The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-13
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Detroit. I'm spite Of h~ ruthless
drive for the dollar. stfii loves her
sha hsspears. or At least the master
post has his admirers IN this dyna-
mic city. This vas Indicated Mon
day night. when . highly enthusfAs-
&c audiences. ~ not . very large one.
enjoyed The Merchant Of Venice
ssll ana eomp.ny' Tina, intsrprsia-
tor. By the way. was about the best
oetAinssis at present 80 Mr.. Man.
tell IL conceded 10 be the greatest
American expvn.nt OF shakespear-
can drama 20 kindly did the lovers
OF the more serious In the drama
take 60 the offering that Mr.. Mantell
WAS called before the curtain after
each act. including the last an un-
Usual compliment The actor ap-
peared then soick and span IN
tuxedo. not AZ all the Shylock that
won admiration turnout the evening.
II IA appeared a biz incongruous u
accentuated the artistry OF the per
former.
n Mr.. Manteri rave . finished and
scholarly Improvisation of the Jew,
Mas oenevievs Hamper. formerly a
Detroit girl. and In private NE hrs
her Portia- Physically the charmins
woman nttsd the part splendidly.
There wAs q time when II WAS con :
sider~d THAT Mas Hamper performed
her full duy when she looked eesuti-
full but she has added 20 the oless,
ing or beauty an ability % act ana
she amazed her admirers BY present
ting q Portia than which rome bet
ter could be desired. other oharae-
ters were In good hands bat none
stood out as did the Aantell FAM ~.
which. with Miss Ethel NanteN. who
efal I'D
sscs contributed greatly 20 the IN
folding OF the story.
Mr. Mantelrs shyioek IL one that
might be expected OF a man who
has Won his way TO the top by rea-
con Of hard study and perhaps closer
any other present day actor has Civ
en- For years experts on things
theatrical refused 20 believe that
Mr.. Manteli was q great actor. but
he had an abiding faith IN bis own
greatness and has AZ LAST forced
ton 10 Indicated by AN analysis OF his
WORK In the character OF the Nene-
tian usurer. but the artistry Hes IN
his ability TO make the action appear
spontaneous
Not 90 much. howevw. can be said
One or two read their lines In sort
OF sipg-song fashion a. one might
expect IN q high school portrayal Of
the play. However. these slight de-
fscts only tended 10 emphasize the
really splendid work OF the stars
A NY. Manteli has studied his
own work TO make II correct In
evsry detail he ard Mr.. Brady have
made the entire production as nearly
Historically correct AZ possible.
Fritz Leioer. as Bassanio. was
much Appreciated He looked every
inch the part and the audience glad
IL overlooked his faulty rendering
OF his iinss- John Burks. a. Antonio,
Satisfied everybody and performed
his part In . dignifsd way. Az was
true OF the others. he dit hts wurk
with q seriousness thst wzs inpres-
sfve without at any time being pain
FULLY and Dramatically heroic Az
bert l. Barrett - LORENZO. Guy
Lindsey az orarfano and George VII
con ~ Tuhai performed their parts
IN . highly gratifying manner. John
wray as LAuneelot Gobeo was 80
much enjoyed that the audiences
would gladly have had more Of him.
a. his comedy tended to add . dash
OF chesrfuiness to the evenings rou-
tine that made " highly enjoyable
All OF the other parts were In cutie
c. rabls hands
Mr.. Mantell will offer Hamlet
Tuesday night. ~Richeiieu" a. Wed
nssdays matinee ana Macbeth
wednesday evening.