The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-02-10
'0THELLO' PRESENTED
AT LYRIC THEATRE
William Favcrsham Success as
IagO and Has Excellent
Support.
SCENERY IS BEAUTIFUL
Play Nividly Acted, the Com.
pany Showing sympathy
With Tragedy.
"OthcIIo"-N the Lyric Theatre.

William Faversham last night carried
his ambitions as an actor OF Shakespeare
degree further when at tho Lyric Thea
tire he presented "Othello," which after
long years OF disuse had already been
seen once this winter. Johnston Forbes
Robertson acted IL recently at the Shubert
Theatre. and James X. Hackett announces
that he Will soon appear as the Moor.
Mr.. Faversham selected fdOo for his role.
however. aud In this respect departed from
the usual custom of actors Edwin Booth
played both of the important roles with
equal frequency. although he was probably
most admired as logo. The majority OF
his contemporaries and those actors dat
ing from the era In which tragedy lowered
in our theatre often acted both parts. and
when IL was one In the play they selected
1t was usually Otheito and not idgo The
wisdom OF Mr. Favershams choice is OBJ
vious. II would not be easy to picture him
as the Moor But the same might have
been said In advance OF the latest English
OfhelIo seen here.
MIR. Favcrsham has already let the
public into his confidence concerning his
ideas OF this villains character. lie re-
CARDS him ns master mind ineradicably
evil for evils own sake. His Jealousy Of
the Moor he is not inclined to regard As
an important element IN the trouble he
seeks to cause and delights in Causing.
SuCu u tOuGtHUon In VI CtuTut Tot W
be Quarrelled with and IL affords for the
actor the most grateful starting point
one realized last night anew how thor
oughly iago dominates the play. and to
degree the interest Of the audience
ever turns to him. There In sympathy
never. but always an absorption In the
vrtuosity which seems ever mounting to
higher and dizzier heights OF achievement.
Mr. Favershain WAS wise for more than
one reason in coming forward In this role
in the tragedy.
His manner in the scenes with Otheilo
and his other two victims. Cassie and Ro-
dertoo. had all the plauslbility and frank
ness OF the honest soldier he was reputed
10 be. and lightness and gayety OF bear
ing made him appear quite As innocent Of
evil as he wanted to be. Here there was
no trace of the malignant temper he was
supposed to conceal beneath his blur and
winning shell. There was. of course. no
opportunity In his scenes for revelation
OF these traits His covert scrutiny Of
Ofheilo In his avowRi Of loyalty and his
careful watch on Cassie were discernible
indications OF the innate maievolence
which inspired his unending falsity.
Yet there was not even an indication
of these dominating traits in his char
actef. even when he was alone and con-
cealment was no longer necessary. Then
some exhibition OF his real nature would
have added accent to the impsrsonation.
which was on the whole highly skilfui
varied and effective. Above all IL was vital,
and this quality was the notable feature
of the admirable performance. "Othelo"
was played by Mr.. Faversham and his as
sociates to make the drama live before
the eyes OF the spectators 1t was through
out "A highly colUred. vivid and absorbing
realization of the tragedy
Nj Faversham, picture Of alluring
and picturesque falsity, graceful In move
nent and picturesque in dress. was in
evitably modern in his delivery OF the
text II is said that Edwin Booth wns
always colloquial In his reading OF this
part. There must, however. have been
time when the grand manner asserted
itself and the actor chose the lyric mood
FOR the delivery OF some OF the lines that
the role contains II WAS the persistence
of the grand manner that did more than
anything else to kill the public patience
for ancient tragedy. But the classic mood
demands some share OF IL. There wars
moments last night when the acting cried
for IL. .Mr Favershams illustrative pan
tomlme was abundant and always elo-
quently expressive. His success in the
role was unquestioned.
r. -. MacLeans OthelIo has been
seen hero before, 1t Is a powerful per-
line. but intelligent and artistic. Mr..
Faversham was fortunate In finding an
associate capable OF adding such distinc-
tion to the performance. Pedro de Cor
doba. spirited and picturesque Cassie,
superior to all his recent predecessors
Arthur Elliot and George Somnes were
some OF the actors who deserve credit for
the excellent performance OF play
that II grows increasingly difficult to ac-
ccpt with patience. The Moor was so
credulous. and Id1o, TO our present views
30 transparent. Such a villain could not
fool even a dramatic critic nowadays.
Cecilia Lotus was a singular choice for
Dosdcniona, She was a pale heroine who
spoke her lines without incisiveness. Con
stance Collier was a flaming figure IA
Emilio. more grateful to the eye than the
ear. She supplied a vivid point Of color In
the action, however; the beautiful investi.
Surc OF the play must wait for It's du,
praise.