The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1876-05-10

DIR. \. NJ. Lands with an lima ginary Compa NJ
RivulIing the Count Josnues.


RivalIinG the Count Josnucs.
II George, the Count Joanres, witnessed
the Hamlet Of his Philadelphia rival last evening
at Tammany Hall, II must have been 10 disguise.
And II, as has been darkly suggested, the au.
dience ut the Academy OF Music a fortnight
ago wac melted TO turbulence by secret ennis
saiies OF Dr. Lands, the Count Palatine took
the noblest revenge possible by declining to
stoop to undig 1iled aud underhani measures 10
retail alton.
DR.. lands Is chiefly known In this city by the
notoriety ne has acquired as the correspondent
and would0e rival Of the illustrous Count.
This reelected lustre, however, was In itself
enough to DIR W together two or three hundred
people last nicht. Taking warning by the Counts
experience, The PHILADELPHIA tragedian de his
speech before instead OF after the performance
and briefly informed the audience OF the leading
facts in the history Of his hfe. He has been sn
editor, a physician, a preacher, and a novelist; {;
and. finally, having, as he admits, failed to In.
tercst the public In either capacity, a drsmatist
and nm actor. His novel. "The Insane Lover or
the Fate OF the Lioertine," was not appreciated
by mis- fellow citizens, aud 1t was only when he
appeared upon the stage Hcnd in his
great origin drama, The Torture of Inno-
cence" that the astounding quality Of his gifts
Dr. Landiss Hamlet Is the natural outgrowth
OF bis Eiend. The diabolical element disttn-
gul-neb DOtn. III tue DO'tOfe huWkt De
ceptod AS the true rendering OF Shakespesres
conception, there c,n be no doubt that The
Prince of Denmark was insane. vioIs sntly insane.
On this point Dr. Lands takes direct issue with
the Count. Where the latter II calm and mel
ancholy, the former Is demonstraiiye; where
the Count Is vigorous, the Phil delphia physi-
elan Is frantic. The comparative merit Of the
two renderings can be determined IN only one
way. The two traRedians must be brought
together upon the same s,age. and in the = ne
play. The Interests Of art imperativey require
this test.
1he accessories to the Hamlet OF DR.. Lands
ure lett almost entirely to the Imagination A
shrll whistle indicates the rising OF the curtain.
Somebody behind n screen reads the lines OF all
the other characters; and scenery, exits and en-
frances, properties, situations and stage bust
ness. must all DE inferred from the play OF the
Doctors features and the various adjustments
OF his expressive legs. This method, although
sometimes tedious, occasionally gives rise To
novel and astonishing situations, as when
HInllct dies and Is obliged To ask the audience,
AS a favor to shut their eyes while the corpse
gets up and walks OF the stage.
me idea OF the appearance OF DR.. Landis's
Hdm,ct may be obtaiued by combining the head
and face Of Gen. Grant, the mouth aud express
sion of tho little black hooded monkey IN the
Central Park collection, the legs OF a Majlton.
aud the stride OF a drum major. The legs are,
perhaps even more than the teeth, the prom
inent feature OF the performance. They are IN
variably disposed at a distance OF from seven to
thirteen feet in advance OF the rest OF the body,
and in emotional passages are almost eloquent.
Wnen Hdmleh for exs nple, uponithe advent Of
the imaginary Ghost, hoDs down upon the stage,
throws his sword into the air and oxclams,
Angels and ministers OF grace defend u.s.
every leg bristles with emotion.
We regret TO add that the performance OF DIR.
tention duo to such a tragedy, such an actor.
and such legs.