Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-13
Amusements.

mlbb mAkflOTT 40 HAMLET w
have seep many /" Hamlets that were
master pieces Of professional skill; never
iheless they we're the traditional Ham
let's" Of the stage, not the keen-sighted,
subtle, seusitivc character drawn by
Shakespeare Those who personste the
noble Dane as o being of melancholy
tenn permanent, with q closely shaver face
and black, curly locks, not only vary from
the text OF the dramatist, but set aside
the natural peculiarities OF the Danish
race. IL should be borne in mind that
the period Of the play is about the ninth
century, when Denmark was the greatest
maritime power in the world, and had
made conquests by the spear and battle-
ak not only throughout ireland, Scotland
aud Wales, but in portions of England.
Some of the English kings preceding
the Norman conquest, although called
Saxons by most historians, we're of
Danish blood and the age was so rude
and unlettered, so chivalric in the exer-
else Of warlike arms, so fond Of outdoor
sport and deep csrousal, that when one
sees man of the time pictured as soft
featured stripping, bedecked with velvet
and jewels, the Hudibrastic lines,
And the coat he had on
From naked Pict he won.
comes trippingly through the mind, and
makes the mirth of the matter merrier.
How it ever entered the Uranium Of an
actor to cheat Hamlet of his beard at
the ripe age of thirty and place frowsy-
frizzled hair on the head of Dane seems
strange, when it is recorded in nearly all
old chronicles that the Danes we're
light-featured people with fsxeu-hair;
and Hamlet" himself. in his solilcquy,
after parting with the players, exclaims
Am I a coward?
Who calls me villain breaks my pate across
Piueks Of my beard. and blows it in my face
Great artists have always painted
Danes with full beard and long light
hair, and we see no reason why great
actors should not be true to nature 10
their presentations. 1t cannot be said
that 4" Hamlet" was schoolboy; the
grave-dieger settles that point, in the
fret scene of the fifth act:
HAMLEr-How long hast thou been grave
CLows-Of all the days in the year came to
it that day that our last King Hamlet over
came fOrtlDbr8B.
HAMLET How longs that SINGER
CLowN--Cannet you tell that? every fool
la lam aH ct was, was bern. have been sex.
ton here. man and boy. thirty pears.
Nor can it be said there is anything
melancholy or gloomy in Hamlets"
nature he is compound Of refined
cunning and shrewdness, with an active
brain and powerful knowledge of mems
ways in the world. Although quick in
perceiving, he is slow in resenting, an in
Jury. He watches and plots. Deeply
wounded in his feelings by the untimely
death of bis father and the speedy mar
rage of his mother with his uncle, in
stead of seeking q quick revenge he
feigns madness, acts wildly, and yet ex-
ercises his wits to wonderful extent
For moment, in burst of bitter feel
ing, be upbrsids himself for bis hardness,
but Immediately his brains come into
play and he plans with the keenest cum
ming. Thus, near the end Of the second
act, we find him talking:
1t cannot DO
But am pigeon liverd, and lack gall ~,
To make oppression bitter or ere this
/ should have fatt-d all the region kites
With this slaves offil. Bloody, bawdy william
RemoIseless, treacherous, kindless william
Why what a fool ami This is most brave.
That |. the son ola dear father murdered.
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell.
Must unpack nay heart with words,
And fall a cuising like very drab,
Fie upen't! fob! About, my brains!
Humphl have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at play
Pave pave W nhexSts h sanf tn nI scNu
They have proclaimed their malefaotionst
For murder. though 1t have no tongue. will
speak
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these
Play something like the murder Of my father
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
I'll tsnt him to the quick il he do blench
1 know my course.
This peculiar subtlety is partly lost
sight of in the impersonstion of Miss
Marriott who prrsents the Hamlet Y of
the Kembles, the Keans and the BOOTHS
the melancholy Dane, whose de
;-o.Ad havior of the visage" is the most
striking feature. Hence the playful
irony Of the reply to the King, in the sec
ond scene Of the first act. loses ita full
force and effect;
KrsG-How Is it that the clouds still hang
HsMLEr-Not so. my lord. am too much +
the sun.
So in the conversation with "Rosen-
crantz" and " Guildenstern," the cloud
which hangs on the brow of Miss Marriott
prevents the sharp pointed satire from
cutting home at glance and being
nicely appreciated by the audience. This
dialogua ia worth notinp.
GgILp-Go:d d. my lord. vouohsafe me Q word
with you.
GUILD-The King. sir -
HAMLEr-Ay. sir. what of him?
.GuILD-Is, in his retirement, marvellous
HIMlSr~ with drink, sir? tas t.i.f
GUILD-No, my lord, with choler.
HANLET-Your wisdom should show itself |
more richer to signify this to the doctor for |
me 10 put him to his p9rgation Yeuld perhaps |
psSefs s Os %S my 5fS Put your discourse
into sLme frame. and start not SO wildly from |
my affair.
HAMLEr-I am tame. sir; pronounce.
great sfiliction Of spirit. hath sent me to You.
HAMLET You are welcome.
Nevertheless Miss Marriott's tradi-
tional "Hamlet Y IL gu aftistioally FIN
ished and wonderfully grand deliseation.
Such q sublime picture has never been
seen in Memphis before. The portraits
of Booth, Forrest, Murdoch and Barrett
are nothing in comparison to it. We
know of no one who equals Miss Marriott
in dramatic talent and ability save Char
lotteC ush mar, whom she somewhat resem-
bles and aets like. she Is Q hetter reader
than Mrs. Lander, and her FACIAL express
sions conveys the emotions Of the heart
in accordance With the expressions of
the tongue. This certainly Is holding
the mirror, as il we're, up to nature"
There is no ranting whatever about her
oha snaaks Aoentlv and with nroner am.