Keeping right up with the times, the Theatrical Collection on the top floor of Widener Library is presenting an exhibition of play bills and pictures connected with early productions of the Shakespeare tragedy, "Richard II." The exhibition is being given in connection with the present Maurice Evans production now playing at the Boston Opera House.

With Maurice Evans being hailed as one of the greatest Shakespeare actors of all times due to his work in this play, it is very interesting to note the accounts connected with the work of Sir Frank Benson, who gave the play in London in 1901. Accompanying the pictures and play bills of this dramatist is an article by a present day London critic, James Agate. Agate points out that the acting of Benson in "Richard II" was six times better than that of Evans. He gives us to understand that the current matinee favorite develops only a one-sided picture of Richard while Benson brought out the full meaning behind the weakling king.

First Boston Showing

As shown in the exhibit, the first Boston production of the play was given at the old Federal Street Theatre in 1819 with James W. Wallack in the leading role. The last time that it was presented was in 1930 when it appeared at the Hollis Theatre with George Hayes as the principal player.

One of the most spectacular productions was that of Charles Kean, given in London in 1857. According to the play bills, Kean seems to have been more interested in the historical side than in a character portrayal. In his advertisements he even guarantees the "truthfulness and fidelity of the entire picture." He enumerates long lists of books that he has consulted in order to insure historical accuracy. To emphasis this side of the play he inserted between the 3rd and 4th acts a great triumphal procession to supplement the indirect description given by Shakespeare in the conversation between York and the Duchess. This, the play bill states, is an "historical picture in which the creations of the painter's art are endowed with animated reality." In a minor part supporting Kean was Kate Terry, the sister of the great Ellen Terry.

Edwin Booth

Hustrated also are scenes from productions by one of the greatest of all American actors, Edwin Booth. Booth played the part of Richard II very few times and in this connection there is an interesting story. It was claimed that the reason he seldom portrayed Ricahrd was that his brother John Wilkes Booth assassinated President Lincoln the night he was playing that particular part. This fact gave him an aversion to the role. This has since been disproved and it is not now thought to be true.

Great credit is due the Theatrical Collection for assembling this timely exhibition. The play has been given very few times and only at the "Old Vic" in London and at Start ford-on-Avon has it been repeated often. For this reason it was very difficult to gather together enough play bills and pictures to present such a sizable exhibit.