The Crimson Playgoer

Greeted with rapturous enthusiasm by the New York critics and public when she offered "Romeo and Juliet" there last season Miss Cornell ran they play through a short New York season and has now put it on the road bringing it to the Shubert Monday night. It has been the good fortune of the Playgoer to see this production three times and he still finds it difficult to contain his rhapsodies within dignified limits. Despite changes in the cast and the natural wearing off which seven months could be expected to bring the presentation is as animated, as profoundly stirring, as magnificently performed as any Shakespearian production of the past ten years which is as far back as the Playgoer feels qualified to stretch his comparison.

The general features of the production are admirable. It has been handsomely costumed and set by Jo Mielziner, staged simply yet impressively by Guthrie Mclintic but still the focus of attention must fall upon Miss Cornell in this role which beckons to all great actresses of the English speaking stage.

Her Juliet is vividly alive, glamourously beautiful, never anything more pretentious than a fourteen year old girl of Renaissance Verona. She reads her lines with a freshness and depth of understanding which invest the whole play with a breath-taking beauty. To one of America's most talented actresses, hail!

Unfortunately the Playgoer saw Brian Aherne's Mercutio and thus finds Ralph Richardson not quite up to former's perfection. He is very appealing and reads his lines with verve which charms but he is not quite Mr. Aherne. Thus also with Maurice Evans in the difficult role of Romeo. He hasn't Basil Rathbone's experienced skill but he does give the part a youthfully romantic vigor which his predecessor failed to achieve. Charles Waldron is still fine as Friar Lawrence, and Florence Roed is excellent as the nurse, though perhaps not quite up to the standard which Edith Evans set for the New York run. As Paris, John Cromwell gives a very promising performance.

In general this road company is more animated, more vigorous, less consummately, skillful than the original cast. Miss Cornell is still superb and more. To see her in this agelessly magnificent play is a genuine privilege.