The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-11-08
CREsTON CLARKE.
The Best Production of "HamIet"
Seen Here Since Booth Played 1t.

The Best production OF "Hamlet"
Seen Here Since Booth Played 1t.
Mr.. Creston Clarke played Hamlet at
the theater last night Those persons
who braved the inclemency of the
weather in order to attend the perform
ance were well repaid for their temerity
They witnessed an Interpretation of one
of the Incompatible Shakespeare most
subtle and forceful characters by a
young man of undoubted genius. In
deed, Mr.. Clarke has been pronounced
by competent critics to be the best Ham
let on the stage to-day, since Booth has
shuflied off this mortal coil.
Mr.. Clarke created a record at Phil
adelphia last season of sixteen consecu-
tive weeks of Shakespearean and clas-
sic plays. He, OF course. PLAYED Ham
staid and reliable Philadelphia Ledger
said: Here the landscape is noble, dig
nified, and full of that indescribable sub
tlety which seems to reflect the mind of
Shakespeare when he wrote this sublime
tragedy, and we feel that we are in the
presence of an idal Hamlet. Not the
Hamlet of melo-drama or bombast, but
the spiritual prince who has
That within which passeth show
and whose every mood suggests him
who was perhaps the greatest of them all
Edwin Booth. There is almost the same
grace of elocution, the same delicacy Of
expression, and last, but far from least
much OF the same marvellous insight into
the meditative, contemplative aspect Of
the character. Yet withal one notices
no slavish imitation of the dead TRACE
dian. Mr. Clarke may be considered
Booths residuary legatee. artistically
speaking. both on account of relationship
and dramatic ambitions, but for all that
he is too fine player 10 trade on any
such condolences"
What was true of Mr.. Clarke in Phila-
delphia last season was more than ever
true of him in Savannah last night II
may be that his manner suggests Booth,
and that he follows to a certain degree
the lines ofgacting laid down by that great
master. Bot there is undoubted original
itv and much freshness in all of Mr..
Ciarke's work. His delivery of part OF
the famous soliloquy while seated, and
of taking a seat Immediately after haV-
ing charged the player king how he should
sneak his lines, are bits of detail in MIR.
Clarke's work that illustrate his origin
ality. 1t could be wished that his voice
were a little more robust. However, his
enunciation is so clear, the meditation
Of his voice so smooth and his gestures
so natural and expressive that the want
of resonant power in the voice at certain
passages does not tend in any wise to de-
tract from the effect. A stronger voice
might Intensity the dramatic effect in Ger
ably will be, that he will acquire greater
strength of lungs and larynX as time goes
by he is a young man yet.
SO well was the audience of last night
pleased with his impersonation that he
received an enthusiastic curtain call at the
conclusion of the last act 1t has been
a long time since any actor in legiti-
mate drama has been shown such mark
ed favor by a Savannah audience
Miss Adelaide Prince, who plays Ophe-
liza TO Mr. Clarke's Hamlet, is a southern
woman, a daughter of the Lone Star
state She is talented and beautiful and
has a conception of Shakespearen drama
and the ability to express that concep-
ton, which might be depended upon to
win for her a name among actresses. If
she lacked that distinction. She has,
however, already achieved an enviable
position in her profession, having played
successful engagements under Augustin
Days management in New York, Lon
don and Paris. Her Ophelia is sweet,
touchingly pathetic and powerful
The company supporting Mr.. Clarke IS
made up of acceptable material The
Polonius OF Mr. Carhart was a finished
piece of acting Miss Maynard, as Queen
Gertrude, Mr.. owen as Laertes. and Mr.
Pattee as Horatio, deserve commendation
for their intelligent efforts.
The play was well staged. The ghost