THE ASCHE-BRAYTON SEASON.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1574, 18 October 1912, Page 6

THE ASCHE-BRAYTON SEASON.

"MERCHANT OF VENICE." "Tho Jlerchant of Venice," a comedy by William Shakespeare. CastDuke of Venice J. Fritz Jlusscll Princo of Morocco Herbert Griinwood Antonio It. I!, llignett fiassanio Frederic Worlock Salanio Alfred liristowe Salarino Norman Ilarle Gratia 110 It. Lan Penny Salerio .- Gerard Wiltshire Lorenzo Alexander Onslow Wi.ylock .... Oscar AscJie rubat Caleb l'orter Launcolot Qobbo ]t. y. Anson Old Gobbo Arthur Trautom. Ifalthazar Cecil Kingslcy Stephano llayford Ilobbs J.ort'a Lily Braytou fcerissa. EI f rid a- Clement Jessica Olive Noble he Jlerchant of Venice" belongs to the maturing epoch of the art of Shakcperiod of his great comedies and histories. The deeper- tragediesHamlet," '-'Othello," "Lear," "Macbeth" —-came years later, and represent tho dramatist of all dramatists at tho zenith of his literary pjnturily,.which would appear to indicato that the toll of years had not a little to do with Shakespeare's mental outlook as far as his work was concerned. Tho marvellous old comedy of which the world never (ires, and which was produced by the Aselie-Brayton Company at. the Opera House last evening, before an audience which packed every seat and yard of stnnding room in tho building, was written in 15!)4, and was produced soon alter tho company la which Shakespeare himself belonged had been taken under (lie protection. of Lord llunsdon (Lord Chamberlain); and it was in that year Queen Elizabeth commanded the-company to appear _ before her at Greenwich. At this juncture it is . said ' that Shakespeare became cognisant of the money there was in the business, and that he was just as eager to amass wealth as latter-day managers. If for a moment this can be admitted, it must at tli© same timo bo conceded that the taste of tile public of those days was infinitely superior to what it is to-day, for in "The Jlerchant of Venice" there is a world of poetry and romancc to idealiso the old Florentine tiilo in' happy contrast to the sordidness of Shylock's liato and contemplated revenge. It is in tho drawing of.this character—ono which has' been used as ft term of opprobrium against the Jew for ages—that Shakespeare is said to have "played down to the popular taste," for it is on record that the Jew of Elizabethan days in England was held 111 some contempt, and that any lampooning of the children of Israel 011 tho-stage was vastly enjoyed. So much , was this so that Shylock was originally played as a low comed.\\ - part by some actors, which hardly conformed to the sentiments of Shakespeare himself, who recognised in the Israelite a fellow human being endowed with the same faculties and feelings as others. The character must be written down as complex, and was' probably drawn so as a compromise between the. public taste and Shakespeare's sentiment. He can be made revengeful and remorseless—a. ghoul by one reading, yet by a subtle change-of habit —subtle -alterations of habit, inflection and emphasis, Shylock can be represented as a dignified and pathetic figure in the centre of a jeering throng. Then, too, he has been presented as quite a comical character, though of this reading we know-little 111 this part of tho world. Mr. Otis Skinner, tho popular Amorican actor, is said "to have reverted to- Elizabethan standards, anil made Shylock (1 buffoon. Sir Henry Irving always had the sympathies of the audience with him. Such was his power to.command .'sympathy, that,.'willy-nilly,, Antonio, Baseanio, and the others appeared as archplotters and agreement-breakers to the aggrieved Jew. Irving mado Shylock very old, with shuffling feet, and a broken voice, and it is said that he often shed real tears at tho discovery of Jessica's heartless desertion, and after the strict Court of Venice not only refuses to recognise his claim 011 Antonio's flesh, but confiscates his entire estate, one can imagine the broken old won tottering forth to die of a broken heart in an unfeeling world." In contrast to Irving, there have been Shyloeks whose deliberate aim has been to create laughter, contempt, and derision. That great gulf in conception represents the clashing of the Shakespearean and Elizabethan idea, and is indubitable evidence that tho dramatist wrote ahead of his time—for all time..

