The Portland daily press., 1870-02-28
DAILY PRESS.
ND
Monday Morning, February 90, 1870.
"A Double Hamlet.

array Recieao sent an exceedingly witty Cit
lc 10 this entertainment and his description i
about as droll reading as anything we bav,
met with lately:
'' In order to keep his reading within tn,
prescribed limit OF time, MIR. Bellew begin
with the 2 scene of the first act. The chr.
tain draws up as in regular theatre, and DIS
closes what the programme calls a room O
state in Elsnore. The King, Queen, Hamlet
and the Court are very creditably dressed al
ter approved models. Mr.. Belew has preyi
ously taken his place at a table in front O
the stage, and at a lower level, where he stand
facing the audience. He begins to read
Though yet of Hamlet our dear brothers
death, DC. The King makes movement tC
indicate that he is the person to whom the
words belong. Presently he arrives at the line
But now my cousin Hamlet and nv sor
whereupon Hamlet indicates in like manne,
that reference is made to him, or, as the fine
writers say, that he is the individual alluded
to. Soon after Hamlet has to speak, and MIR
Bellew reads the well-known lines beginning
Seems, madam! nay, it is. / know not seems,
while the figure on the stage accompanies th,
words by lackadaiscal look and gestures ex
pressive OF conviction that it is all up will
tie Prince of Denmark. But at the same Tim,
Mr.. Bellew not only reads, but illustrates hi.
reading by facial play and motion of the hands
and, as far as space will permit, of the LEGS
also; and thus we have one Hamlet acting on
the stage, and another ON lower platform i'm
front fit. Mr.. Bellew probably knows good
deal of the play by rote, and he has gigantic
book OF which we suppose the type is in pro-
portion to the page, so that he is able to see ii
without looking close, and does not need TO
use his hand to hold his book or keep his place
Thus he is able, so to speak, to engage his all-
dience two-handed; and when he gets little
excited with his own defamation of Hamlets
speeches he gesticulates with a vigor that
makes him appear, as compared with the 9TH
er Hamlet on the stage, like very big horse
running in double harness with very little
pony. Soon, however, he gets rid of the
pony as an incumbrance and runs alone.
When the King has finished his last spaced,
down comes the curtaiD,-and Mr.. Bel
lew, now in sole possession OF the house,
proceeds, g Qh5-tIiat this too, too solid
.Aest would melt" &C., while to our great
amazement, we perceive that the flesh Of the
other Hamlet actually has melted, or at any
rate that he has made himself scarce in a
sudden and unexpected way. He lies under
no necessity for regretting the existence of a
canon against selfslaughter, because Mr..
Bellcw has taken order for his summary and
complete extinction. He probably feels that
his position in the firm which carries on the
business of Hamlet the Dane resembles that
of Mr.. Tapley in the house of Chuzzle wit
and Co. The senior partner reduces his jtI-
nior to cipher, and he undertakes to repre-
sent at once, not only Hamlet, but also HOra-
ito, Bernardo and Marcellus. Mr.. Bellew
reads on to the end of the scene, which, how
ever, is almost entirely dialogue between
Hamlet and Horatio, and is not therefore
likely TO confuse even a listener unread in
At the end of the scene Mr..
Bellew retires for a few minutes. We had
supposed that Hamlet had been cashiered for
incapacity, but it appears that he has suffered
only temporary suspension. The curtain
draws up for the fourth scene, "the platform
before the CASTLE" and not only Hamlet, but
also Horatio and Marceus, are now upon the
stage, and presently there enters to them
ghost in chain armor, who is got up in style
creditable to the management. There is al
so brilliant full moon, and if the ghosts
shadow falls where it ought not to fall, that is
a sort Of accident which may happen in any
theatre. 1t may indeed be contended that a
ghost ought not to cast shadow anywhere
and this being only the CHEST OF a ghost,
while the reality of the ghost is Mr.. Bellew,
ought still less to cast shadow.
But we do not feel called upon to discuss a
question which belongs at once to natural
aud supernatural philosophy. We would sug.
gest, however, that the light, whatever it is
that takes the shine out OF the moon, should
not be turned on quite so strongly, as il
makes the ghost look as il he had come OF
earth to get up an asphalt company, and ha(
specimen oi lhat puiSaiUrissi nre oi wnivn Ia
speaks. As the play proceeds, even the Ham
let of the stage catches something of MI
Bellows spirit, and at the words "Unhant
me, gentlemen" he flourishes his sword will
a vigor which we had not suspected him O
possessing. 1t seems, however, that, as Mr.
Tapley says, "Co. has been a-putting his foot
in it again." for with the disappearance of the
ghost TOWN goes the curtain, and Mr.. Bellew
does Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus, as well
as the subterranean ghost, all by himself to
the end OF the first act. Indeed, Mr.. BelleW
becomes so much an actor in this scene that
he shifts his place by lateral movement,
which is the only movement open to him, SO
as to represent as well as he can Hamlet's
shiitings while he administers the oath. 1t
seems TO us that if the figures on the stage
can be Of any use at all they would be OF use
here. But there is the curtain, and Mr.. Bel
lew in front of it, surprising the celebrated
Cerberus, since he is not only three gentle
men at once, but also ghost or devil at the
same time.
"In the third act the Hamlet of the stage
does not at first appear. With him, to be o.
not to be is not the question. He exists oni
at Mr. Bellows pleasure, and here Mr.. Bel
lew dispenses both with Hamlet and Ophelia
The scene between them, and Ophelia'
speech, beginning "Oh what noble mind il
here O'erthrown", are read with the curtain
down. 1t may be that the young lady who
personates Ophela when she has nothing tC
say is not equal to looking as if she were say
ing something, and perhaps she might have
assumed wooden and unsympathizing as
pect, which would have contrasted rather toe
absurdly with Mr.. Bellows pathetic utterance
OF her speech. But we should like to know
the principle, if there be principle, which
regulates the movements of these animated
puppets. Perhaps the curtain is let down il
order to begin setting the next scene, or per
haps the King, Hamlet, POlOnius, and the
rest are wanted to assist in setting it. There
was an account lately in an American paper
of a celebrated actor who was to play at 9
western town, and finding when the curtain
drew up that there was nothing behind it, he
fetched the scenery and put it up, and ther
went on and played. This perhaps has beer
the model of Mr.. Bellows arrangements at ST
Georges Hall. Some considerable prepara
ration was doubtless necessary for the secon,
scene of the third act, which is performed b
tne enlire strehgtn OF the estapilshment. w
nave Ans, queen ana court, Opheha, VIII
Hainlet seated at her ieet and watching IN
hins win penetrating eye, and even IN
characters M Oh the play wilhin the play.are PEI
sonated. Inc breaking up OF the court Whel
the conscience stricken monarch can endur
the play no longer is represented VIII
eon"enaaDie con splrnL aiamaiieTMr al Mais hae;
tates to kill him, the Hamlet Of the stag
draws his sword, and fourishes it about as :.
he really contemplated dissoivlng partnershll
with MIR. BELOW, and going INTO business OF
hi, own account, But Co. is soon mlue u