Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-03-09
ADJUSTMENTS


Concluding a week rich in drama,
color, comedy and all the good things
that Shakespeare has to offer when in
terpreted by artists of the first caliber
and having the benefit Of an unusually
close association with the spirit Of the
man himself, the Stratford- Upon-Avon
players dropped the final curtain upon
Macbeth" last night amidst q storm Of
applause that recalled them half dozen
times before the audience packing the
National Theater to the doors was con-
tent to bid them q reluctant farewell
Washington was indeed fortunate in
having had the privilege of entertaining
and being entertained by this remark
able English troupe, each one of whom
is more than an interpreter Of roles-a
student of the man Shakespeare and of
his works from the vantage point of his
own home town. They brought with
them living characters in . reawaken-
ed sixteenth century.
without q shadow Of Q doubt, we
were privileged to witness the perform
ance Of the greatest living Macbeth In
Wilfred Walters Interpretation of the
title role. He brings to 1t more IRE,
more pathos, more pitiable weakness
than any other we can name. Nor does
he fail for a moment to blend with this
that quality Of desperate physical cour-
age In the face of actual bodily danger
to contrast sharply with the mental and
moral Quailing that makes him seem so
weak and human a thing beside the
cruel ruthleSSness Of his lady during the
mediation to the initial crime
Fabia Drake reaches splendid heights
In the Sleep-walking scene which so re-
veals the guilty soul Of Lady Macbeth
OF course, there Is one thing that Is
missed, 1t Is the drama of seeing her
actually descending the stairs, candle in
hand, with perhaps no sound other than
her sleep-drugged breathing In this
production, Lady Macbeth appears first
after she has descended.
Lighting and scenic effects are artistic
to the last word, and one feels they
have been reproduced with extreme care
for the authenticity of minute details
The banquet scene will long linger in
the memory Of those who saw the
strange and bloody apparition Of the
slain Banqo glide to his seat and then
away, TO reappear, q wierd, Rhostly
Inquire, IN the paneling above the kings
chair. G. r. r
Midsummer Nights Dream"
An audience that packed every seat
and lined the rails at the back of the
orchestra with standees, hailed the
ford -on-Avon Players with shouts Of
laughter at the National Theater yes
teroay afternoon. This last scene, the
comic presentation by the group Of
mechanics" of the tragedy of 'Pyra-
mus and ThiSbe," seemed q Shakes
pearean equivalent Of the present-day
Wild West Show that follows the circus
proper. 1t was q riotous piece Of
Glowing. consistent and excrutiatingly
funny. Preluded by the strains of the
wedding march and the entrance Of the
three couples so happily romantic. and
followed by the unearthly charm OF
and their spreading of good will
through the household OF these lovers,
the comedy stage was excellently set
by that master playwright Of them all.
Puck. convincingly interpreted by
Godfrey Wilkinson, appropriately had
the last words to speak to the audience
before the curtain. People fingered at
the end Of this, as at the other per-
formanceS which this admirable COM
pany has presented In Washington this
week.
AL the roles Of the play proper were
pleasingly cast. Wilfred Walter doFl1i-
mated the stage when he was on 1t in
the role of Theseus. Similarly, Noel
Him was a dominant personality as
oberon when he was speaking his lines.
Mary Holder was a lovely Titantia and
the Hernia and Helena of Dorothy
Francis and Joyce Bland showed In
individual fashion the skill of Shakes
peare in delineating the smallest traits
OF woman's character and mental at
titude as well as those of men. Roy
Byford was q boisterous Bottom" and
his scene while wearing the ASS head
was priceless. Jack Bligh also made
the most Of his impersonation of Thisbe
in the playlet. In fact, as In the other
productions, at all times the entire cast
showed individual worth and splendid
cooperation and finish in their train
Ing. The settings and costumes were
delightful and the whole production
sped through its many scenes with