John Barrymore, Shakespearean actor /

Morrison enlarges the Barrymore legend in this study of the actor's interpretations of Shakespeare. In his prologue, the author situates Barrymore in a long line of eminent tragedians and designates him as the key transitional figure between 19th- and 20th-century acting. Succeeding chapters look at Barrymore's career, documenting his early years as a light comedian and his surprising reinvention of himself as the US's leading Shakespearean actor. Morrison presents interesting new evidence about Barrymore's transition to the classical stage under the supervision of his mentor, playwright Edward Sheldon, and his teacher, Margaret Carrington. The actor's rigorous physical and vocal training, combined with his intensive text analysis in light of Freudian theory, reveal much about why his portrayals of Richard III and Hamlet were regarded as new and daring. The author credits Barrymore, through his partnership with Arthur Hopkins and Robert Edmond Jones, with discarding the Victorian model of Shakespearean production for an approach that emphasized abstraction, spareness, and modern psychology. In this regard, Morrison's reconstructions of Hamlet and Richard III from prompt books, reviews, and interviews are especially valuable. Includes illustrations, appendixes, and notes. Recommended for all libraries, this book will be useful in many disciplines. S. Connelly Trinity University