The Birkenhead News and Wirral General Advertiser. — 1913-11-05 (Birkenhead, Merseyside, England)

THE TYPHOON." "East is east and West is west and never the twain shall meet," wrote Kipling, and a visit to the Shakespeare Theatre this week, where Mr. Laurence Irving is appearing in that remarkable play "The Typhoon," will confirm this truism. To the Western wind there is something ffeird, uncanny, and incomprehensible about the East. Its fascination, like that of the serpent; compels attention, accompanied by an almost physical repulsion. In "The Typhoon" the mainsprings and motives of the typical Asiatic mind are laid naked before us. We are shown, with startling clearness, the tremendous gulf which, in spite of civilisation, must always divide East from West. The callous indifference to death, the strength and attraction, as well as the innate cruelty and subtlety, the wonderful self-control, and the no less'wonderful pursuit of a definite I goal, in fact all the main characteristics of Eastern life, tinged with civilising in. tluence. are presented with a vividness and force which should sweep away the cobwebs of insular ignorance and blindness for ever,l and leave in their place an understanding and appreciation of the Eastern temperament such as only intelligent first hand observations could ever obtain. Melchior Lengyels "Tailon" has been translated from the Japanese, and dramatised by Mr. Laurence Irving himself with remarkable ingenuity and skill, for although the scene is laid in Paris, the atmosphere throughout is Eastern; with the exception of two European women, a writer and an artist, the characteristics are Japanese, while the plot depends almost entirely for its theme upon the all-consuming love of country for which the Japanese are so renowned. Takeramo, a doctor of letters, in residence in Paris, the head of the Japanese colony there is compiling information and knowledge invaluable to his mother country. Into his life, however, has crept a French actress, "Helene." He loves her, and though he does not realise it, she loves him. -Unfortunately for both, the Japanese authorities become aware of what is proceeding, and fearing that the great work will be endangered, command Takeramo, in the name of the Mikado, to give her up. He promises to do so, and in a scene of extraordinary power, attempts to do so. Startled out of herself, "Helene" shows her love and sweeps Takereato with her. Having gained the victory she turns upon him, and losing all control spends her passion upon him in vituperation and insulting abuse for so humiliating her. ' Throughout Takeramo keeps a tight rein upon himself, until in her last hysterical frenzy, she insults the Mikado, when with a cry of an angry, wounded animal, he springs upon her and strangles the life out of her in a few seconds. Of the coolsblooded • delight of his compatriots at this unexpected removal of the obstacle, the subsequent screening of Takeramo, the sacrifice • of a less important personage eager to serve his country in this way, and his work completed, the suicide of Takeramo, with the approval and help of his fellow Japanese, we need scarcely speak. Over all hangs the 6 inscrutable mystery -of the East, whichH leaves the Western mind only too fully conscions of the difference between them. Naturally for the presentation of such a subject, first-rate acting is essential and no words of our's can do justice to Mr. Laurence Irving's interpretation of Takeramo. From his first appearance, Japanese to his finger tips, in spite of hie-modern dress and invironment, to his last, when he solemnly prepares "to change his world," with all the ceremonial of •his Buddhist faith, he lived the part _with. an lintensity - and suggestion of suppressed emotion ,wonderful to behold. The quaint half-hesitating voice, the queer movements and gliding gait, the masklike face with its high cheek bones, mobile mouth and dazzling teeth, the icy smile and glittering eyes, lent to his interpretation such force that Monday evening's audience were held fascinated and spell-bound.  Helene." the only character, was played by Miss Mabel Hackney, and here Again true ant showed itself in her magnificent rendering of a character as complex and contrary salt could well 'be. In her final tornado, she was superb, and swept her audience with her to the end. As Renard, Mr. Weguelin was delightfully naive and outspoken, and in the.scene with Mr. Murray Carson as the investigating judge, scored a great success. Indeed, Mr. Carson and he both gave a welcome glimpse of humour which relieved the tension of the play, and was .much appreciated. The Japanese characters, of which there were many, were ably and thoughtfully inter,ireted, many being presented by actual Japanese. In conclusion, we may say, that the crowded audience which filled the Shakespeare Theatre on Monday night, received. more than they expected, a fact their thunderous applause obviously showed, and we an strongly recommend The Typhoon" as a play to be seen by all thoughtful students of the drama; our hearty congratulations to its author and interpreter.  man:  TWO 880 8 RECORD  M& pm sonrs REcoRDs.  EVZRY ARTIST OF =TB MAKES  RRCORDS FOR  FOSTE R'S, The Gramophone Specialiste, CHARING CROSS, 11, OiTON