The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-04-24
rhe Tempest"-At the Century Theatre.

The Drama Society will produce to-
night at the Century Theatre as its con-
tribution to the Sha~kespearian tercen-
tenary celebration 'The Tempest which
has rarely been heard In this country
night the play was publicly ~rehearsed.
II was acted. to speak without exact
ness. in the Elizabethan fashion. since
the disappearance OF tine Tempest
from the stage IL attributed to the scenic
problems which it poses for any pro-
Queer. IL was an interesting experiment
which the Drama Society undertook.
John Corbin. who in winters Tale"
was responsible for the most successful
production In this fashion ever given
here. was the leading spirit in preparing
the play. which will he, offered to III"
public tonight. Since lie is an authority
on the theatre in the E~lizabethan days
there could he no doubt that the pro-
cecdings were orthodox. Associated with
Mr.. Corbin in this artistic enterprise are
Louis Calvert and Frederick Stinhope
and Elliott Schenck. who wrote the music
to the present performance
all of whom were connected viii the Cen-
fury Theatre when 1t was known to he
New and called so.
of course there IS more han the
technical difficulties Of the shipwreck
with which the play begins the
disappearance OF the spirits to explain
the neglect of this comedy. There IL in
its poetic II fantastic scenes little ac-
ton or for that matter even move
ment of the kind which might be taken
as n substitute for the action demanded
i'm any play. Then there are not the
characters which attract actors and in
crease their fame. Without such rea-
sons for the revival Of the other plays
some of them might not have been seen
for forty-scven years, which is said to
be the length Of time that preceded the
last repetition OF The Tempest which
Augustin Daily gave At his theatre ON
April o. 1897.
DiNncuIt, 81 stare Management.
OF course any play Of such fine and
dsi.cat. textur. a. this had inevitably
10 suffer from tn. effort to Keep IL
within the frame OF the picture stage,
II could only he crushed by any treat
,nent which was TO prepare II for "Nhi-
bition in a medium 80 different To that
in which Il was first seen. so there Was
! every propriety in bringing IL now hc-
fore the public. even IL the little Joke
that IL is Shakespeare's only American
play is not justified by the allusion 80
the Rcrmudas. which is really taken to
establish its locality as somewhere else.
contrary to the comparative simplicity
Of its production last night. managers
have hitherto tried to make the produce
ton Of the play an excuse for spectacle
as the only means OF realizing is de-
mands.
Thus. when William Davidgc put THE
Temnes," On the stage Of the Grand
opera IInus. for James Fisk. Jr.. after
Law Gould had retired from all active
connection with tine theatre. there was
"A ballet troupe especially brought from,
I.urosc - cavort through scenes which
wer. acted hy such nohl. Romans Of the
palmy days as T.. l.. Davenport. Frank
MAYO, making his first New York ap-
p%earance: Mr.. Dayidce and others "i
fame in the year of gr,,c" 1864. George
I,iddl gave two acts of the play at tho
I.yccum Theatre, with the assistance OF
several actors In the company, but the
play as n whole had to wal, for mo
Shakespcarian enthusiasm Of Augusta
DAILY. When he gave 1t on April &
1897. Nancy Mcintosh and not ADD
Hrhan played Mudnda. although she
undertook the part AT a matinee a few
days later. Tyrone Power was Cnlibdr
Virginia Earle Ariel. and other actor'
in the play were Charles hickman. JohI
Craig and Sidney Herbert. II is inter
est:ng 70 record that smaller If M les.
ornamental assistance was lent by Ma
belle Gilman and Grace Elliston.
The earlier history Of the New Ynrl
stage elbows more frequent r.prtitinn
Of the York. Spectators wsr" less ~
acting then AS to the accurate repre-
sentation Of the material incidents u