The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1881-05-07
I" HAMLET"

It Keene played Hamlet" last even
!. ing to an audience larger than tina
e (which witnessed "Richelieu" tn,
5 the preceding evening. 1t was re
> Imarkable performance; remarkabl,
\ In many respects. There was NO
the slightest similarity in any re
Spect in the man in the two char
acterS, and were it not for the voice
/, and the positive knowledge that he
who played Rlchelieu on Thursday
night also enacted Hamlet last
night, it could not have been de-
tected that they were given by the
same person. 1t had been promised
that a Hamlet different from any
thing of the kind ever seen before
SHOULD be witnessed by those having
1.-THE discretion to attend, but no one
had any idea that SO many innova-
lions could be intrOduced-that such
a marked contrast could be created
in the same character as compared
with the embodied conceptions of
other stars who have performed The
same part here. 1t was an evening
of surprises, and as the play pro-
dressed one after another of the ira
dltlonal ideas concerning the char
acter were trampled upon by Mr.
Keene and new ideas, actions and
thoughts substituted. 1t lacks the
smoothneSs and polish of the Hamlet
of Adams and Barratt, but it is a
truthful and most CONSTANT imper-
lpersonation, if the actors conception
be correct one, and OF this there is
little doubt. 1t appears to be
a constant effort of the tragedian to
bring out the fullest and most per-
feet intent of the author, and no
actor ever succeeded so well; every
line, every word, is pregnant with
meaning; and in his delivery the
mist that so commonly beshrouds
the thought in the lines as they are
too frequently delivered by stars,
is cleared enGIrely away, and no
person so dull that he cannot
comprehend the idea tile actor /
of the authors intent. |
There are many violations of the
accepted texts, words and I
speeches omitted, and others inter
polated, but they generally, if not al
ways, add to the effect, and render
parts now difficult of comprehension
easy to grasp and retain. His Ham
let is not a sentimental philosopher,
but man full of fiery feelings
generous, open, frank, brave, full of
rational doubts, and tOrmented al
nOst beyond endurance by the COM i
Jlicated trials which beset him on
all sides. He lays bare his emotions
10 the audience as a man of similar
would do to himself.
md in this there is what some
night call lack of polish, but
which is nature in man through
whose veins the blood rushes wildly |,
1t the thought of wrongs and in
lignates the knowledge of which
must be born in silence and alone.
)ne of the most clearly defined ;
IDEAS in the whole performance 4
S that of the insanity with which
lie is believed to be afflicted. The I
Execution of Il majority of stars t
Orces on the minds of an audience
he impression that there is actually D.,
n Hamlet a tinge of madness. This :
nay not be the conception of stars, !,
,ut such is the effect. With Mr..
[eene, however, this is different. !;
The fact that he stimulates the pas :
ion is most clearly apparent; and
throughout he defines this position
With such ScrupulouS precision that {
t is impossible to miSconstrue his t
did one actually wish to t
10 so. The melancholy element is l
wanting, and It's absence S
vas most refreshing. He makes of
he prince man, with mans pas
ions and mans mode of express I
ng his passions. There is also a :
rim humOr all through many of the !,
Genes, especially with Polonius. =
The ghost scenes were given with +.
are effect; so also the closet scene.
As a matter of effect, however, it ,
lid not compare with Barratt's in
his particular. The applause was
lot so liberal as on Thursday night;
lot that the performance was not as
rood, but because of the repeated
which caused reflection.
But the applause was sufficient, and
hearty and timely. Mr.. Keene also
much new business,
which is very good, ali tending to
rive clearnesS to the play. III he
las a fault, or what appears to be "a
fault, it is that which inclineS an
audience to believe there is a strain
ng after effect, though this may
De a part of the conception.
The support was very fine, and the
heavy cast well distributed, so as to
bring about the best results. In
fact, in every particular, it appeared
to be an improvement on Thursday
night.
This afternoon Shakespeare's great |
comedy of " Shylock" will be per-
formed, Mr.. Keene as Shylock; and
tonight he will appear in his great /
of Richard ILL.," which,
as it gives an opportunity for the !
full bent of his force, should be. as it |
is pronounced it will be, his most
powerful impersOnation. The pres
ent indications are that to-night's
1 l. l..