New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1894-04-10
THE DRAMA-N USIC.
MOrNET-SULLY AS HAMLET.

-.a renresentation given by Mr. Mounet-Sully.
sar the name of Hamlet. was an exceedingly In
,as,jng manifestation of that actors personality
v, ~ his copious dramatic skill. The tragedy OF
u.rolet' as it exists in English does not exist In
rncb: but an adapted translation of 1t exists, and
-, ras performed. Hamlet. interpreted by Mr.
rounet-suly. was a matter-of-faot gentleman VINO
ga his father and who saw his fathers ghost,
"a thereafter pretended TO be a grinnlng
"a skipping lunatic. a study of the pro-
md spiritual misery Of Hamlet-the mis-
- ~ mind that is overwhelmed ana dls-
caught with awful sense of its mysterious en-
a,nment-would, no doubt, have been attempted
vs. NJ Nounet-Sully, had that theme been existent
=, the play with which he is acquainted; and OF
rse its result would have been expressed. accord
~, n the limitations of his nature,-which though
80, deep Is strong. 1t would, however, be Idle 10
nect the substance of a character, in perform
snce that aims only to present those elements OF
a, ,hich are or can be made. melodramatlc.
w Mounet-Suy is admirable actor. in
- .ht relates TO the art of effective expression;
So, IN mind and spirit he is of slender calibre and
,hs-sfore the Hamlet Of Shakespeare seems either
h.vons his reach. or out of the range OF MS hatu-
al perception. He the graceful personhcatlon
~ an affectionate son and meiancholy lover
His embodimer. of awe and terror was sometimes
nic,uresoue He ilumined the play-scene with much
nrassive business and his killing of Polonius was
ans sneech During much Of the performance now
s- he was lachrymOse rather than afflicted. ana
l. M mar, Of il did he manifest either the majestic
personality of Hamlet, or his preordinauon 10 the
desolate eminence of haunted deirium ana CORROSIVE
grief The pleasure impaired by his impersonauon
was that of gazing upon fine attitudes supple
movements large and flexible gesuculation' the eN-
nressiye play of a sensitive countenance ADEQUATE
and significant stage-business, ana q delt use OF
well-chosen pictorial drapery. In hotnihg Is hI.
Mounet-Suy so pre-eminently hne as IN hiSaIT I
ds'iracv and tender romantic grace. His Hamlet,
Accordingly was most sympathetc ana Sldi Intns
AZ moments with Ophelia The Hamlet Oh shdke
snaare has ceased TO love Ophelia and has passed
heyond love itself; but that IL is neeuess 70 say
moi the French view Of the suo)ect-ln when viii
nvt amour there can be no vie. The actor was re
markedly convincing. also, IN MS eNPieSsSIDin "a
and ,orured and perplexed affection for the desc
Grated holiness of the mother. This may be indi-
Embodiment that Appropriated TO the poetic truth
almost nearly as that OF tne late JONI h is,y
ifs radical defect was a degradation OF ldeai-the
presentation of Hamlet not IN MS relations u t.e
as person crcumscribed within the mere nmi i
of play Its less material thougn sii 6
disilusoning bemishes were dapper, 1rlsky ue
meanor, an ARTIFICIAL ht, 81
many varieties Of growl and shrek ana whIne anu
patter-much melodramatic action; mental shal-
lowness suggestive OF vacuity. ana such Sopious
abundance Of resolu,e purpose ana plys!cd ,NIsVl
Ciaudius long before the third act As denotements
of the lack OF subtlety. II may be menuoned thdi
personally oficates in the mechanical work OF NOV
ing chairs and platforms one of the German
Hamlets disclosed himself here. some years ago.
upon step-ladder with hammer and paper OF
tscks. Some of Mr. Mounet Suy,s melodrama had
a great apparent effect on his auditors-for he was
loudly applauded and frequently recalled He FOL
lows the Ghoa out OF the closet scene ana screams
with hysterical terror. unseen, in the passage.
There were divers touches Of that kind The trag-
sdy. was put on with pitchfork Polonius was wa,
rade jabbering ass, and che King sort OF ami
mated trombone, while Ophelia became a mature
yvvng lady OF the present time. and the Ghost
dsnked in armor and spoke through foghorn
The full cast is here recorded:
lie kO. iND'i
lAere
fOloaluS 90
.ioIeuO 49,
GulcensieTn
ndrceNus 49,
Le spectre. Inn
premier COmc1ien
bernardo
l$lcianuS
PREMIER FOssoy"ur
~ iTelIe'