Word: dictional
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...shop-worn. But Phelps arranges effective byplay between the figures in the painting, the artist, and the two women spectators. He allows Hawthorne to speak a long monologue filled with poetry that is at times truly beautiful; yet if it were no for the warm voice and delicate diction of Edward Thommen, so long a speech would have seemed dull. Robert Heavenridge, as Melville, and Martin Halpern, as the artist, are quite good, while Mathida Hills, playing the first woman, perfectly captures the terrified shyness intended by Phelps, and Elinor Fuchs is wonderfully funny as her coarse, insensitive companion...
Because its shortness and rapid pace pose fewer staging and acting difficulties, Trial is the better of the two productions. When left to singing the whole company is quite superb, with clear diction, much gusto and a pretty sense of how to make funny lines seem just that. Morely shines in the Judge's role (and in his patter song) while Sara-Jane Smith plays the betrothed Angelina with giddy charm. Don Fern, one of the few Trial principals who does not also sing in Pinafore, makes up for an infinitesimal voice by rascally and slick acting as the defendant...
...random digs at classics clubs ("I, connoisseur of good reading, friend of con noisseurs of good reading everywhere"), sloppy diction ("what one weather prophet on the radio calls 'inner mitten' showers"), "personalized" writing ("As for us, we would as lief Simoniz our grandmother as personalize our writing"), usually blend good fun with good sense. Full of engaging tidbits, the "dog's breakfast" does not offer much to chew, but more than enough to tickle the taste buds...
Contrary to the impression left by many reviews of the film, the great distinction of Julius Caesar is not the obvious success of Marlon Brando's diction lessons. Far more remarkable is the film's faithfulness to Shakespeare. As this suggests, Julius Caesar is perhaps even more notable for what it is not than for what it is. The film leans over backward to avoid any suggestion of spectacle, and there are no panoramic shots of Rome, no overblown crowd scenes, no technicolor sunsets to draw attention from beauty of language and intensity of feeling. Although the scenario discards some...
...soloists performed expertly. Edward Munro, tenor dispatched the florid Every valley with accuracy and pleasant sound; although bass Irvin Nordquist lacked truly dark vocal color, his part remained dramatically exciting. Eunice Alberts, a little too restrained at first, improved after intermission, displaying her rich contralto tone and careful diction. Soprano Marguerite Willauer distinguished herself in both the intricate coloratura of Rejoice greatly and the more restrained line of the recitatives...