The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1894-04-24
AMUSED
Academy of Music.

Those who attended the Academy last
evening felt themselves fortunate in being
able to celebrate Shakespere's birthday in a
fitting manner by witnessing Wilson Bar
rett's production of sHamlet.n If the i'm
mortal Bard of Avon be not Bacon or a
myth, and have knowledge of what hap
pens under the sky, one might suppose him
glad to know that he was still being inter
preted to a~ppreciative audiences by the best
actors OF our time.
Among these, Wilson Barrett has his
particular admirers who maintain that his
Hamlet approaches nearer the ideal than
that of Irving or Booth, He plays the Prince
as a young man, and were it not for his in
clination to suoutness, and according to
others his brown hair would be a typical
Danish Prince. But If more has been writ
ten about s.Hamlet" than any other charac-
ter except one, there is always the same
danger to be feared in discussing any inter
probation of Hamlet Wilson Barrett,
however, has received the highest praise
from students of Shakespeare for his exact
and ~painstaking delineation of "Hamlet,"
the Dane.
Last night he carried his audience with
him although seemingly entirely forgetful
of it. His acting was perfectly natural, and
he himself followed the direction given by
him to the players, to speak the speech
~trippingly.p In fact, the smooth syllables
rushed from his lips SO swiftly that some did
not reach the spectators. Barretts voice is
music itself, and the English habit of inton-
ing slightly gives it a peculiar charm.
He was strongest last evening in the scene
following the players exit with Polonius, in
the great soliloquy, in the players scene,
and in his denunciation OF his mother. But
Barrett's best work vas not done by fits and
starts. All through the play there were ex-
cellent little bits of Interpretation. His con-
versations with Polonius proved that Hamlet
had only put IAN antic disposition on" to con-
fuse the tedious old fool, and that Barrett's
Hamlet's madness was undoubtedly feigned.
1t is worth while to notice that Barrett's
mode of giving the soliloquy sitting has
been received with favor, He deserves a debt
of gratitude from school children especially
for changing the ever quoted mixed
metaphor ''sea of troubles" to sssiege" OF
troubles.
Miss Maud JefRries as Ophelia could not
nave been a better interpreter of a
speare's weakest heroine. She looked the
picture or, rather, the incarnation OF youth
full purity and sweetness. In the mad scene
she moved all hearts to weep with the rather
superficial Laertes. Miss Jeffries has SO
identified herself with the part that it is
difficult to suggest any change that would
improve her representation. As Desdemona,
a character SOMEWHAT in the style of Ophelia,
Miss Jeffries ought to score a triumph.
The other members of Barrett's company
ull6Q III }CIy dCt6PtdOlJ. E10SUAtt CAAOt
looked and acted perfectly the Danish
King. Horatio was played somewhat stitfly
by Edward Irwin, and Cooper Chffe ranted
the part of Laertes rather than acted it.
Ambrose Manning, as the first g~raye-digger,
did excellently well. Every action told and
every word hit its marx.
The scenery was Barrett's OWE, but, on ac-
count of the size Of the stage, all of 1t was
not used. As a souvenir of the occasion
and a very pretty gift for Shakespeare's
birthday, an engraving of Barrett was
presented to each Lady.
Tonight and Wednesday and Saturday
nights will be presented s'The Silver King.n
On Thursday night stBen Ny Chreer will be
produced, and on Friday "Othello.n To-
morrows matinee "The Stranger will be
the attraction, and at the Saturday matt
nee, s'Ben My Chree."
The Bon Ton.
Judging from the large crowds that nave
filed the Bon Ton Theatre during the past
few weeks the continuous performance has
come to stay. Yesterday afternoon and
evening the STANDING Room Only sign had
to be displayed several times, and as a re-
suit Manager Alfred E. Aarons' face was
wreathed in smiles. Yesterday Mr.. Aarons
became the lessee and manager of the theatre,
the partnership which existed between him
and Mr.. Charles Benton having been dis.
solved. Mr.. Benton returns to Proctor's
Theatre. New York, and Mr.. AArons will
continue to offer Jersey City theatre-goers
the finest vaudeville attractions, The bill
this week is, without exception. the finest
vaudeville bill eyer presented in Jersey City,
and the most exacting critic could not find an
excuse for changing any number. The Hun
parian Gypsy orchestra made its first appear
aance In this city, and Jules Levy, the world
renowned cornet soloist, returned for another