Omaha daily bee., 1896-02-22
ADJUSTMENTS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES


Asseverations Of the decadence Of Shakes
pearan tragedy as a means OF popular enter
tainment, which have been common of late
in view OF certain disastrous ventures in
that well-tllled field were refuted in great
measure last night at Bcyd's, where Alex
ander Savnl presented his loudly heralded
ard long expected Hamlet" before one Of
TIE largest audiences of the season.
/ II will be remembered that the elder Sal
vinl included Hamlet" in his repertory.
that he achieved in the part the success Of
a great artist who cou'd do nothing ILL., but
whose lasting fame was not augmented by
it for the reason that he was an Italian, while
Hamlet-the Hamlet Of tradition and of all
the experience of northern audiences-was a
Dane. 1t was a matter Of temperament. the
limitations OF which no art, however perfect
could overcome. 1t seems probable that simi-
lar considerations will place the Hamlet of
his gifted son, admirable in many ways as
the characterzat on Is, upon a lower plane
of artistic perfection than other parts in
which this young actor will yet win renown.
1t has been said that no player Of average
ability can do Hamlet badly. Far from doing
1t badly. Alexander Salvini does 1t for the
most part exceedingly we'll. There are many
reminders in 1t Of the Hamlet of his great
father and like that notable performance
1t will fail OF general acceptation. That, too.
was flesh and blood Hamlet. a stalwart
prince. whose gasp!ngs and whmperings sat
strangely upon his massive shoulders. The
father was handicapped in this part more
than in others by the necessity OF convey
ing the subtleties Of thought the beautiful
| rehnements OF expression in which the play
| abounds, by means Of a foreign tongue, un-
intelgible to most of his auditors. The
| son has no such drawback. having mastered
| the unruly English speech to an extent truly
| marvellous and only becoming ncoherent In
| the more strenuous passages, where. after
| the sudden and quick southern habit the
words seem to tumble over each other in
| their haste. In the graver lines, however. his
| enunciation is admirably distinct, and his
| reading throughout is studious and well-con-
| sdered. One does not remember to have
heard the sooquy delivered with finer ap
| probation or greater depth of feeling. The
| standing of the speaker before the drawn
and mysterious draperies at the back Is
| especially fore ble and beautifully suggestive.
There are many innovations in this Ham
let and some features which seem new but
are only revivals. For instance, the en- |
trance of the king ana Polonius during the
| "nunnery" dialogue and the discovery of
them by Hamlet Is bit of business which |
was always employed with fine effect by |
Edwin Booth. 1t is in strongly emot ona |
scenes like this that Alexander Salvini's |
Hamlet lays himself open to the charge Of
boistercusness and of forgetting certain por-
tons of his own advice to the players. In
that wonderfully comprehensive code Of in
structons, which applies as closely today as
it did in Shakespeare's time, there is no
rule regulating the response to encores; but
one marves that SO fine an artist Alex
ander Salvini should allow applause, however
loud to tempt him to tho indiscret.on Of re-
turning to the stage and interrupting the
action to bow his acknowledgements, after
his inflammatory parting with Ophelia. If
audiences will call for such unseemy dis
plays they should be taught good manners
and sound art by those who by every right
of birth and training are fitted to impart in
struct!on.
Mr. Salvini's supporting company, judged
by the arduous requirements Of Shakespear-
ian tragedy, is not conspicuously strong. |
Aside from Miss Fitz Allen, whose Ophelia
was generally acceptable. the members did
not rise above medocrity. The play was
put on with unusual richness for a road
production and the costumes were elaborate
and correct. Tonight Mr.. Salvin appears
in his familiar and favorite part Of D'Artag-
nan in his own version of 1.-THE Three
Guardsmen." There is no matinee.
Probably no attraction that comes to Omaha
can claim a more extensive following of
those who like a stage entertainment that
gives them plenty of reason to laugh than
"Eight Bells" which will open a four days
engagement at Boyd's theater with
matinee at cheap prices tomorrow Sunday
aeternon.
Often as this combination of farce comedy,
gymnastics and general jollity has been seen
in this city. each passing season sees
|
provoking scenes The Byrne brothers are
said to have lots of new and funny business
in addition to what is perennial of the old
specialties, and those who can't find
laughter in the ground and lofty tumbling. |
the odd encounters and the thousand and
one merry circumstances crowding through
Eight Bells couldn't find it In the die s
tonary. The sale of seats will open this
at o'clock.
Beach & Bowers minstrels will close their | l
engagement at the Creighton with two per- !
formances today, d special holiday matinee |
being given at ,2:3O today at the usual popu- I
lar prices. A special low admission will be I
charged school children at today's matinee. /
1t has been decided to present Beau
Brummel" "a Partisan Romance" and one
other play during the coming two-night en- I
sagement of Richard Mansfield at the v
Creighton.
1.-THE Vendetta" with its elaborate scenic
Effects and exciting situations, will open a
weeks engagement at the Creighton with a
matinee tomorrow. The company includes c'
". R. Ogden and number of well known a
players. a.
Morrisons superb production of Faust" ST
will be seen here at Boyd's theater during Ct
he last three nights of next week. Faust" fe
n both operatic and dramatic form, has al d.
Ways drawn large houses In this city and l.
goes without saying that Morrson's pro- al
uction will meet with the high favor ac- W
orced 1t in former appearances. The present m
Engagement will have new interest to its ti
atrons from the fact that every bit OF q
oerery and all the costumes. properties and Is
fleets of the Brocken scene have been much =
This is especially the case in
he new and startling electrical effects. In
he church scene a chime of rich toned
ellis and quartet Of experienced singers
ill be heard, and in the garden scene the
tage will be filled with beautiful flowers,
erns and plants, which by the incantaton
rom Mephisto, will suddenly glow with hun
reds OF tiny electric sparks. The scene OF
he Broken, with its weird appartions,
ashes of lightning and concluding avalanche
electric fire, will be given with wonderful
feet. 1t is announced that arrangements =.
ave been made to make this scene more
laborate In it's terrifying details than has
yer been shown on the stage In this city. !
AXE FOREST LOSES A COLLEGIAN.
'resident John NJ. Coulter Goes to {