The Washington herald., 1921-02-21
SHAKESPEARE To LIVE
ON AMERICAN STAGE.


ON AMERICAN STAGE.
Shakespeare will always find
place on the American stage" said
OF the art Of the immortal bard, as
he discussed the defiant vitality of
the plays of Shakespeare In the
temporary home Julia Marlowe. his
wife. and he are occupying In II
street northwest.
AT present Mantell, Hampden
and Liebler are all presenting
Shakespeare" he continued. 'the
last named with great success at
the Lexington Avenue Opera House,
New York. Then Lionel and Jack
barrymore are to essay Shakespeare
and II is this continual advent of
now artists that will always create
an interest In the bard's works.
Again. new generations are grow
formance new faces, that have
never witnessed Shakesperean pro-
duction. This is noticesbly so
among the young people who at
tend the theater."
|, Sothern has been busted with
preparations for leaving here with
York. There he will gather their
company together and sail for Eng
land March 22. In England they
will secure new costumes and seem
cry and return to America in time
to open their season in October.
The two artists will present four.
plays this coming winter, Sothern
said, including Twelfth Night"
The Tanning of the Shrew" and a
revival Of THE Merchant of Venice"
MAKES CAREFUL STUDY
OF PERIOD COSTUMES.
"As to faithfully producing the
costumes of Shakespeare's charac-
ters. that is one of the objects of
my visit abroad said Sothern. "As
a rule critics pay little attention to
this feature of a production ex-
cept to mention it in a small way.
While the majority of an audience
may not know whether the cast has
been faithfully and accurately
dressed according to the period of
the play, still there are always
some persons among the spectators
! who may have made a study of the
art, and who show their apprecia-
tion by writing letters to the pro-
of his efforts.
at is hardly probable that the
Bard of Avon would recognize
his own creation should he happen
in on a modern production of "A
Midsummer Nights Dream or The
Tempest for that modern presenta-
tion. with its elaborate stage ef-
fects, wealth of costuming and
colorful scenery is a far cry from
the rude stage Of the time Of good
Queen Bess.'
"The purist may sigh for a re-
turn to Shakespeare as he was
played in the open air theater in
! Seventeenth century London. as
has been attempted by modern
companies such as the Ben Greet
players, but It may be safely said.
that IL the question were submitted
to a vote of theatergoers the poll
would be overwhelmingly in favor
of the elaborate presentation OF
the modern stage.
It may be greater art to leave
more to the imagination than does
our modern stage manager, yet.
after all. most of us go to the thea
ter to forget the practical things
of life and we do not want to be
Tefnlnueu VI lucu pS
we must exercise our magination
to make up the deficiencies in the
work Of the play producer.
WAR LEAVES MARK
ON PRODUCTIONS TODAY.
The war has left it's influence on
the stage. Sothern pointed out.
Regarding the apparent inactiv-
ity of Justin Mccarthy, Anthony
Hope and other well-known Eng
lish playwrights and novelists of the
romantic school in whose plays
have appeared" said Sothern, they
have done little for the stage since
the war Mccarthy has written
several novels.
Everyone suffered from the har-
rowing effects of war by the loss
of some immediate member of the
family or a dear friend. and though
many of the playwrights no doubt
gathered excellent material from the
war the tragic memories it brings
forth has undoubtedly induced them
to avoid the theme In writing plays
or novels"
Mr.. and Mrs Sothern have been
looking for a permanent home in
Washington. but so far their efforts
have been unsuccessful. They have
been living here quietly for some
time, and spend q great part of the
day in taking long walks or visit
ing old friends. F. w. q.