The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-01-02
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

|
art s. son 10 Poonus...... David r. Young
\ ioratio. friend 20 Hamlet. Robert Graham
| insincrantz Harold III. llorizsn
| iuildenstien. en.....,........, John McC Cormiok
| )rsc. water y......,.........G George Erro
darccllus. s......,...,'-''''...,... .ueorge huhtel
| 'ernard ).........,s .....frnest johnson
| francisco. a solder....... - William fishei
| 5irst Actor or.............R Richard Is. Milloy
tcopd Actor....., ,....-,. .s..s; Charles Jones
| first Graye-digger ........,... Francs Howard
second Grave-digger. ......Henry lockwood
| 4 Priest. t.,....,.............,..... James WOOD
'ertrude Miss Estelle sylvane
| )bhelia ia................M Miss Grace p, Atwel
layer Queen. ........... Miss Julia Bacheldei
Mr.. Joseph Haworth reads Hamlet
plendidly. His pose and gesture are in fine
| ,eeping with the lines and marked by
! grace, strength and reserve. He has
Tell defined conception OF the
much discussed Dane, and he is
| rank in making that conception known.
ie does not straddle two or three differ
snt ideas on the matter but, having come
10 decision as to the manner OF
man Hamlet was, he proceeds
chlsel out the character as
from solid rock and presents it strong,
full OF life and clean cut. Ii Is accord
ngly great satisfaction to watch the
development of Mr.. Haworth's Ham
let thus produced with the
confidence and self reliance OF the earnest
student and artist, and II there be any
disagreement with the actors conception
there is at least no uncertainty as TO what
that conception is.
The time is probably gone by when de-
cision as TO the success OF an interpreta-
tion of Hamlet must stand and wait
upon the decision as to the view OF
n lat h.. okA ful nn r.
emily, agreement will never be reached on
this point and meanwhile, so long as the
actor works out his own view satisfac-
torily, that ought to be the only basis of
considering how well he has done. Mr..
Haworth's Hamlet is a very living
figure. He is young, ambitious, full OF
good blood and warm affection, clever
and good humored until the suspicion OF
his prophetic soul, as to his
fathers death, is verified, when
his youthful spirit is soured by the senti-
ment of revenge, his cleverness becomes
malicious and his good humor Is changed
TO ugly wit. Then, only Horatio can touch
him with 10-foot pole, so TO speak, and
| it is Ophelia on whom he vents the full
torrent of his wretcbed feelings as the
object dearest and nearest to himself
quite the human-like thing to do. But
he is never mad, not bit of
it. The interview with Ophelia,
for instance, which begins pleas
antly enough, Is transformed not be-
cause Hamlet is mad, but because Polo
nious appears to view an instant, and
Hamlet, seeing him, proceeds to
indulge in his invective that
the ears of Polonious may
hear. And so throughout the play 1t il
Lat IN ts.
the people with whom he 10 having in--
tercourse.
Mr.. Haworth has succeeded in present.
ing this Hamlet most attractively. What
the stage people call business has been
wrought out with little exaggeration and
with proper subordination to the single
motive OF making Hamlet. He drops
Lis sword when he follows the ghost with
a fine effect of confidence that no harm
can come to him from an interview with
the spirit, and whether in repose or
In rapid action. Mr.. Haworth's act
ing Is full OF purpose and
rarely overreaches. And as before indi-
Gated his reading is delight. He knows
the full value of words and he has we'll
accomplished the rendering of
lines that are singularly varied,
wonderfully expressive, and which cover
a wide range of emotions and simulated
emotions perhaps beyond those of any
other stage creation. In word, he gives
Hamlet that is studiously interpreted,
finely read and pictured to the eye with
conspicuous art.
There isn't much to be said about Mr..
Haworth's support. With the exception
of the king, the lines OF which are beauti-
fully read by Mark Price, who Is one of
the few exceptionally good readers on the
stage today. the queen, Miss Sylvane,
who develops the famous part
splendidly and the Ophelia of
Miss Atwell, which Is sufficiently appeal
ing, the supporting cast is nowhere
strong. But lovers OF Shakespeare have
long ago got through expecting anything
different in a cast, although something
more is hoped for for Polonius than an
old man from low comedy, and there can
be little patience with O Horatio whose
conception of the friendship of that fine
character for Hamlet Is limited to fever
ish sentimentalism.
Mr.. Louis Foy spoke the lines Of the
Ghost in splendid voics and with good
effect, but 1t would seem that in this day
and generation the effect on an intelli-
gent audience of f--the lIfair 1
and warlike form in which the
majesty of buried Denmark did some-
times march," is not contributed To by
covering it with q mosquito netting or
any other clap-trap and unnecessary de-
vice designed to simulate ghostliness--
which, by the way, 1t never succeeds In
doing.
Hamlet" will be repeated tomorrow
and Saturday evenings and he who would
avail himself OF the too rare opportunity
afforded to see the production OF Shake
speare may find intelligent pleasure and
profit In Mr.. Haworth's creation. 1t is
decidedly satisfying, highly gratifying
contribution to the stage, and fine and
Rrtisticslly finished result of conscientious