New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-05-09
"THE TEMPEST"
Finest of Shakespearian Performances
Says English Author.

To the Editor OF The Tribune.
Sir: When 7 first knew the United states
its people used to blow their own trumpet
Now I find that I am repeatedly obliged TO
blow it for them. II has been constant sur
prise TO me during the past four months 10
realize how much more robust is my own
faith in Ar.erica than that which possesso7
many of its own citizens. Hardly day goes
/ by that am not called upon TO assure some
doubling American friend that his country D.
really a nation, that it is not utterly begged
in msterialism, that great causes still appeal
TO it, that it is still capable OF great achieve
ments. Will some one kindly explain for me
how il is that your people. who twenty years
ago never thought of hiding their light under
bushe show now so little faith in them
selves, so little of the old confidence and
so much Of quite novel humility?
have been struck anew with this char
acteristic in watching the attitude OF New
York toward the production Of "Thc Tenn
pest at the Century Theatre. II Is, or
course, an appreciatiye and a grateful Att
tude With their usual responsiveness 20
what is fine in art, New Workers have recog-
nized that Mr. Louis Calvert and Mr. John
Corbin have provided them with something
are therefore doing their share in seeing
TO il that a great experiment is also a great
success
But what ! seem 70 miss, amid the stir
which this remarkable production has evoked.
is the realization that il Is probably the
finest and most rounded performance OF
Shakespearisn play that has ever been seen
on an English-speaking stage. n Shake
speare we're in New York to-day 10 which o.
the theatres that are producing his dramas
would he go?
He would find pleasure slightly mixed,
perhaps, with bewilderment in all Of them.
lie would especially, one may be very sure,
appreciate the elaborate generosity of Sir
Herbert Trees production Of Henry VIII
But fancy you would find him oftenest A.
the Century. This" he would say, "is tho
play as I wrote it and as / meant it 10 he
produced. Here is intelligence. Here .
verify Here is the work Of loving and kin
dred spirits who have discerned what would
be after. Here. too, is a company OF most
competent actors working like a band OF
brothers to render my meaning in as telling
and spirited and, above all, as even and hsr-
monious fashion as even | could wish for
Not a point has been missed, nor a wrong
note struck This is the sort OF tribute an
I
what a capital thing The Tempest was until
saw it produced by Louis Calvert and John
Corbin."
In short, as IT seems 10 me, this is an oc-
casion when New Workers might justly use
all the superlatives in the language. But
superlatives appear 20 have dropped out Of
the dictionaries used by this difident gen
Grafton OF Americans. Therefore, II is left
for an English visitor to sound your praises.
even through megaphone, into your modest
and reluctant ears; 10 state his grateful
opinion that at the Century the top-noteh OF
Shakespearan production has been reached
and TO congratulate you, not without envy
on the prospect that the success OF "Ihe
Tempest means the performance of many
more. perhaps Of all. Of Shakespesre's plays
with the same Incompatible skill.
SYDNEY BROOKS.
New York. May .. 1916.