South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-07-21
PAULDING CLOSES
ENTERTAINMENT AT
WASHINGTON HALL
Famous Shakesperian Drama
list Ends Engagement With
Sheridan's Rivals. "

In what was pe-uarr me pest act
Ing seen IN washington hall for sew
eral years. Frederick Paulding. for
merly the famous Shakesperian
dramats,. enacted in monoiogue.
several scenes from sheridan's
Rivals" before the Notre Dame
summer students. Monday night, on
conclusion of his lecture engage
ment
Pauldings excellence IN repr0duc-
ing the part Of Sir Anthony Aoso-
lutte" in which he made "a national
reputation several years ago. was
demonstrated IN the long periods OF
applause accorded him by the stu
dents. A generation ago. Pauldlns
blazed into dramatic renown IN the
role OF Polonius playing an eNclu
sive Shakesperian company Win
Edwin Booth. Sothern and MarloWe-
For years following the Shakesper-
ian revival his name was head
liner IN theatrical circles. When Jo-
seph jefferson. well known pro
ducer, staged a dramatic version or
the Rivals" Paulding was leading
man. playing opposite Mrs John
Drew. premier dramatic character.
OF two decades ago, and mother OF
Ethel Barrymore. the screen actress.
in 1905. he retired from the stage
and took up Lecture work. travelling
ali over this country and Europe on
an educational tour.
Zach Period Distinctive.
Each period of literature said
the lecturer, Introducing the char
acters Of the play" IS distinctive and
should be viewed as such. Modern
rendit!ons OF famous old dramas
have seldom been successful or at
tractive because they have been all
tered 10 conform with modern Gus
toms and ideas
Producers who make gallant old
courtiers OF a century ago, act Ike
q modern business man are tOre-
doomed 20 failure. Imagine the old
gentlemen OF days gone by coming
on the stage with their three-cor-
nered hats. and their silks and ruf-
flies. with rapier in hand. and walk
ing with the manner of a consump-
tive. II Is no wonder we have not
any taste of appreciation 70: the old
masterpieces
Full OF Humor.
THE Rivals IS "a play of Just this
sort. which too often has been treat
ed IN just this fashion. II is brlm
full Of humor, pathOs, human nature,
and even fantasy. yet modern thea
ters show 10 as a production, antique.
and obsolete. which ought 60 have
been buried o years. The fault is IN
the presentation, not the Llay.
cor the characters OF the play
with whom everybody is familiar
whether he has read the novel or no,
Sir Anthony Absolute is perhaps the
most popular. Everybody has seen
the old man who is never more cas-
liz lead than when he has his own
way. as he whimsically puts -. The
pretentious Mistress Malaprop IS
quite standard type among the So
cial elm bers She is best described
by her own peculiarities. which are
demonstrated when she expresses
great joy at the proposition of her
daughters marriage, which she mis-
calls proposition The other leading
character is quite famous for his
diagnosis OF the Ills OF his day,
which he laid 70 the teaching of
girls 70 read.
sir Lucius O'Trega, thar bland
nrishman. a true representative OF
the Irish gentleman. is immortalized
IN his own words. Tn so poor.
cannot afford 70 do a dirty trick
MI Paulding's thrilling reproduc-
tion OF these men really filled out
the actors description of the char
acters. a credit to his dramatic abil-
ity which Is still at its apex. and aa
honor 10 Sheridan's unrivalled crea-
tive genius