St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1895-02-05
AT THE THEATERS.
"Yam,et:" Thomas Keene.


If all the criticisms and reviews of
performances of Hamlet" were col
lated and published they would be
bound to contain as many diverse Opin-
ions as they would extend miles in
length. The critics are united upon
the sublime philosophy of the play, but
Hamlet. the Dane," divides them and
subdivides them. Perhaps, after all,
Charles Lamb was right when he said
that this immortal character could not
be portrayed by flesh and blood. 1t was
created by the divine poet for contem-
plation in the seclusion of the study.
The perfect quiet and abstraction
TO be secured there leaves
the imaginative mind free TO
picture the poetic prince i'll all his
varying moods. His melancholy, his
philosophy, his subtlety, his wit. his
despair, his soul-searching reveries-all
sink deep into the mind of the lover of
Shakespeare. There is indeed depth,
a mental insight. spirituality in this
creation of Shakespeare that really
eleYates it from the realms of reality,
lifting it an unreasonable distance
above the stage Of a theater with its
trappings, tricks, lights and other arti-
fees. Yet were it not for this stage,
this imperishable drama-for it would
have nevertheless lived would be I'M
known to millions who. having wit
messed it there, afterwards went TO
their homes to read it. There are
human beings created by Shakespeare
and other geniuses, just, as tue to
nature as Hamlet and doubtless more
recognizable. because more in accord
ance with our everyday experience. The
actor who can lmpersonate Jack FalStaH
faithfully, who can portray him as he is
pictured by his creator, give him the
life-like color, the humanity that bursts
forth in every line he utters, is surely
great artist. This is equally true of the
imperSonation of any well-deyeloped
character. But the man who would
show US flesh and blood Hamlet must
possess other qualities beyond and dis
1inct from histrionic ability or artistic
sense. The only actors who have been
recognized as ''ideal'' Hamlets have
possessed these indispensable qualities,
or rather physical and spiritual
attributes. | am not sure but that a
stage Hamlet who can wrap up the very
soul Of a spectator, as Shakespeare's
Hamlet can that of the reader must pos
sess a magnetism of rare, if not an Oc-
cult nature. Personality is certainly a
powerful faculty. Ii that personality
chances to belong to a poetic, profound
and spiritual nature, and one, erefore,
perfectly attuned TO the nature Of the
prince. then we may see an embodi-
ment of that strange character.
The foregoing observations are pref>
atory to ThomasKeene's lmpersonation
of Hamlet at the Metropolitan last
evening. Mr.. Keene is q fine actor. In
many roles he stands today unequaled
! in this country. But he is not an ideal
| hamlet. SO far as is known, there is no
ideal Hamlet today. 1t is no discredit
| to Mr.. Keene to deny him homage in
this strange. erratic role. Mr.. Keene's
| Hamlet is not the ideal Hamlet, be-
cause 1t lack the atmosphere Of poetry
and mysticism that surrounds the mel
ancholy prince. 1t is by no means a
dstasteful Hamlet, for Mr.. keene is
| too accomplished an actor to commit
manifest errors. In those scenes de-
handing the display of vigor and fire
MI Keene was always adequate. He
was particularly effective in the play
scene and strong in the climax of it.
The difficult closet scene proved the
most satisfactory. Here Mr.. Keene
acted with much spontaneity. His
brief colloQuy with the ghost here was
most impressive. HIS dialogue with
tn gravedigger was admirable.
The supporting company rendered
| far more satisfactory service than is
generally the case in this play. The
Ophelia of Miss Lawrence was highly
| commendable performance. Miss Law
renee succeeded admirably in imparting
that air OF modest reserve to the
"chariest maid who is prodigal enough
| if she but unmaSk her beauty to the
MOON" Her mad scene was a delicate
exhibition of art that might, without
exaggeration, be called gem.
Edwin Arden was satisfactory La
| erteS, albeit somewhat TOO nelodra-
matte in style. pugilistic, one might al
most say. Mr.. Henning spoke the
ghosts lines with excellent emphasis.
He has fine resonant voice, but should
sacrifice some of those full tones in the
tender passages in order to better ex-
press his love for hamlet and his over
whelming grief. Miss Beaman was
quite acceptable in the thankless role
of the queen, and Mr.. Eagleson sus.
tanned the equally ungrateful part OF
king. Mr. Ahrendt, the veteran Polo-
MUS, appeared in that role. and was, of
course, satisfactory. The minor roles
| were in competent hands.
Tonight Mr.. Keene will be seen in
"Louls XII" Mr.. Keene's portrayal of
the crafty old monarch is mastery.
50
The American Extravaganza COM
| pany. headed by Eddie Foy, will begin
weeks engagement at the Metropoli-
tan opera house next Sunday night,
presenting for the first time here the
fantastic operate extravaganza. "Off
the Earth" which has made a great hit