Theatre Production - 1902 Shakespeare Festival

Do English people really know that the latter half of each April sees a memorial festival, lasting two or three weeks, planned in honour of the greatest of Englishmen, well conducted, full of interest, and easily accessible? Our Shakespeare festival is but a couple of hours from London and an hour from Birmingham, yet it relies very largely upon Stratford-on-Avon for its support. If it were at Bayreuth, England would send her scores of enthusiasts; if it were at Oberammergau she might send hundreds; but as it is at home, and in honour of an Englishman, it is largely ignored.

PRESS REVIEW

(The Echo [London, UK] - 23rd April, 1902)
The Shakespeare Festival
To-day's Commemoration at Stratford-on-Avon

"A rib of Shakespeare would have made a Milton; the same portions of Milton, all poets born ever since." This was an odd hyperbole of Lander's but pregnant with truth. One is often led to wonder what was the secret of the great poet's grasp of life? And slowly the idea dawns that it rested on his prodigious facility of assimilation. He as it were took in everything at the pores. True he had no great scholarship as Ben Jonson aptly remarked in later years, "he had small Latin and less Greek"; his notions of law and geography were careless, and history slipshod. But he had an immeasurable receptivity of all that concerned human character. True son of the people, Shakespeare had the most intimate and sympathetic knowledge of country folk and country life, that our literature can show. His plays are a mine of popular sayings, songs, customs, and legends.

Henry Irving / Beerbohm Tree / F.R. Benson

The Baconian Controversy

The main tendency of the Baconians and other followers of Mrs. Gallup has been to revive interest in all lyings concerning the great dramatist. This good lady seems to have lost sight entirely of Shakespeare as an actor, and has failed to grasp the elementary fact that the Shakesperean plays were written exclusively for the stage, by a playwright who was in the very centre and heart of theatrical life, and not by a mere inspired outsider. As Sir Henry Irving has finely pointed out, "You see the craft of Shakespeare in his exits and his entrances. No actor ever had reason to complain that Shakespeare sent him tamely off, or brought him feebly on." This undeniable, power of dramatic construction springs from the fact that the hand of the actor is always visible. Bacon certainly leaves on record no evidence of his knowledge or even inclination for stagecraft.

A Notable Comemmoration

Following close on the heels of the "cipherites" - a good name - is Mr. F. R. Benson, with elaborate preparations for the Shakespearean Festival at the Memorial Theatre, Stratford-on-Avon. This day - that is as far as we are able to be accurate - 338 years ago, England's premier dramatist was born, and every year an attempt is made to keep his memory green. Few, even theatre-going, Englishmen realise that a couple of hours' journey from London would carry them to the poet's birthplace, and a feast for mind and eye. Garrick was responsible for the first organised commemoration of any importance, and that was in 1769. This, though in many respects a brilliant ceremony, concerned itself less with the poet's productions than such social functions as balls, banquets, and horse-racing. But the opening of a regular theatre in 1827 brought the historic little town into touch with the leading lights of the stage, and led to the performance of the more popular of Shakespeare's plays by distinguished actors.

A Public Benefactor

The success that ensued upon such histrionic displays as Buckstone, Compton, and Sothern were able to give imparted inspiration locally for a permanent building where the festival might be observed annually. In 1879 the fondest hopes of the local enthusiasts reached fruition when the late Mr. Charles Flower came forward, and with a princely generosity fulfilled their desire. Londoners regarded it as presumption for a little upstart town to try and do honour to a world-wide genius. But surely it was no fault of Mr. Mower, who was the Mayor, and who devoted several thousand pounds to the work, that Shakespeare was born there? Despite the quakings of the critics, fine buildings of Elizabethan design, picturesquely situated on the banks of the Avon, and costing between twenty and thirty thousand pounds, were reared. They included, in addition to a well-appointed theatre, a library and picture gallery, intended for dramatic literature, and pictures and statuary of Shakespearean subjects. Part of the scheme of the Memorial Association is the advancement and improvement of dramatic art, by the establishment and maintenance of a school of acting.

