The herald., 1896-01-24
AT THE THEATERS

lHEAIEk-AEalD l.
is seen and:
''The idols are broke in the temple of Baal."
Last night the beauty and talent of the
city crowded to see Louis James portray
the sane, cunning, vigorous, manly Hamlet
of his conception.
The picture of the Danish prince of his
minds eye was drawn with consunmate
skill and it will foreve er stand out in the
memory of those who were so fortunate
est pictures of a noble human soul that
chang on memory's WALL" Like many
others, MIR. James does not believe in the
tradition that Shakespeare's Hamlet was
in any sense a mailman. To him Hamlet's
madness was but anger and filial affection
assuming an uncannv aspect and myster-
ious methods to enable solitary prince to
overcome powerful! and INSCRIPTIONS foe
in the person of his uncle, the murderer of
Hamlet's father and would-be murderer of
Hamlet himself.
The polished words, mystic phrases, and
exquisitely turned sentences which from
Hamlet's tongue come freighted with such
wealth of beautiful ideas, while the soul
of the prince is borne down with weight
of woe, is the strongest evidence of a con-
sistent and sublime spirit.
Several plain passages from Hamlet's
own mouth bear testimony to his felgning
insanity, but the strongest evidence of all
is the drama in its entirety.
In his makeup Mr.. James represents the
ideal, sturdy and intellectual Saxon. No
modern actor has a more princely bearing,
a greater facility of gesture, or more eX-
pressive and mobile face.
In all these particulars he resembles Ed
win Booth, but in the flexible and exquis-
itely tender, sympathetic tones of his voice
he is superior to every person that has ap-
peared upon the American stage in the last
two decades, with the exception of Sarah
Bernhardt and Joseph Jefferson.
The crying. breaking, vo!uble speech re-
quired in the fourth act of Hamlet requires
a voice of almost infinite power and hui
man tenderness. Mr.. James does those
difficult parts with great skill and with
melting pathos- Many an eye in last
nights audience bore fearful witness to his
power. The audience manifested it's keen
appreciation of his work by frequent re-
calls. In the third act he was cheered vo-
oiferously and he finally expressed thanks
in a pleasant little speech. The legitimate
drama is not dead, but it often slumbers
till awakened by Booth, Barrett or a
James.
1t is a pity that the public is to have but
three more performances during Mr..
James present engagement This city
should have had him for two weeks at least.
The Polonius of Mr.. Harry Langdon was
bit of art work that was very much ap-
preciated. His makeup was most excel
lent and his voice and action perfect COM
plements thereto. The Ophelia of Miss
Alma Kruger was well done, especially in
the madness of the fourth act.
The mysterious and awful ghost was
well represented by Wilfred North His
sepulchral voice is something phenomenal,
and the monotone which he used was most
appropriate. The jesting grave-digger had
an able exponent in James Harrison. Mr..
Guy Linsley as Laertes, and Mr.. Collin
Kannar ole
The Osric of Thomas Coffin Cooke was
pleasant and wholesome surprise. The
trying part OF the queen was well sustained
by Miss Florence Everett. and Mr. William
Harris as King Claudius showed that he
could do vigorous and artistic work in
trying role.
Hamlet was we'll staged in every way,
and the time between acts was remarkably
short. The support was almost faultless
throughout and the company was proven
competent to represent the greatest and
most difficult of all dramas to the entire
satisfaction of the gallery-the most diff
cult to please OF all audiences as well as
the pit. The royal welcome rendered the
company last night and the royal treat re
turned for the favor will be given in Mac
beth tonight, with Romeo and Juliet for
Saturdays matinee, and Othello on Satur-
day night. No lover of the classic and
beautiful should miss either performance.
y = 4
Los ANGELES THEATER.-A large ad-
vance sale yesterday at the Los Angeles
theater indicates good houses for the opera
season next week. Manager Charles H.
Pratt, who has brought many operate cele-
brities to the Pacific coast, among them
Emma Abbott, and who also gave this
city grand opera by his new organization,
the Tavary Opera company. last year,
writes of the great success of his splendid
company through Mexico, both financially
and artistically, and says he will give the
public OF Los Angeles the best productions
of grand opera in his forthcoming engage
ment January 27th that this city ever had.
Among the artists are Nine. Tavary, who
is a most versatile artist, and the favorite
and famous little French tenor, Albert l..
Guile, whose voice is more remarkable
than ever in it's limpid beauty; Mile.
Anna LIGHTER, a brilliant new prima donna,
with an exquisitely cultivated voice and
charming presence. There are also Nine.
Theo. Doree, Nine. Bella Tomlns, con-
tralto; Payne Clarke, Max Eugene, the
English baritone; Signor Abramoif, basso;
William Stephens, William Shuster, sup
ported by their grand chorus and full Or
chestra. The operas will be The Hugue-
nots, Lohengrin's Aida, Mignon, Faust's
Carmen, Trovatore, Tannhauser and other