The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-19

and with a distribution of characters above the
average in efficiency. Mr.. Davenporl's "Ham-
let" has long been acknowledged by those who
have studied the part for themselves as the best
upon the American stage. 1t is not merely a
graceful piece Of acting, or an elegant piece of
elocution, a thoughtful Interpretation of the
most difficult character in the whole range of
tic drama; but it is a personation warm and
glowing with life, and the actor inspires his au-
dience with the impression that he not only acts
with his head but with his heart, that he feels
what there is in the character, and that in his
nner consciousness he has reached the heart of
it's mystery. In spite of its remarkable merits
Mr.. DaveuporLs "IIamet" has never been as
popular with the masses as Mr. Booths perso-
nation of the same part-to certain
extent it has been ''caviare to the
general"-and without making any invidious
comparisons it will not be amiss to say a few
r words in regard to the why aud where fore.
MIR. Booths most remarkable characteristic is
|&good TASTE and this has served him better than
epoetical instincts have some other actors Mr..
|&DAvenport among the number. Mr.. Booth has
|reconstructed the whole of the stage ''business"
of his Hamlet" and he has done this with re-
markaoe judgment. His performance of this
4rOle is wonderfully beautiful piece of mechln-
fism, but we cannot understand how any student
( Eof Shakespeare can say that, apart from its
Fl et" is a great performance. Mr.. Davenport in
& his personation of this part, presents some
"poin5e" which are his own; but, for the most
|&part, he follows closely the traditions of the
Estage and his Hamlet in its external features,
Fl does not differ materially from the perform
4 &ances of number of other actors who have
II Hundertaken the role Its great merits are in
u the Interpretation of the text and it would be
Ia great performance still if Mr. Davenport, dis
{carding all the usual appliances of the theare,
|&should undertake the representation of "IIlm-
let" dressed only in his ordinary street costume,
and without any advantages of scenery. 1t
needs no argument to prove which of two such
#performonces must be the best, but it is easy to
understand why that of Mr.. Booth should be
the most generally popular
Without undertaking the at this late day,
useless task of giving a close criticism Of Mr..
Davenport's Hamlet, ," it may not be amiss for
MS to make few comments upon two impor-
tsnt points wherein he Mr.. Booth aud every
other actor who attempts the part fail to
j give it thoroughly adequate presentation upon
the stage Let any experienced play-gOer read
= vcarefully the conclusion of the first act of the
ttragedy, and then ask himself whether he has
fever seen it acted as it should be. The scene
' after the exit of the "Ghost" is one of the most
remarkable That Shakespeare ever wrote.
relaxation Of the mental strain induced by the
interview with the ''GhOst" is plainly indicated
4 by "lamleL's" wild and whirlipg words" and
the frjghtful humor of the reference TO the
"felow in the cellarage' marks mental reac-
tiOn that certainly approaches, if it is not really
madness. There is a forced calmness in
"Hamlet's" demeanOr towards his friends,
but this is disturbed by the underground
utterances of the ''Ghost" and there is some-
thing almost hystercal IN the language that tbs
dra LET hos thn
this point. We well understand how dili-
4 cult it must be to represent this scene upon the
&stage but it should be represented, for it is the
|&key to the mystery of Hamlet" Mr.. Daven-
Iport is the man of ali others to restore this i'm
Y portant passage for if he cannot act it, no one
4 on the American stage can.
Another point is that none of the representa-
tions of Hamlet" sufficiently mark the "autic
{disposition" which was the sign of the real or
: The pretended madness of the former. In the
very first scene after the interview with the
If'Ghost," "Ophelia" tells her father how "Ham-
I sklet" appeared to her.
m "With his doubet all unbraced
mo hat upon his head; his stockings fould,
Ungarterd, and down-gyved to his ancle;
Pale as his Shirt his knees knocking each other,
kAnd with look so pteous In purport,
}As if re had been loosed out OF hell
F1TO speak OF horrors.
1t is clear from this that Shakespeare intended
{s'Hamlet" to appear with disordered dress and
all the outward signs of madness in the subse-
quent scenes of the play; but who ever saw the
character presented in this manner? We COM
mend these points to the notice of Mr.. Daven-
/ port as being in every way worthy of his re-
4 spectful consideration.
The support on Tuesday night at the Chestnut
was, for the most part, very satisfactory. Mrs.
Davenport made an excellent "Queen," and
Miss Glover, who appears to be an actress of
! real ability, gave thoroughly artistic persona
4 tion of ''Ophelia." Mr.. Thorne was a respecta-
! BILE ''Ghost," although he spoke too loud and
the other parts were very fairly represented.
The performance of Richard III last evening
attracted another fine audience, MIR. Davenport
being the representative of the hunchback
tyrant. Shakespeare's LancastTian preiudices
led him to paint "Richard" as perfect villain,
although there is good reason to believe that, if
not perfect model of virtue he was far from
being as bad as his enemies have insisted that
he was. However it may violate historical truth,
the play of Richard III is a mastery perform
ance, and certain dash of melodrama about the
hero has made it one of the most popular plays
{\upon the stage. Mr.. Davenport in
! &is personation of erich ard" follows
closely the traditions of the stage
J and 1t differs from the efforts of other actors
more in the degree of power displayed than in
4 any merely outward characteristics. The shell
the same, but the vivifying spirit is that of
he artist VINO understands how to realize all
tthe terrible energy with which the dramatist has
endowed the "Richard" of his play. The per-
formance last evening, apart from Mr.. DaVen-
ports fine acting presented many points of