Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1880-03-25
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
THE DRAMA.

IhE DnAMAs
Lawrence Barrett a. Hamlet.
The appearance of the eminent actor
Lawrence Barrett at Fulton opera house
last evening was the occasion for the as
sembling of a large audience. The sombre
old tragedy of Hamlet" with all its har-
rowing incidents and unattractive situa-
tions, the dark and dismal story it enacts of
treachery and deceit, adultery and murder,
despair and insanity, retains in remark
able dc gree its power as drawing card
wherever the drama exists as popular
institution. The insight it gives into many
of the occult attributes of the human un-
derstanding constitutes the key to
its enduring favor with play-goers
the world over. There can be no real
entertainment nor enjoyment in watching
the soul-harrowing occurrences that make
up this play as they pass one after the
other before the vision of the spectator,
further than they serve to excite his ad-
miration Of the wonderful knowledge of
character and the masterful creative
genius of the author which are delineated
in the actions and words of the people of
the mimic world in whom, for the time
being, the behOlder's intensest interest is
enlisted. The text of the piece constitutes
an almost complete epitome of the
thoughts and feelings that animate the
arcana of mans innermost being,
and the well-spring of all human
action is drawn from with lavish
freedom in the sententious utter
ances Of the melancholy Dane. She liked
the play, but 8" there were so many quo
tatiOns in it," is what 4 young woman is
reported us declaring on witnessing for the
first time the production of this work of
almost supernatural genius. And there is
a whole world of reflection in that remark,
which some people would be disposed to
regard as artless and more as very stupid.
The aphorisms and sophisms that make up
the sOlilOquies and defamation of the mad
prince have taken complete possession of
the popular mind, impregnated it
with its philosophy and cynicism, and
there's not a school-boy, nor anyone be he
never SO slightly acquainted in the world OF
letters, but has 4 sentence from "Hamlet y
at his tongues end which he is sure to find
applicable to some new turn in the kaleid-
oscope of everyday life. Wherefore it is
that this gloomy old play that centuries
ago made peoples blood run cold, is
to-day the strong "attractiOn that it
is, and its performance even in this alleged
age of degeneracy and decay in morality
and understanding and classic lore is
nightly witnessed by large audiences
following with absorbed interest events
that are repulsive in their horridncss, re-
lated in text as limpid as the untroubled
waters, whose rhythm falls on the ear
like the music of the spheres.
Of last nights performance it can only
be said that it approached as near perfec-
tiOn as human art could bring it, so far at
least as the central figure was concerned.
Mr.. Barrett's Hamlet has become model
after which aspiring actors seek to fashion
their Interpretation of the part. His
genius is not seen in the irregular flashes
that light up an occasional passage,
but shines with a steady glow
that illuminates his entire performance
with flame brilliant but of lambent trans
parency. In facial expression, gesture,
tone of voice, word and action, were seen
the intelligent art of the great actor. His
whole manner, betokening intellectual
force and reason unclouded by the mad
ness that was come upon it, conveyed to
the spectator with startling vivid
ness the ideal of the melancholy
Dane which the most intelligent
Shakspearean students and commen-
tators have agreed upon, and there was
a harmonious unison throughout his
entire performance that took away the
unpleasant impression of forced art which
many actors leave with their audiences
during what they evidently are pleased to
regard as the most powerful passages. Mr..
Barrett finds no occasion to resort to the
common deception of so many actors in
entrapping their audiences into enthu-
siastic admiration by violent defamation.
He himself most admirably follows
the injunction which as the method
ical mailman he addresses to the play
ers, and in the very whirlwind
Of his passion has acquired and begotten
a temperance wherewith to give it smooth
ness. Discretion hath been his tutor, and,
O'er-stepping not the modesty of nature,
he holds the mirror up to nature whose
image is reflected with startling vividness.
Mr.. Barrett's recitation of the famous
soliloquy beginning
To be, or not to be, that is the question:,
was superb, and in the frenzied scene with
Ophelia his powers, subjected to the
severest test, responded fully to the call
made upon them. Mr.. Barrett was twice
called before the curtain by the plaudits
Of the audience.
MIR. Barrett's support was of fair
average ability, but the distinguished head
of the cast was in no danger of having the
honors shared by any other member. Mr..
j. R. Grismer, as Laertes, performed his
part acceptably, while in the role of Polo
MUS Mr.. J. B. Curran did fairly, albeit he
failed to develop the full capacity of the
role. Miss Ellen Cummins who, it may
be remembered, was the heroine Of the
Porter tragedy in Texas) played the part
of Ophelid in a manner that wrought her
audience up to a high degree of sympathy,
and Mrs. J. r. Carhart was quite good as
the Queen. OF the remainder of the cast
It may be said that, while for the most
part they were sticks, they did not ma
terially detract from the merit of the per-