Evening star., 1924-04-20


tho landscape of can
vas castles and lath-
proppcd forests, the landscape in
habitcd by butterflies OF the ballet
and birds of operate song.
If | mistake not" exclaimed Don
Caesar de Bazan. when reminded that
he had ducled in forbidden season,
Holy week began today The
playgoer hears an echo OF the
solemn warning. The traditional
influence of Holy week is still felt
IN theatrical entertainment. AL
though the old custom of permitting
actors to play at half salary, rather
than not play at all to the prospect
of depleted attendance, has been
abandoned. it marks the definite
boundary line where the theater's
claims to recognition as an indoor
sport must temporarily lapse. If it
IS to continue at all it must hold the
mirror up to nature and reflect the
blossoming outdoor moods.
x = = x
It was at this unpropitious juno
ture in affairs that the Sothern-
Marlowe company made its annual
visit. The popular attitude toward
their Shakespeare is so reverential
that it can be approached in a spirit
almost devout. The public was will
ing and eager to attend. Everything
was. as usual, all over except the
applause; a case in which welcome
to our city" figured as 4 trite
formality.
Then the slight accident happened
which shattered the weeks expecta-
tions like house of cards. Miss
Marlowe's foot slipped; there was
Sprain, and the public found the
program announcing only one stage
favorite instead of two. Mr..
g! Sothern met the situation with
! a frank Difference to the sentiment
(which SO justly clings about the
name of Julia Marlowe. Even If he
could on brief notice supply an
actress who would play the feminine
, roles satisfactorily, he could not
supply the attraction OF so dis
tinguished a name. So he refunded
money to as many purchasers i'll
advance as wanted 1t, and announced
that any who desired to do so might,
even after seeing the performance,
get their money back at the box
Office. Very few took advantage of
the latter offer. In one case two
very precise patrons, after thought
ful consultation, decided that while
the entertainment was an eminently
gratifying one, and in view of all the
mechanismS and rehearsals involved
even so great star as Miss Mar
lowe could not be regarded with
mathematical precision as so per cent
of the attraction, they ought to be
entitled to a third of their money
back. The terms were met with the
affable courtesy which distinguishes
a good box Office.
= :;
Mr.. Sothern never played better.
Miss Fair, who was intrusted with
he part of Juliet, absolutely dis
dained any effort to revive the stage
romance of the understudy who
leaps into fame at bound and
leaves her predecessor forgotten
rival. Her work was studiouS and
careful; candid i'll its acceptance OF
Miss Marlowe as model TO be fol-
lowed as closely as possible, ana
devoid OF any effort at original
spontaneities. 1t was no demonstra-
ton of personal initiative, but fine
example of strict professional de-
votion.
Perhaps there was little more
interest in Sothern's Romeo than
there was in his Hamlet. His Hamlet
is one of the institutions of the
stage; subject to curious diversities
of opinion, which can be accounted
Tor only on the theory that he does
not always play Hamlet the same
way. The opinion has long. been
held that he studies his audiences
and tries to give each community
the kind Of Hamlet adapted TO its
Iarticular intellectual needs. Tha:
he is a man of versatilities his career
has shown. AS one of the llghtest
of light comedians in Lord Chum-
lev" as IN exponent of mclodramatic
sentiment in prisoner of Zenda." as
q figure of poetic romance in IF |
Were King" and now for long
time an accepted interpreter of the
Great Shakcspearcan roles. he has
Eight to &c regarded as player. who