Ellen Terry / Forbes Robertson

The First Performance

The first performance in the Memorial Theatre was that of Shakespeare's comedy, "Much Ado About Nothing," in which Lady Harbin, the famous Helen Faucit of earlier days, emerged from, her retirement and played Beatrice to the Benedick of Barry Sullican. Mr. Edwin Compton, Mr. Ryder, and Miss Wallis were also in the opening cast. In 1886 the arrangements of the festival were for the first time placed in the hands of Mr. Benson, who was gently gliding into fame with his Shakespearean Repertoire Company. Since which time Mr. Benson has organised no less than thirteen Festivals, the present one making the fourteenth. The intermediate periods of control being taken by the late Osmond Tearle and Mr. Ben Greet.

The Poet's Birthplace

Special interest is added to the Festival by the visit of Miss Ellen Terry, who is to play the wronged Queen Katherine in "Henry VIII." This is one of the noblest portraits in the great actress's splendid gallery of noble women with whose name she has identified her own for all time. To-day Stratford-on-Avon wears quite a festive garb. There is a procession of the Mayor and Aldermen accompanied by the principal visitors, and led by the town band, the firemen, and the town beadle, in old-world costume. When the parade reaches the churchyard the band halts and plays the National Anthem, and on entering the church is greeted by the same strains from the organ. At the close of the service the procession returns to the town hall, where its members drink in silence "to the immortal memory of William Shakespeare." Wreaths of evergreens sent by the various Shakespearean societies of the world, and the tiny nosegays presented by the cottagers from their own gardens, are then laid upon the tomb. These functions are particularly impressive.

Some Shakespeareans

But, apart from Stratford and its Festival, such names as that of Sir Henry Irving, who, though unable to take-part, is a warm supporter, continually remind us of the magnificent work of the poet-dramatist. Both at the Lyceum, and Her Majesty's (where Mr. Tree reigns supreme) from time to time gorgeous displays are given, and combined with Mr. Forbes-Robertson make a trio of Shakespearean actors worthy of any in the history of the stage. Mr. Forbes-Robertson's Hamlet established his reputation for ever. With such representatives as these Shakespeare's memory can never dim.

W. F. B.

A few earnest Shakespeareans who are to be relied upon every year, a sprinkling of Americans, the company of players, and a few casual British visitors, combine to fairly fill the little town for one week, at any rate, of the festival, but they never test its capacity as it is tested late in the summer. The quaint old Shakespeare Hostel, and the Red Horse of Washington Irving's choice; the Golden Lion, which was known in Shakespeare's day as "The Peacocke"; the Falcon Inn, opposite the place where Shakespeare died; the trim Unicorn on one side of the Clopton Bridge, and the Swan's Nest on the other side; the "Old Red Lion" and the "Red Lion," which is probably still older; the Fountain Temperance Hotel, and the Coffee Tavern, all have their visitors, as do some of the lodging-houses; and amongst the pleasant features of the festival are the social calls upon friends staying in one or other of these quaint, old-world homes.

There are always interesting people to be met - William Winter, the American critic and poet; Mrs Charlotte Carmichael Stopes, most patient of Shakespearean investigators; Joseph Wilson Swan, F.R.S.; Sir J. Benjamin Stone, M.P.; Arthur Hutchinson (Editor of The Windsor Magazine); Gilbert Highton, J. M. Hodkinson, Harold and Oliver Baker, Dr. Furness, and other Shakespearean students, are often here; and of course, of late years, Miss Marie Corelli, who is now resident in Stratford.

The press does not take very much interest in the festival; in fact, The Standard is the only London paper which has been regularly represented during the past few years. The Daily Mail and The Daily Express have given special attention to the last two festivals, and a couple of years ago Clement Scott did a long special article for The Daily Chronicle, but the most consistent press support comes from the Birmingham papers, which have very capable representatives resident in Stratford, and from The Stratford-on-Avon Herald, which records the festival with much minuteness.

The ceremonies, apart from the theatrical performances, of which I shall speak later, are interesting, though not very numerous. Sometimes there is a special lecture or recital as Miss Rose Kingsley's lecture in the old Grammar School some few years ago, or an exhibition of paintings by local artists, as was the case last year. Each year, on the Sunday nearest to Shakespeare's birthday, a memorial sermon is preached, by some notable American or foreign divine, or by an English bishop. This year there are to be three special sermons, on April 13th by the Bishop of Bristol, on April 20th by the Vicar of Stratford (the Rev. Geo. Arbuthnot), and on April 27th by the Rev. Prof. Beeching (King's College). The special sermon of the year is made the occasion of a formal procession from the town hall to the parish church. The Mayor and Aldermen, accompanied by the prin cipal visitors, at the Mayor's invitation, are led by the town band, the firemen, and the town beadle in old-world costume and cocked hat. On reaching the churchyard the band halts and plays the national anthem, and as the procession enters the church it is greeted by the same strains from the organ.