, Of last evening's production there can only be one opinion—it was superb. Jlr. Aseho is a master in stage elaboration, and an artist in seeing Shakespeare's scant instruction as to scenes with a vividly imaginative eye. His daring was evidenced in tlie first scene, where he places the house of Shylock full in tho centre of tho stage, and departing from all traditional custom enacts the first sceno with Bassanio and Antonio as 110 squats within tho open'shutters, full in tho orange glow of Italian sunshine conning over his deeds and bonds. Yet the scene so set does not mar the stage picture. To the right is a narrow stone close

A,-pically Italian, and to the left a glimjise of tho canal, spanned by q characteristic Venetian bridge, and in the background a great mansion, whose redtiled roof contrasts strikingly with the pure azure of. soft Italian skies.- Portia's palace at Belmont is another luxurious set, stately and refined in character. To Jlr. Aschc's ideas, and Mr. Joseph Harker's fine brush, we mako obeisance.

Tho performance—as , apart from the production, too, was interesting. Tlio' honours were easily carried oil by Miss Lily Brayton, whoso I'ortia will- long be held in sweet remembrance. Tho winning charm ,of her-person, no less than her personality, graced every scene. She. was graceful and womanly in the pretty casket scene, dramatically convincing in tlio court scene, where she aped the young man deliriously, and roguishly spirited in the final scene concerning the missing rings. A fault, if one might call it such, was the strenuously dramatic reading of the famed "mercy specch in court.. Instead of infusing the full meaning of tho beautiful lines, so nobly philosophic in character, she stormed at Shylock at the full pitch of her dramatic power, wjith little regard to light and shade, instead of appealing as a subtle son of the law. She was at her best in the love scenes with Bassanio, where she thoroughly realised the chime of Shakespeare's music. .Mr. Asche was an incongruous Shvlock— an interpretation apart from any we have yet seen in this part of the world, and yet one which is in accord with tho earliest traditions in that lie created laughter where pathos. is usually imjjarted, and cveu in the court sccnc, where Uic ferociousness of the Jew's hatred usually holds an audience enthralled, the actor induced sbnie peals of the merriest laughter with his great shoulder shrugs and interjections. All through the part his intention was obviously to create loathing, as instance. his smacking of Jessica, and in the court, scene his introduction of a rabble trained .to . hiss and deride his every action.' Mr. H. R. Hjgnctt was plaintively sympathetic as Antonio, and Mr. Frederic Worlock, who acts a' handsome t figure as Bassanio, made love very prettily with a firm grip on his manhood. Another excellent performance was that of Mr. Herbert Grinnvood, as tho Prince, of Morocco, striking in make-up and habilanient, and discreetly dramatic throughout his one (the casket) scene. Mr. R-. Fi Anson made a delightful Launcelot Gobbo, and Mr. R. Lan Penny a racy Gratiauo. Tubal's lines were sadly cut, but in the part Mr. Caleb Porter stood out ,as a characteristic figure. ' Miss Elfrida Clement made a sprightlv Nerissa,. Miss Olive Noble a pretty Jessica. During the performance Mr. l\ Uardic sang a charming setting of the song, "Oh. Live With Me and . Be My Love," by Mr. F: Wynne Jones, au.l Miss Lilinn Birtles sang "Tell Mo Where is Fancy Bred," by Mrs. .Alsop. It is announced that there are still some central seats left in the reserved stalls for this evening's performance, which may bo hcokod nt the Dresden. Two hundred stalls tickets at 'Is. each will be on snle to-day at ChristeSon's, and at tho theatre doors. At tlio niatinee on Saturday afternoon children will be admitted at half-price to all parts.