The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-18

So much is now written concerning
the interpretation of Shakespeare
that the topic might he thought to
interest the theatre managers deeply.
Yet there are comparatively few per
formances to-day of the poets plays:
so the discussion must be confined
chiefly 10 actors anxious to undertake
the performance of this or that
Shakcspearian role for the gratitca-
tion of their own ambitions or those
so-callcd producers" Of the new
school who are just now regarded as
III" latest interpreters of the poets
dramas. one specimen OF this modern
and advanced manner OF presenting
tn" plays of Shakespeare : at present
ON view in this city.
Max ECinhardt has rescued tho
plays Of Shakespeare in Germany
from the p'rfuuctory routine which
the so-called Hof or Stadt theatre had
impressed on them. In Ber'in he has
given "A Midsummer Nights Dream
ana Romeo and Juliet" with perhaps
the greatest success. although lac has
not hesitated t. subject other dramas
also to his theories as 10 their pro-
duction. Perhaps cCCcntricity has
gone further in the case OF Gordon
Craig than with any az the other mod
ern "produCers" OF Shakespeare. ~
his itca ~ Hamlet" as it was rc-
vealcd at the .trt Theatre in Moscow
the impression was varied On" critic
observing the succession Of rcctangu-
lar screens which provided under diff
! ferent lights the only decorations NJ
the play received the impress on that
family had packed mp its household
| goods IN boxes and was about tu dc
part for the country. Others were
more Influenced hv tho spirit uf the
author thus suhtly revealed.
! Much ~ tho So-Cillcd new art Of
tho theatre il pr"tentiuus. and csp"-
cially in It's Application to TN" theatre
of Shakespeare is II lacking In Just
| the qualities which the w"rn Of such a
genius should inspire. There are q
| great many things in tho current
performance Of "A Midsummer Night :
! Dream" that are Interesting. Gran
vile Barker has shown that tho plays
Of Shakespeare may according to the
! new manner of which he is noted
] ~
and vivacity when those qualities are
| needed that were lacking in the older
presentations with their more slowly
changing scenery. The iden OF Sug-
/ costing a scene rather than attempt
| ing to reproduce A exactly or as
| exactly as the means of the theatre
allow makes it loss difficult for the
scenes to he changed Perhaps in
/ tlais detail Is there the most notal' I
Improvement over the older way in
which the plays were acted.
with all the search for what shall
he artistic in the framing Of the pie
turc there mas been in the actual
Performance" little thought Of the
| beauty Of tho text. So II is of In
cstmahlc value At tho present minute
when So much that i revolutionary
is in the air that WILLIAM WiNTEr
should give to the world thr second
vo.umc of his Shakespeare on IN,
stage tMoffat, Yard n Coz. Here Is
/ the know edge of tho most expert
cnCed Shakospcarian critic of the dav
He Is not merely student f Shake
sprarc but a man OF the theatre. His
works are always rcplotc with che
most interesting technical information
as to tn manner in which every pla,
was acted, the Interpretations ~ n
the great players of the past. amy
novel business" which has in tn,
progress of the ages been added t.
the plays. readings new or other,
wise. correct and incorrect. all in
the view Of an experienced and Cu.ti.
waited critiC-all this information is