald ruff
fan. whose confessed ruling passion is
personal gain. Against these two, the
dramatist rears a weak boy and a
widow. who alternates railing against
, fate with terrific denunciauon of the
powers that cause her suffering. A fifth
/ character. that of confidential servant
I OF the king, who yet betrays some hui
man feeling by that very trait. calls
for the highest art on the part of the
actor playing Il, and very seldom get
ting il, makes a conspicuousiy weak
place in the dramatic structure.
AS King John. Mr.. Mantell presented
a most carefully built character study
II was in the second scene in the third
act. where the king suggests the muir
der of Young Pr ince Arthur. that the
actor showed his greatest skill Tho
interview with Hubert, the servant
and the subtle suggestion of every
word the king uttered lost no meaning
in the delicate handling of the lines By
the star. In the fifth act. where Johr
believes Hubert has carried out his or.
ders and denounces him for it, Mr.
Mantell gave another exhibition of his
skill, and in the death scene. in the las
act the intensely human quality OF hi:
acting was tremendously appealing.
| Fritz Ieiber as Faulconbridge. Rich.
ards iIlegitimate son. brought a thor
ough understanding of It's possibilltie:
to his part and brought out as much ol
the grace and meaning of his lines rs
this understanding made possible. Flor
ence Auer was most emotional Con
stance the widowed mother Of Arthur
and Genevieve Hamper was graceful
apealing Prince Arthur, and in hel
scene with Hubert in the fourth ac
made the character even more hu
man and boyish than il has ordinarily
been shown. John Burke was a robus
Hubert and in q difficult role made {
big impression. The remaining mem
beers OF the cast gave support TO tn
chief figures that vas fairly In keepint
with the spirit of the play without ris
ing 10 great heights OF dramatic quail
ity. Tonight. Mr. Mantell present.
| Hamlet - with Miss Hamper Il!
Ophelia. GARDNER MACk.