The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-09-22
ROANOKE. VA. SEPTEMBER 90, 1899.
Mr.. CHARLES RANFoRD IN JULIUS
CESAR"


Despite the severity of the equinoctial
large audience attended the perform
ance of Julius Caesar" at the Or era
House last night. The company was away
above the average in strength and eff
fectiveness, and even the stage mob was
handled to good end and purpose.
The play of Julius Cesar is pecu-
liarlY Shakespearian. 1t abounds in
soliloquies, in epigrammatic phrases
which have passed into familiar speech,
and develops several characters so dis
tinctly individual and unique that, un-
typical of class, they stand alone in
history, literature and drapatlc art.
Such one is Cassius, less subtle than
I Iago. but by greater force playing upon
the hidden springs of Brutus, man of
finer calibre than Othello. and to be
moved only by higher motives.
Mr.. R. e. Spencer took the role of
Cassius. His physique and countenance
are IDEAL to the part, and his elocution
is of no mean order. His voice is capa
BILE of deep intensity, and he portrayed
close conception of the lean and hun.
CRY conspirator-sordid, envious, quar-.
relsome and choleric.
r As Brutus Mr.. Bennett Matlack offers a
fine stage presence. More subdued than
Cassius, occupying higher plane than
the other conspirators, he had been in
veiged into the conspiracy by mingled
aspirations of patriotism and ambition
that his high standing might lend force
and dignity to tho plot and its after
course. The melancholy, which clings
to Brutus at the rankness of his action,
the sordid motives of his associates and
the downfull of his ambitions ioin
issue, is visible CHI sracteristic of Mr..
Matlack's portrayal. The partof Caesar
of barely fourth Importance from a dra-
matic standpoint, was ably susta med by
Mr.. Edward N. Hoyt.
Naturally the interest of the audi
once, as of the play, centered on the
role of Marc Antony as assumed by Mr..
Charles Hanford. For the past seven
years this sterling young actor has been
steadily rising in merit and public ap-
probation. Fully that many years ago
the writer saw him in leading role in
THE Comedy of Errors. with Robson
and Crane as the two Dromios, one of
the most mag nifcently mounted pro.
auctions ever put on the stage Even
then the young actor was singularly
happy in the smoothness of his rendi-
ton.
Later he played important parts under
Edwin Booth with a constant rise in
merit and appreciation. This is his
first season as star and it showed the
confidence which he had in his powers,
that he choose "Jullus Cmser". Mr..
Hanford has magnificent physique, q
fine stage presence and a voice of high
dramatic qualities. Two scenes are of q
character which demand the most ex.
acting treatment.
The first is whore Antony appears be-
fore the conspirators on hearing of
CAESARS assassination. He is nearly
overcome with grief at the death of his
friend and leader, is burning with in
.dignation against the assassns, vet
must obscure the one and hide the other,
not from fear but that he may become
an instrument Of vengeance when time
should serve his ends.
The second is that noble defamation.
familiar to all over C,psars body. Bru.
tns had seemingly gained the favor of
the mob with plausible defense of the
assassination. Antony shows the skill
OF special pleader OF the highest or.
der. He starts on level with the
crowd. Whenever an opening shows
he makes his thrust. He seems to fol.
low their mood yet directs it. until, by
degrees, they are self-wrought to the
highest pitch of rage against the as
sassins. Even then he has force in re-
serve and caps one of the greatest of
dramatic climaxes by reading Cpsar's
will.
Mr.. Hanford idealizes the character.
He is one of the best Antonys ever
seen on the stage. His audience follow
him with brcathless intensity, and last
night repeatedly called tho curtain to
testify their appri citation.
The other parts were VII sustained,
particularly the pl:s OF l'cr,io, by Miss
Marie Drofnah.