Shakespeare in Performance: Stage Production

King John (1889, Herbert Beerbohm Tree)

Description

A review published in the Saturday Review (21 Sept. 1889) describes the actors as such: "[Tree's] presentation of a very different Shakespearian character is fresh in all memories. Tall and gaunt, with a rather colourless face, thin light beard, and wandering eyes, he represented well the anxious claimant of a crown not by his right. Next in interest to Mr Tree's King John is undoubtedly the Arthur of Miss Norrey's, whose success is complete. She looked the part to perfection, and spoke her lines admirably. Mr Macklin as Philip, the bastard, deserves to be spoken of with respect, if without enthusiasm. Few actors could do all that the part requires; Mr Macklin does a great deal. Miss Amy Roselle, too, deserves praise, but not unreserved praise. With regard to the remaining characters, it is only necessary to mention the admirable elocution and dignified bearing of Mr Kemble as Pandulph, and Mr Brookfield's clever little character sketch of Robert Faulconbridge. There was some defective elocution among the minor characters, one or two of whom were at times almost unintelligible, but the acoustic properties of the Crystal Palace Theatre probably leave something to be desired, and if Mr Tree ever finds it advisable, as we hope he may, to produce King John at the Haymarket, these little shortcomings will, no doubt, be remedied."

Performance Chronicle Gatekeeper — Added 2011-06-17

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