New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-04-03
Tree Fills Shoes of Negro
Actors with Speech Prais-
ing Their Project.
HISS AMATEUR WIT.
CHEER MRS. CAMPBELL
Crowds Pay Tribute TO English
Players, but Rebuke One
of Their Own Race.

New York is soon 90 have a third
Shakespearian company 20 vie with
James K Hackett and Sir Herbert
Tree. A stock company OF negro
thespians Is rehearsing "Othel.o" every
morning and producing modern drama
in the evening az the big Lafayette
Theatre for negro people at Seventh
Avenue and lS5th Street. After
"Othello" they will give Romeo and
Juliet" and at the close OF the season
they intend 10 travel over the country
as far West as st. Louis.
A performance Of "Othello" was
scheduled for last evening. and in an
ticipation Of what was 20 be the first
serious dramatic effort Of the negro
race in America the stage boxes were
occupied by Sir Herbert Tree. Mrs. Pat
rick Campbell, several Of Sir Herbert's
company and directors Of the Shake
spe4ran Terccntary Celebration.
Unfortunately. at the eleventh hour
Che majesty of the law interfered, for
while the code Of police ethics permits
any and every variety Of vaudeville
show and sacred concert" on Sunday
evenings, the guardians Of civic morals
viii not tolerate a serious dramatic
performance.
Tree Speaks on Shakespeare.
At o'clock the English actor left his
box and spoke before the audience on
the genius Of Shakespeare. The house
listened IN rapt attention, marked
contrast 90 the exuberance of few
minutes before with which they had
Kissed oT the stage an actor of their
own 80 whose humor was a little too
crude 70 please them. At the close Of
Sir Herbert's remarks he introduced
Othe.lO, IN the guise OF Wilbur Wright,
small but dlgnted actor who was 70
have played the role OF the jealous
Moor
I'VE live IN a wonderful age" said
Nr. Tree. 81 am sure that with all his
imagination Shakespeare never con-
cc'ved that the negro race IN the TWEEN
t.eth century would honor his name by
playing one Of his greatest tragedies
After paving his respects 20 the po-
lice regulations Sir Herbert concluded:
"l ann delighted 20 witness the evidence
of the nigh prosperity, the education
and intelligence shat your race has
reached. 10 is "a magnificent thing 20
realize that Shakespeare Will be played
en- these boards. ! hope that all Of you
viii learn Co love him and the works Of
his great genius
Mrs. Campbell Cheered.
After the audience had cheered Mrs.
Campbell. and had received smile and
q bow In return. Wilbur Wright, with
an accent that savored slightly Of
Seventh Avenue. but with an admirable
fevor. recited one of Othello's
peeches. Il
CHANGING from Brabantio's doddering
guayers 90 the dukes magsteral voice
and Othel.o's eloquent pleading with
startling rapidly the actor wound
himself up In a fury.
Though the actors difficult recital in
dicated that he could play Othello,
Romeo or any other Shakespearian
Zero. the small portion Of the audience
that was not Of his race was, perhaps,
more moved by his Introductory re
marks. in which he quoted the words OF
famous negro poet OF the Latin
American race: II am man. and what
ever interests mankind interests me.
"The negro people are American citi-
Gems in the highest sense Of the word,
said Sir. Wright. "They are law-abid-
ing. patriotic and as capable of being
ir suired by the plays of Shakespeare as
any race 10 the world
The manager OF the Lafayette The
atrc. Eugene Elmore, is enthusiastic
over the ability his people have shown
in the serious production Of drama.
40 the production Of paid in Full
last week he said that every night the
house had been crowded 20 capacity,
and on Saturday 1900 people had been
turned away from the doors, while the
police reserves had 20 be called out 20
persuade the negro enthusiasts 70 give
Up trying 20 get in the first escapes
and side doors. Several had come all
-te way from Philadelphia, 80 far had
che fame Of the company reached.