Evening star., 1922-12-12
NATIONAI-Warfeld as Shy.
lock-


/ back the pages of old Father Times
| prompt book and reveal the poetic
| slories of another day. The pubic
| says. We like you as you are. why
venture into ways with which we are
| unfamiliar. and into which we must
! follow you. even though with trust
full loyalty. still with much missiv-
| ing" Eut genius loves to pay trl-
butte as we'll as to receive it and no
| actor whose art is associated itself
with thoughtful expression is salts,
! fed until hc has made public aNoWai
! of the sentiment that is in his heart.
reverence for his Shapespeare:
That u player so distinguished as
! Mr.. Warheld should insist on
paying the homage OF the artist TO
| the name which represents the great
! est inspiration % the English speak .
| Ing theatcr was inevitable. and that
! MIR. Bclasro should apply his great
est resources to an enterprise link :
/ ing his name with the most splendid
| traditions of the stage Is hut nor
NAL incident of so DISTINGUISHED a
career. The tribute is ull the greater
| because II would have been so easy
for both BeIasco and Warfield TO
| so on season after season in secure
! artistic fame and comfortable re-
ward without challenging the criti-
| cism which Invariably addresses IT
self to any endeavor which requests
"a new viewpoint in considering a
| favorite artist.
| Those who attended the initial produc-
ton Of The Merchant OF Venice" last
| night. under the Belasco banner. at the
National rheater. gave by their enthusi-
astic applause. repeated to the inevitable
! point of compelling speech from both
/ the principals in this lons-heralded on
|terprise. proof that to their taste at least
| the venture has been wonderfully sue
cessfui; The honors were fairly evenly
divided between the producer ard the
actor. the former reaping the plaudits
of repeated approval Of the splendor
and characteristically finished setting
and the latt.r scoring the greatest tri-
, umph of his career.
from those Of the long line of eminent
predecessors insistentIy demanding COM
parison. Lacking the stature OF the
usual portrayer Of the role, lacking also
the customary resonance OF voice. this
Shylock is perforce an impersonation of
truthfully say that it is not a convinc-
io,; Sh!lock. 1t is. indeed. convincing
to the point OK commanding sympathy
in even the least worthy o. the emotions
who have seen his Music Master and
his Peter Grimm" Mr. Warac!i last
night was somewhat reminiscent of both.
To those to whom he is ,lewcome--
II there were any present-icre was
Shylocls of hitherto unknown type.
! MIR. Warf1eld always reads his lines
with the keenest Intelligence and with
the most acute appreciation of dra
matte shadings. Not in a long time
! has he been called upon. however. for
such a wide range. He invested the
character with dignity. He rose to
supreme heights in mis- rage. his grief
and his malevolence. He abased it to
the depths in his sorrow and his
shame. His craft was subtle. his ha
tired was racially true.
To sum the Characterization, David
!, WarfiSd's Shy!ock was sincerely hu-
man. the work Of a commanding per-
sonality gifted with a supreme dra-
matte talent.
True 70 his standa rds OF dramatic
completeness, Mr.. Belasco has given
his star 4 GratifyiEeiy capable sup
port and artistic setting. He has
flied the stag" with people. clothed
them i'll the mos, glowing rolors and
the richest fIbrics. constructed tho
III" action with the most realistic
details Of accessory materials. Rare
] ly has any stage held a more attract
| i've series Of pictures than those that
mont The list of accredited contrib
I! utors printed in the program shows a
search far afeld for the physical
! items OF the production, IS far indeed
las Venice Itself. And with arpro-
pirate artistry the play closes with n
scene that for actual !ovelinesS of
, color. light and form has never been
surpassed on the American stage.
! possibly never on any other.
In the company are several new
, comers and some who are familiar.
Mary Servoss. one of the former. pre-
sen,s a Portia differing. as does the
Shylock of Mr.. Warfield. in many re-
spects from that Of her forerunners
in the role. She is a happier. more
volatile Port!a than many others.
,ith a reserve OF dignity that serves
admirably in the trial scene. She
reads her speeches with precision and
with delightful expression. She wins
her audience as she Won her numcr-
Gus suitors.
Thilip Merivale. as Bassanio, errs
somewhat on the sober side. Cor
strung tho coCtaEion Of Antorio's :
j grief as affecting himself throuShoui
the pia,. ;Ic addresses Por:ia with an
In the casket scene he is admirable.
especially /, his deliberation ot
choice. which is protracted to a po!;::
that In less capable hands would he
dangerous. bu; III his becomes dra :
matte achievement
! istactory Antonio. suitbaly melai =
cholY and dignifed. Horace Brahain.
as Lorenzo. enl!vens his scenes Wit
q vigorous ard juvenile spirit. II
remains. however. for Walter Per
c;val. as Gratiano. Of those who sur
round the unhappy merchant. to score
distinctly. winning an emphatic ap-
proval in the first act with his vivac-
ity and his reading.
From the long list OF the support it
is Impossible without undue dlscrin-
inaticn to mention others. save the
charming Mary Ellis. as Nerissa, and
Julia Adler, as Jessica. and the mirth- :
compelling J.auncelot Gobbo of p.
Vivian and the counterfeit of the ell
der Gobbo Of Fuller Mellish. There
is no weakness anywhere In the cast.
Experimental as was such an un-
! dertaking. 1t has proved successful.
Mr.. Warfield has proved himself ca
pa Bile Of Shakespeare. and one Won
ders where in this field the next step
will lead. The choice Of possible roles
! would seem to be limited. but. as his
shylock proves, It is unsafe to ques-
ton his possibilities. AS for Mr.. Be
lasco, he has demonstrated that he
! can give Shakespeare a presentation
that satisfies every taste but that OF
the morbid impressionists. who de-
mand angles and cubes. and who de-
ride accessories as lumber.
B. F. KEITH'S-Belle Baker.
-r,. on NOR cen. of the vaudeville