New-York tribune., 1922-12-22

Launcsioi Gobbo. .Psrcival vivian
Dll nopoo. .s.ss..ss..... =. ~ olleI MtlnHn
Ialtha-Af. ...--....-.. :. ShAflea hafbuf1
stsphsno. Edward n. Wcvsr
Leonardo. .-+.....-....s-.- Edward Crsndau
a Jester ..-..ss..sss.....Wa Warde DC Wolfe
clerk OF the Court .s...s.-.,. .fStck Ions
a Ducal Mes-cngcr.. Henry Brown
fortla- ....-.- .....--........ MARY herNotl
Nerlssa. -..-. .-........-....... Mary Elli,
IT IS hard TO decide this morning
which Is the news Of last nights
ceremonies at the Lyeeum-Mr. War
fields Shyloek or Mr.. Belsseos "Mer-
chant Of Venice" Each was notable in
its way. the production" for It's rich,
hypnotic pictures; the performance Of
the jew for its eloquent II at times
limited impersonation. Both were
stimulating 70 the spectators, from
whom Gt frequent intervals mighty
waves Of sound poured forth. The
least that may be said II tbo enter
3rise is that Il was q fne emulation
of the longings OF its chief partici-
pants, worthy capstone set upon the
careers Of two Of the stages most
sentimental and most devoted celobri-
ties.
Mr wArheld's venture was the more
periious. For generation he has been
clarifying the wholesome hokums Of
the theater by his irresistible char
acterizations. His plays have been
rsmshaekle medioerities, almost as
loose and wandering In manner as is
The Merchant Of Venice; and much
less portentous. He has accumulated
habits Of expression in that time
which cling TO the memory Of his nu-
merous audience. Who can forget the
III you don't want her ! don't want
herl" outburst in The Music Mas
terri
Therefore Ee we're q little fearful
last night at the Lyeeum when Mr..
Wsrfeld's Shyloek began 20 inquire
"Hath not a Jew eyes?' We were ap-
prehensiye that that great epitome Of
the medieval jews resentment and
disconsolation would be diluted in its
effectiveness by remembrance Of Herr
Barwig or the Auetioneer. II Was
not so, however. On the contrary, We
felt that we never had really read
those lines ourself or heard them
spoken by other actors, so different
and more potent did they seem 70 be in
! Mr.. Warfeld's earnest uttersnee Of
them. Now that We are distant from
the Lyceum we recall the similarities.
In that episode Mr.. warheld GER
tainly justified his aspiration to act
Shylock. He did It elsewhere, too,
when to the stated traditions Of the
role he applied his great facility FOR ex-
pressive detail He seemed last night
70 be A Jew rather than The Jew, which
many players have sought TO approx.
mate. His impersonation was individual
rather than a type, an incident Of the
racial spite and hatred that sometimes
separate Jew from Gentle, and which
was 90 conspicuous Q feature Of the ia
natical medieval life.
There are no more minutes at pres
Ont in which TO write Of Dir. Warheld'G
shyloek. but II should be said that he
seems 10 show the Venetian jew in
every geEture-the slipshod walk, the
occasionally upturned palms, the angry
snarl Of the Jew in the days when his
hand was against every man and every
mans against him. We give you, ai
an instance Of finished histrionism, Mr.
WarGeld's pantcmime in the court
scene when Portia whispers heI
schemes to the Duke Of Venice. Mr.
Wsrheld 10 not the most imposing Of
the shyloeks, Wit majestic stride and
eloeution, but we think. the most salts.
factory. He makes shylock a human
being, rather than a spectator.
Mr.. Belaseo's counterfeit OF the
scenes Is rich, and seldom fussy. It Il
a more retieent spectacle than most o.
the other remembered productions o.
the comedy, and surely more expires
sive. lie gives you Venice, sun-AeekeC
and shadow-strieken, and always ful
Of movement and color, with the linei
Of is stately architecture outlined
against an Italian sky. The garden q
Belmont is uneoneeivably beautiful a
an example Of its kind; and all the pic
lures are as perfect as such spurious
things can possibly be. Mr.. Belssc'
said last night that Miss Mary servoss
playing Portis. was q good soldier
since she undertook the role though
IN with tonsilitis and a temperatur'
Of lO2. Mr.. Philip Merivale was in
gratiating in the part Of the NEAR
u...,~so. and fhoro Wero revora