Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-03
SHAKEsPEARE's BIRTHDAY.
How 1t VIII Be Celebrated by the
Veteran Manager, John II. Ford.

HnOw IL VIII BE CeIeDFateu the
Veteran Manager, John T. Ford.
On the 23d of next April will occur the
three hundred and thirtieth anniversary of
the birth of the immortal Shakespeare, and
the veteran manager. Mr.. John T. Ford, pro-
poses to celebrate the occasion at his thea
ter in Baltimore by commencing and car
rying on during that week series Of
Shakespearean plays which will be present
ed in a manner worthy the event it is to
celebrate. Mr.. Ford. from his long exper-
fence, will take care that the mounting of
the plays given shall be equal to any which
has ever been seen in that city, and he will
also give cast of characters which will
be abundantly competent to properly and
intelligently interpret the great dramatist.
1t will be remembered that on the occa-
sion of the three hundredth anniversary of
Shakespeares birth Mr.. Ford was then
managing theater in this city, and he
brought out a series of Shakespearean plays
made notable by the excellence of the cast,
the chief attraction being that splendid
comedian, Mr.. John Sleeper Clarke. Mr..
Clarke is hardly known to the present gen.
Grafton of play-goers, but in his day he
was the foremost comedian of the American
stage. and one of the best Interpreters Of
Shakespearean comedy that this country
has ever seen.
At the coming celebration Mr.. Ford will
have as his chief attraction Mr. Creston
Clarke. son of the great comedian, who
has developed considerable power as a
tragedian. and who, it is claimed, will
eventually occupy the place upon the Amerl-
can stage that has been left vacant by the
death OF his distinguished uncle. the late
Edwin Booth. Young Clarke, who Is now
but twenty-nine years of age, bears a strik-
ing resemblance to his late uncle and has
already gained good reputation for his
excellent performances of Hamlet Shylock
OthellO. and other ShaEaSpearaan char
tiers.
The coming celebration will also be dis
tinguished by the debut in Shakespearian
characters of Miss Martha Ford, a daugh-
ter of the veteran manager, who Is a young
lady OF much promise. She has been dill
gently studying for the past three years in
an endeavOr to fit herself to particularly
stmpersonate Shakespearean characters. She
mas been diligent student, and has accom-
plished much. She has unusual intelli-
gence, and is believed to be fully compe-
tent to grasp the inner meaning of Shakes
peare's heroines, and she has physical adj
vantages which will enable her to adequate
ly portray them. The most notable appear
ance in public of Miss Ford was her recita-
ton of the Star Spangled Banner at the
WORLDS fair In Chicago on Maryland day.
she gave to that stirring poem vigor and
power that created the most intense en-
thusiasm among the vast audience that lis
tened to her. and won for her the most pro-
nounced expressions of appreciation for her
pie who were gathered to participate on
that occasion, and by the press of Chicago.
The Baltimore Shakespeare Club learn
ing that Mr.. Ford proposed celebrating
Shakespeare's anniversary in the manner
that has been indicated, has written him a
handsome letter, commencing the effort and
predicting for 1t success. They speak pleas
antly of Mr.. Creston Clarke who, they
say, has rich inheritance of genius, and
whose success in other cities, coupled with
the assurance of the completeness of his
company and the careful setting of the
plays to be presented enable us to feel
confident that the anniversary week will
be one of interest to all lovers of the drama
and students of Shakespeare"
Those who have had an opportunity of
knowing Miss Martha Ford and the work
that she has done preparatory to her ad-
vent upon the stage are confident that with
her remarkable physical attractions and
her great Intellectual capacity, she will
prove brilliant success as an Interpreter
OF Shakespearean female roles, and that
she will nil the place upon the American
stage left vacant by the retirement of
Mary Anderson.
1t is to be hoped that after Mr. Ford
shall have concluded his series of Shakes
pearean presentations in Baltimore he may
be induced to bring his company to WASH
ington. so that the theater goers Of this
city may have an opportunity to enjoy their
work.