SADLER'S WELLS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20150, 19 May 1928, Page 3 (Supplement)

SADLER'S WELLS

NEW HOME FOR SHAKESPEARE | | 'J’he project, of establishing a Nationlal Theatre in London as a memuci'it ito Shakespeare has been indefinitely postponed, but, the work of popularising Shakespeare in the capital goes on. The propo.-al to rebuild the theatre at Sadler.s Wells, in Clcrkenwell, as a home for Shakespeare’s plays, which was the subject oi a cable message rc- <• ‘Utly, is a complement to the magniificcnt work that has been done at tha Old Vic. on the Surrey side. Apparently this theatre, which wai rescued from music hall disrepute and turned into a Sh:i k“spearean institution that has become famous througn•mt the world, is now permanently cs'tablishid. and it is hoped to do at | Sadler’s Wdls for the north side of London what has been done by Miss Baylis ami her colleagues on the south. The appeal .which is backed by the I‘i.nie Minis’cr. the Leader of the Opi|' ‘> t on. and Mr Lloyd (ieurge, has a I national ring, ami since a third of th.j | money has l*< *n raised, and the example "i the Ohl \ ie. stands aloft to encour|age rnthusifsts. there is excellent proSadler’s Wells Tlieatr l ha< a long and very in cresting record. The site is that of a holy well; mystery plavs were performed there in early timo; in the sixteenth ceniurv a “musichouse” was conducted there by uno Sadler; ami in the nineteenth century the theatre was the scene of one of the | most remarkable series of Shakesponr’ean productions in the history of the I English stage. Samuel Phelps, who directed the theatre from ]Bl4 to 18<’»2. idoo.s not seem to have received quite Illis due. i A: the time he was over-shadowel by the more showy Charles Kean, one i"f the lathers of the modern system |<’l" sumptuous productions, and by’ Macready, whose efforts to keep ShakesI peari? alive won him a poetic tribute ■ from Tennyson. One historian describ«-s i Phelps venture at (’lerkenwell. a I lower-middip and working-class quarter, pis probably the most remarkable theatirical event of the century. During the .eighteen years of his management. l’he|p> produced ail Shakespeare’.-s I plays except “Henry VL,” “Titus An|dronieu. s . ’ • “Troilus and (Tessida. ” |Umi “Richard 11.” (If he were preiducing to-day h ■ would certainly stage ‘ Richard IL.” which is now placed a good deal higher than it used to be.) l o : - about four nights out of every six Shakespeare’ was liilled, and on other nights other English writers, from Beaumont and Fl 'tcher to Browning, were produced. Phelps was not a brilliant actor, but he was sound and ver smile; he took infinite pains; he was ;a good business man; and he produced .eti 'i-ts with great economy of means. About the same time Kean “mounted l.sixtcen of Shakespeare’s plays in a [gorgeous fashion, historically and archaeologically exact, but they are now forgotten, while Phelps’ spirited and ar*.’: tic productions at Sadler’s Weils occupy a prominent and honourab’o place in the history of the drama.” 'After Ph'lps’ day tliis theatre de. dined. It became a varie.v hall; then it was given over to blood-and thunder [melodrama; in 1916 it was a cinema ’house; and in 192.” the derelici buildling was purchased by public subscription for the present purpose. [ Tt is remarkable that there should he i’iii'c theatres in London, all outside i tile W 'st End area, which have been lor are being raised fi*m the depths -•» the service of fine art. The third i Ithe Tjyric at Hammersmith, which Mr | Nigel Playfair bough 1 a few years ago and made famous as the homo of su h : diverse productions as “The .Opera.” “Abraham Lincoln,” ami '“The Insect Play.” Tt is in such theatres. rather than in those of the West End, that the public have come to look [for Shakespeare and other classics an I blaring modern ventures. Production in the West End is sadly I hampered by high rents, and there is a natural disposition to play for safety. ITf the Sadler’s Wells’ enterprise sucl coeds then' will bo two permanent | homos of Shakespeare in London, both in moan streets. Th’s. after all. is fit(ting. Though many ac'ors and proj (Incurs have tried to ennooal the fa. . Shnko<penro really belongs to *!■ people.