Evening star., 1915-12-07
Polls.

The production of julius Caesar at
Polls Theater last night proved that 4
| little Shakespeare now and then, as
well as little nonsense, Is relished by
discerning playgoers 1t is peculiarly
| fact that the stock company at Polls
has been steadily encouraging an ap-
probation of the standard forms of en-
tertainment in the midst of whirl-
wind of joyous and often irresponsible
frivolity. Without making any pre-
tentions to uplift motives, perhaps
through sheer force of circumstances,
the big playhouse whose record Is
linked through the decades with some
of the most interesting traditions of
the theater has been bidding for appre-
citation of standard plays conscientious
ly acted This appreciation 1t has found,
and the charm Of acquaintance with its
| actors has added to the zest with which
it's versatile contrasts of farce and
serious drama from week to week have
been followed by loyal clientele
having roamed through, the libraries
of the modern drama it was inevitable
| that sooner or later these PLAYERS
should play Shakespeare. Every actor
| cherishss in his heart an ambition to
play Shakespeare: Every manager
| longs to make a Shakespearean prodnc
ton. Every playgoer longs to see an
adequate presentation of some of the
plays which supply him with his favor
ite quotations when he happens to be
| at loss for words of his own. The
difficulty is not so much that Shakes
peare Is unpopular He is too popu-
| lar. Everybody has fixed ideas of his
own as to how he should be Interpreted,
and a standard is set up SO minutely
exacting that only superhuman resources
and skill could meet 1t in providing a cast
Last nights performance was a fine
exemplification of the solid training
which stock company provides. 1t
was a sincere, straightforward presen-
tation. The impression Of dignity was
attained without exaggerated strut or
pose, and even that most uncertain of
performers, the mob, acquitted itself
with almost uninterrupted credit
The fascinating personality of Marc
Antony and the dominating mentality
of Cassius does not prevent Brutus
| from being the responsible role in the
tragedy. 1t enlisted the services of
that accomplished actor and student, K.
d. MacLean, whose success in Boston
In similar enterprise suggested the
present production. With fine reading
he combines personality and poise and
with it all intense humanity. He gave
the security of experience to a per-
formance which enlisted the talents of
players warmly esteemed for their at
| tainments in other fields. but not asso-
ciated in the minds of their auditors
with blank verse and toga.
The brilliant ardor of Marc Antony
the model of all time for oratory
that seeks to sway the passions Of a
crowd, found congenial expression in
the personality of A. H. Van Buren,
A fine conception of the inner sense
shone through his delivery of the
speeches. and the picture of the pleas
ure-loving Roman, whose nature
changes in an instant as he consecrates
| himself to the memory of a slain
| friend, was handsomely realized. His
| training in the current school of act
ing. in which he has proved SO pro-
| fluence. as a rule advantageous, yet
sometimes suggesting rapidity of
speech which did not bear out the
trait Of subtle power which the char
As Cassius, Mark Kent acquitted him.
self finely, picturing the relentless
scheming of the Roman politician. with
out seeking to magnify his picturesque
mentality. free from artificial poses; an
individuality well calculated to account
| FOR the characters share In the events
| through which 1t moves.
/ john Kline modulated the part Of the
cynical Casca to a rather benevolent
mood. The touch of oratorical vigor
more applause than he would have Sc
cured BY saturnine Interpretation
more consistent with the text
The part OF Caesar found much more
hands of J. H. Daily than is usuaIiv
accorded it. and contributed important
| Ily to the sense OF proportion main
tanned throughout the reading of the
The great political tragedy Is not Hb-
eraI in its opportunities to feminine
players. Miss Rittenhouse. as Portia,
and Miss Starr. as Calphurnia, were
suficient for the requirements OF their
| scenes.
II was an interesting demonstration
of Shakespeare as a popular dramatist.
one who in his day had to compete only
| with bear batting as a popular diver
sion. whereas now he is forced to COM
pete with the rather more refined rival
| ry of ragtime and the tango.
| The audience was large and heartily
| appreciative.
| B. F. Keith's.
! Nazimova, in War Brides" is the