Evening star., 1917-01-09
ADJUSTMENTS
Belasco.

Dependent upon no transient ter
centenary enthusiasna which in vari-
Gus communities have risked butcher
anr Shakespeare to make q literary
holiday. Robert Mantell is making his
annual tour of the country In q
rspertory Of the English classics. Mr.
Nantsll is an actor who relies upon
the intrinsic merit of production and
performance. apart from any incidental
interest The presence in his company
of players Of exceptional ability does
not prevent the performance from CIV
ing the impression of reliance upon the
earlier American stage tradition whlch
centered interest upon single star
upon whose prohciencies the interest
Of the play must rely
Mantell is an actor of strong per-
sonality, yet capable in extraordinary
degree of merging himself into the role
he is assuming. His natural gifts are
such as enhance the value or stage
technique instead of overshadowing II.
His voice has power ana neNloiiltS,
which will give n heroic defamation
the deep melodious resonance OF an
anthem. and which, again. Will crackle
and become thin. beftts the tense
but attenuated emotions of a feebier soul.
His physique, though wrapped last
night III Shylock's gaberdine, impressed
nation, assisting the impersonation in
every step. pose and gesture. A master
of the art of makeup. he was relent-
less in making Shylock display In por-
traiture as we'll as in changeful ex-
preston all the vengeful hatred that
possessed his soul. The scenery which
W. A. Brady has provided for this pro-
duction is beautiful and elaborate,
showing massive detail, as well as
splendid perspective. The costumes
are revelations of fine material and in
Eenious craftsmanship under the super
vision of scholarly information as to
the times and manners with which the
story deals
II is not "A bookish Shakespeare that
Mr.. Mantell interprets; nor does Miss
Genevieve Hamper lend TO the role of
Portia any touch of feminine pedantry.
Shylock does not disdain emphatic
demonstrations of gesture in making
known his passions and has unhesitat-
ing recourse to the prolonged pause in
conveying the suggestion of an agita-
tion of spirit too great to be made
known in words. Miss Hamper is
youthful and beautiful with Il vivacity
whose modern graces are by no means
concealed by the robes and diction of
an era of ancient picturesqueness. The
court scene was interestingly played
and the CLINT of comedy which from
time TO time fits through the grim
tragedy was effectually revealed.
The love story between Portia and
OF Venice" its right to customary des-
ignation as a comedy, was charmingly
sustained. Fritz Lieber proving him
self an actor of excellent romantic
quality. The whimsical humor of Gra-
tiano was given due prominence by
Guy Lindsey and the various other
roles were handled in way that
maintained the interest of each scene.
The audience was warm in response to
the enorts of the players, curtain calls
being numerous. The appeal to inter
est made by this performance is direct
rather than subtle. 1t is often .he
tendency to overlook the plot struc-
ture OF Shakespeare In contemplation
of that rhetorical beauty which renders
his dramas distinct in English litera-
ture 1t is Shakespeare the melodra-
matist. as well as Shakespeare the poet.
that Mr.. Mantell expresses. The sense
OF physical peril which hovers over the
merchant and again over his pursuer
is made vivid and vital. The play pro-
ceeds as the unfolding of a story in
large measure for the sake of incident
and climax, well as for the splendid
recitation voiced from time to time by
The characters. No actor now before
the public is better equipped by study
and experience and by the arts which
enable the player to counterfeit types
OF humanity and their variant moods
than Mr.. Mantell. He possesses that
attribute now so rare in the theater-
versatility; and will demonstrate this
tonight as he turns from the implaca-
BILE malevolence of the Venetian usurer
TO the ideaIistic introspections of the
melancholy Dane" j.