The Theater: Old Play in Manhattan, Feb. 16, 1953

Love's Labour's Lost (by William Shakespeare) opened the season at Manhattan's City Center with a gay splash. The play is minor and rather poky Shakespeare, last seen on Broadway in the 1890s; but the present revival, if a dubious choice, takes a daring form. Love's Labour is offered as an elegant Edwardian frolic, half satiric comedy, half court masque. Alexander Pope was told of his translation of the Iliad: "A very pretty poem, Mr. Pope, but you must not call it Homer." Perhaps the City Center should not call this Shakespeare; perhaps the audience even puts up with the play for...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!