Evening star., 1933-11-08

Tributes to Edward H. Sothern, whose
death has removed one Of the acknowl-
edged great figures of the stage, are
accompanied by suggestions that in his
last days he witnessed the revival of
public interest in the romantic phase of
drama, to which he had devoted so
many years of artistic and enthusiastic
service.
HE was of the day Of giants. whose
like may not be seen again" thinks the
Miami Daily News, observing that "our
times seem less propitious to full flower
ing in any such specialized field as that
in which Sothern built his career" The
Daily News adds that mot many are
willing, for the promise OF being re-
membered as contributors to the art OF
the theater in. say, Shakespearean rep
ertoire, to stick uncompromiSingly to 1t
against the clamor for work OF lower
standard and higher material compen-
sation." The Scranton Times, recall
ing that che won fame as romantic
actor" and that "over many years his
name alone was enough to attract ca
pacity audiences in any city Of the
country" adds that "juSt before the
turn of the century he came into great
ness and popularity, position which
he held until his retirement"
Observing that "the romantic and the
oratorical temperaments are akin" and
that when either temperament works
its spell the hearer is literally trans
ported" the Cincinnati Times-Star de-
clares that sit was the great, the beau
tiful, the lonely gift of Edward Hugh
Sothern to introduce audiences TO that
experience" Recording the details Of
the actors experience, that paper adds.
Edward II. Sothern was perhaps, the
80. 1AN S.F l1fc ton
on the English speaking stage. AS
Hamlet he was highly intelligent, but
not a dominating figure. His Macbeth
was no less effective because 1t Verged
on IneIodranaa- When he and Julia
Marlowe were the Antony and Cleo
patra of Shakespeare's seldom given
tragedy curiously appealing perform
ance resulted. Their productions of
Romeo and Juliet and The Tanning Of
the Shrew' were memorable. In The
Prisoner of Zenda' and III / Were
King dramas of words and roses, Soth-
ern was still more at home; though 1t
goes back generation, his declama-
ton of those swinging lines, If Villon
were the King of France is the treas
ured recollection of thousands"
zone of his last appearances was in
What Never Dies" according to the
Rock Island Argus, which voices the
hope that "the type of acting ability
which was his will never die," and that
"he will have a successor to maintain
the high tradition" The Argus fears,
however, that I'VE shall never see his
like again" Designating character
and art" as the prime requisites in a
Thespian's makeup" the Toledo Blade
says "Sothern was endowed abundantly
with both" and observes that "other op-
portunities to enthrall critical audiences
yet remain to be graSped by the talented
hard workers in the profession"
He belonged to an era of good
manners, which, whatever its faults,
had much TO teach to its successors"
AYERS the New York Sun, while the
Atlanta Journal, recognizing zone Of
the longest, richest and brightest ca
reers III the annals OF the American
and the British stage" says this tribute
to his work: Shakespeare was the land
of his hearts desire, and he brought to
both the merrier and the mightter roles
a sure insight and beautifully finished
craftsmanship, the gift of nature and
the grace OF art Most priced, perhaps,
In the popular memory. is his Romeo
10 which Julia Mariowe played the star
crossed heroine. His work with Miss
Marlowe. whom he married in 1911, was
one of the peculiarly fortunate part
nerships OF the theatrical world. Fifty
years an actor. Sothern not only de-
lighted tEo generations of playgoers in
en- era OF rising and falling favorites,