New-York tribune., 1921-05-22

"HeH nARs OF all the nations -.
flown over Stratford.
Heretofore cordiality for tu.r,.
Shakespearians has been shown nv ~.
hearty welcome they receive At st...
ford. 1t is possible that in tbs 80,
this cordiality will be extended b,
visit to the United States of the NJ
Shakespeare Company, which ura..
the direction of W. Bridges-As,,.
and the general direction of Sir Joh,
ston Forbes-Robertson, is plsyino :.
the stratford Memorial Theater
This possible tour" said ~.
Bridges-Adams, "seems to me mo,.
than a theatrical business yepturs
important as it is in that ree.,s
feel that my company will be an en-.
bassador Of friendship, streugtb.,.
ing the bonds that unite the lovers !,
Shakespeare in England and Americ.n u
The coal strike and threatened r.a.
way strike interfered only little win
the attendance at the festival Thu
village was full of visitors, and ths
little theater could have been sold os,
half a dozen times. Owen Wistsr and
A. E. Thomas were expected to Ne
guests of honor, but the strike had
driven them 20 the Continent.
The festival began in q new va,
opening on the birthday itself instssS
of on the Monday of the week in which
it fell. Consequently it did not mark
time" for several days, as in former
years, but started off vigorously md
in splendor.
Seven plays form the repertory Of
the four-week season: antony and
Cleopatra," the novelty Of the festi-
val; "The Merry Wives Of Windsor
Richard III" GAS You Like Tt,' 'saac.
BETH" "a Midsummer Nights Dream"
and Ca new departure. the FIRST step
beyond the confines of Shskespesrs)
THE School for Scandal"
There are several quite novel fea-
lures in the presentation Of Antony
and Cleopatra" Mr. Bridges-Adams
said. "This is the first modern public
performance that l know about which
presents the scenes in the sequence in
which they are written. Other per-
formances have rearranged the scenes
or fused them into starting new ones.
The Stratford production gives them
in their true order.
Implicit in the lines of the play
is the constant suggestion OF Cleo
patra's ingrained and Unsuitable amor
BUSINESS, that reached out even to the
Nubian slave in the first interview,
have never seen this brought oat On
the stage; usually this side is frst
shown when she allows the messenger
from Rome to be familiar, but the
text is incontrovertible and / am pro-
ducing it that way.
"Then, too, have retained the scene
in which the treasurer tells the triuri-
phant Caesar that Cleopatra had made
a false inventory of her possessions
and has kept some of her jewels back
l. is generally omitted, | believe, BE-
cause it is supposed to weaken The
final effect of nobility in the death
scene. l keep it, however, because II
shows, as Shakespeare intended 1t 70
show, that Cleopatra was courtessn
to the last. Also, in its demand tor
baff1ed anger and Indignation the scene
gives the actress the opportunity for
another note, and it serves to break
the pathetic tension of the last act
Mr.. Bridges-Adams has evolved some
new business for Richard III" that Is
being much discussed. In the scene OF
the council chamber, from which Rleh'
ard, by a false charge, sends Ioro
Hastings to an unexpected death, Ricn'
ard and his ally, Buckingham, remain
alone on the stage. Richard is plsc'
ing the furniture in careful disorder
so that it shall appear that Hastings
attacked him, thus giving weight "
the lying accusation. At the same Sims
he is munching the strawberries whlen
he has mischievously asked the bisnop
to bring him. The fall Of the Ak 10
heard. Richard winks at Buckingham
crosses himself mockingiy, and g0sS
on with the strawberries.
Mr.. Bridges-Adanls regards the MAY
ter of "cuts" differently from many
producers.
ST keep all the scenes and play them
in their proper sequence. l make NJ
cuts that weaken the dramatic actioh
or make the story unintelligible. my
method is one of shipping cutting
out lines here and there, shortening
speeches that are not vital and reduc-
ing the less essential dialogue.
"My aim in the New Shakespeare
Company is to maintain a company that
shall play continually in London, Stfs'-
ford and America, with company
touring the Provinces. I believe that
Shakespeare can be made to pay, ou'
it must be done in the grand manner
not ssnothered by scenery or bent 10
a star, but played on beautiful stage
by actors with beautiful voices ana
heroic personalities"
In the audience of the birthday PSF
formance were Sir Sidney Lee, the oi-
ographer of Shakespeare and one OF