Word: leiber
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Dates: during 1920-1929
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From those who like their Shakespeare, as Mr. Benchley would say, the repertoire offered by Fritz Leiber has been a gift from heaven. Not only has the Bard been presented with more or less respect to the text but the prices have been on a scale proportionate to the student pocketbook. Seats in the orchestra are for once not entirely prohibitive...
Others besides members of Professor Kittredge's courses might well view Mr. Leiber's company. Shakespeare decently stated is really quite as sustaining if not so alluring as an evening with the "Vanities". To be sure there is nothing of particular moment in the manner or method of the present productions. They are not even, unconventional-a fact for which to offer fervent thanks. Slops and buskin are still to be preferred to plus fours and dinner jacket of last year's H. D. C.-unhappy memory...
...seeing a good play produced as such. If history fails us not, the Elizabethans went in order to see the play. The tendency to go for the aesthetic pleasure of seeing Jno Barry more is but a modern development. Hence, it must be said in all sincerity that Fritz Leiber as Petrnchio, and his accompanying cast in "The Taming of the Shrew" gave us just what we wanted...
...Leiber is gifted with intuition enough to grasp the fact, that net yet at any rate is he either Hampien or Barrymore. With that in the back of his mind, as well as his own private theories as to the manner of presenting the bard of Avon's plays he has gone ahead. Far from following the custom any path, he leaves the pomposity which suits but so few pieces anyway, and proceeds to tone ats Shakespere down. He in particular, but the supporting cast as well, render their lines as though they were of twentieth century vintage...
...this way Petruchio, Katharine, Grumio, Hortensio, and the rest become more human than ever. Mr. Leiber as Petruchio is perfect. He carries the necessary bragadaccio to just the proper point, and as he strides about horse-whip in hand inflicting his will upon Katharine one can well believe in his ultimate triumph. Virginia Bronson's Katharine is quite on a par with Petruchio, and rages about quite as she is expected to. In all truthfulness must be said that it is as the violent Kate and not as the tamed Shrew that Miss Bronson is at her very best: Acts...