Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-10-19
AM USE M ENTS
GARRICK-"M Merchant of Venice. ="

A memorable Characterization of
Shylock that will furnish new
standard for the future was given by
Walter Hampden in his prese ntation
of THE Merchant of Venice" at the
Shubert-Garrick Theater last night.
Comparisons with past interpreter
tons are invidious; the new Shake
speare era which has opened has
found in Mr.. Hampden a Shylock of
! majesty and power. albeit one in
which no sentimental regard for a
great race has allowed the master
! actor to gloss over the fundamental
Wolhshness of the character as drawn
by the master dramatist.
The infinite pathos of Shylock and
the tragedy which dogs him as surely
OF flesh that makes his fate deserved
are splendidly brought out by Mr..
Hampden in the course of the play.
| The actor makes Shylock a human,
breathing creature. an old man
| Knocked and scorned. whose life has
been ruined both by his innate dis
position and the harassing he has
| received at the hands and tongues of
his neighbors. In doing this. how
; ever. he does not allow the real Shy
| lock to be overshadowed. nor permit
the laughter loving Jessica to be
Scorned as a light creature, when her
rebellion against her father was only
natural Mr.. Hampden is a master in
his delivery of blank verse, as well as
in his emotional handling of situa-
| tons which may easily be spoiled by
the slightest OVERRIDING. These quail
ties he demonstrated to the full in
! the scene with his friend Tubal Here
he brought forth the real Shylock la
menting his daughter and his ducats
in a breath. and sorrowing over one
as much as the other.
In the famous court scene MIR.
Hampden was at his best. The steady
determination of the Jew" To have
his pound of Antonio's flesh was as
real as his cringing attitude when he
was outwitted by Portia, and realized
that the cards had been stacked
against him by his Christian judges
and foes. Though there may be some
difference of opinion as to this change.
there can be little doubt that this is
in harmony with the character
throughout. for Shylock was meyer
fool. and even in utter defeat was
willing to save what he might from
his universal ruin.
The utter stateliness of Shake
Speare's verse was seldom heard to
better advantage than in the be-
trotha1 scene between Porta and
Bassanio. Miss Mary Hall, as Portia
rose to splendid heights of emotion in
the delivery of Portals vows to her
SANTOS fortunate selection of the
| lead casket. In the court scene Miss
/ Hall made a strutting lawyer. well in
keeping with the Shakespearean in
| tent. Miss Elsie Herndon Kearns, as
| Nerissa, has pleasing face and much
ability. while Mona Morgan. as Shy
| locks daughter. handles the role in
| capable fashion. which will make her
role of Juliet eagerly awaited
I William Sauter gave a convincing
| characterization of the aloof merchant
| of Venice. always a character too good
to be true. Ernest Rowan. as the
Prince of Morocco. brought out the
splendor of the verse, and left at -the
dark fellow who could utter such fine
thoughts in such lovely phrasing. The
cast which supported Mr.. Hampden
was splendidly balanced. no marring
note being interjected to spoil the
evening. In much the same fashion
the scenery was staged, with curtain
backgrounds not obtruding upon the
general realistic effect. Short inter-
missions made the play move with
pleasing rapidity
Others in, the splendid cast are AL
len Thomas. j. Harry Irvine (Bas-
sanio), Edwin Cushman Arthur Fox.
Hannah Clark. Richard Abbott. P. ].
Kelly, Leroi Operti. Roy Bucklee.
sara Haden. Meta Sund erland, Ge-
neva Harrison and Richard Highley.
The Merchant of Venice" is to be
given again Wednesday and Saturday
evenings Hamlet" tonight and Satur-
day matinee; THE Tanning of the
| Shrew," Thursday matinee. and
Romeo and Juliet" Thursday and Fri
day evenings.