After the service the procession returns to the town hall, where its members drink, in solemn silence, "to the immortal memory of William Shakespeare." On Shakespeare's birthday there is a pleasant ceremony, originated by the boys of the old Grammar School in honour of their greatest scholar, the decoration of the poet's grave. Usually, the great parish church is crowded; the organist gives a short recital while the congregation is gathering, the vicar makes a very brief address, and then the tributes, from wreaths of evergreens sent by Shakespearean societies in America, on the Continent, or in London, to the tiny nosegays brought by cottagers from their own gardens, are laid on the tomb.

But the real business of the festival is the production of Shakespeare's plays in the Memorial Theatre. Last month (p. 35) I gave the names of some of the companies which have carried out the festivals in the past. This year, as on many former occasions, Mr. F. R. Benson's company provides the entertainment, and there is the special attraction of Miss Ellen Terry in the part of Queen Katherine in the special revival play of King Henry the Eighth.

The festival is to last for three weeks, April 14th to May 3rd inclusive, with twentyone presentations of Shakespearean or old English plays, as follows:-

April 14th, Twelfth Night; 15th, Othello; 16th, Hamlet; 17th, Romeo and Juliet; 18th, The Rivals; 19th (afternoon and evening), King Lear; 21st, Henry V.; 22nd, Twelfth Night; 23rd (Shakespeare's birthday), Henry VIII.; 24th, Henry VIII.; 25th, Merry Wives of Windsor; 26th (afternoon), Henry VIII., (evening), Taming of the Shrew; 28th, King Lear; 29th, Henry V.; 30th, Romeo and Juliet; May 1st, Richelieu; 2nd, Hamlet; 3rd (afternoon), Twelfth Night, (evening), Henry VIII.

The company includes many old Bensonians (which is equivalent to saying that they are fine exponents of Shakespeare), and some promising recruits to fill the gaps made by those who, since last year, have taken notable positions in London. The principal members of the company are Messrs. F R. Benson, Charles Bibby, Alfred Brydone, Percy Chiosso, Stuart Edgar, Walter Hampden, A. A. Harris, Henry Herbert, G. Wallace Johnston, C. Duncan Jones, Matheson Lang, H. O. Nicholson, Percy D. Owen, Frank Rodney, George R. Weir, Arthur Whitby, and E. Harcourt Williams; Mrs. F. R. Benson; and the Misses Hutin Britton, Frances Dillon, Lucy Franklein, Dorothy Green, Olive Noble, Marion Robertson, Cissie Saumarez, and Ella Tarrant. The acting manager is Mr. A. Smyth-Pigott; stage managers, Messrs. W. H. Quinton and Edward Broadley.

The charges for the performances of Henry VIII. (on April 23rd, 24th, and 26th) are:

Orchestral and balcony stalls, 10s.; back row of circle, 6s.; pit, 4s.; gallery, 2s.:

Seats are reserved in the stalls, balcony and circle, and may be booked by letter to Mr. C. Rainbow, Memorial Lecture Room, Stratford-on-Avon.

It is very difficult to give any idea, in writing, of the delightful atmosphere and surroundings of this Shakespeare festival. The country is in its first bright glow of spring life; the players are old friends of the townspeople and of the more regular visitors, and even strangers soon feel that they have joined the circle. There are calls to be paid to friends in the town; pilgrimages to the Shakespeare shrines, near or far; and tea and chat, papers and pictures, in the cosy Festival Club, which is open to all visitors who care to apply for membership.

Then there are boating excursions on the river that Shakespeare loved, which is gay now with the fair ladies and stalwart young men of the Benson company, who revel in the sunshine and sweetness of the April Avon. And there are little parties to the fields and woodlands, to the "banks whereon the wild thyme blows," to gather garlands to be laid on Shakespeare's tomb. It is a time of lightness, brightness and good fellowship, and he who can attend one such festival without enlarging his outlook upon life, increasing his sympathy for his fellow man, and deepening his reverence for England's greatest son, must indeed be a hopeless curmudgeon.