New Plays

Henry IV. The Players for their annual all-star revival unfolded the tempestuous and unfamiliar lengths of the first part of Henry IV. They did it resonantly, picturesquely, a trifle tiresomely. Their Falstaff was the rotund and eminently genial Otis Skinner, a fine actor. Mr. Skinner took it into his head that the rogue should be played hygienically. His Falstaff was a beaming and unvicious figure. One could not help feeling that he would make his next entrance down the chimney with a pack on his back instead of through the scullery door with a wench by the hair. Mr. Skinner's judgment was admissible but, in the opinion of many, at variance with Shakespeare. It is to be said that the audience laughed at him immoderately.

The plot of the play deals with the enmity between Prince Hal, later Henry V, and Hotspur, a fiery noble with regal aspirations. Hal is a useless drinking companion of Falstaff and his band of blustering pickpockets. When civil war breaks out, Hal puts off his dissipation and kills Hotspur on the field of battle. Hal was played, intermittently well, by Basil Sydney, and Hotspur, for about the same values, by Philip Merivale. Peggy Wood, William Courtleigh, Blanche Ring, Rosamond Pinchot (as Prince John) were among the notables.

The first part of Henry IV is an unwieldy play of many scenes and conflicting purposes. It is a mixture of low comedy and romantic melodrama. It has probably never played very well. It has not played at all in Manhattan for 30 years. The Players' resuscitation, exceedingly commendable in intent and reasonably efficient in effect, was restricted to a single week.