To the Editor of the "Norrii-Cunxa Dany News"
Sm—The presentation of two episodes from "The Merchant of Venice" by the A.D.C. at their club evening on Tuesday provides ample food for thought. If there were any criticism to make it would be that some of the cast were more concern~ ed with an attempt to make correct declamation of some very beautiful blank verse, than with the form of Interpretation which is now being adopted of striving to present the whole of the story which may some limes be somewhat obscured by fedherence to traditional usage. Thus recent Mims and broadcasts Shakespearean plays in Britain have been remarkable for the amount [An examination of his plays shot that there are very fey stage direc-Nions at all, and from this it may be eduiced that Shakespeare left to the individual actor, with reasonable limitations, the tanner of their me IP' what could have been more nae
should speak the lines "All the Sural than that Leon, Quartermalne world's a stage" as if he were thinking aloud while munching an apple. He could, of course, have stood boldly forth and declaimed the lines, but the manner in which he was allowed (0 Great the passage was preferable. Thinking slong similar lines Shylock fof last Tuesday might have developed a growing admiration for the wise Young doder who was assisting the Gourt, until he bursts forth with the ug "A Daniel come to judgment." So also might Portia have, by a somewhat different technique than was adopted, emphasized the fact that she was not pleading a case, but acting as amiens curie to a Duke who would adopt her judgment. The plea to Shylock for mercy upon the fendant in his sult could have been gently put, with the underlying emphasis that, should be not relent, Justice, however it might lean, would be done. And then should " follow the calm, dispassionate revelation of the law as the young doctor found It, By such means a striking contrast Is produced between the wronged Shy-Tock seeking redress, and the impassivily of the law which he has invoked, Shanghai, Feb. 20,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.