The herald., 1897-03-07

e
The dramatic event of the past week
has been the engagement of Louis
James in a round of his favorite char
acters, which appear to include Spar
tacus." Hamlet" "Othello," "Brutus"
and Romeo" Such an assortment
has possibly, never before been pre-
sented by any leading actor in single
engagement. The span from Romeo"
to "Spartacus" might be glibly made
by any actor OF unknown name and un-
achieved reputation. but when an actor
of the position occupied by Mr. James
makes such a departure, it is only reas-
enable that an attempt should be made
to find an excuse for his so doing.
Upon investigation it appears that
Mr.. James plays Romeo" because the
Public does not get enough of him as
"Mercutio," in which character he is,
perhaps, without a rival on the stage
today The attempt on the part of Mr..
James to satisfy this popular craving
for more of his personality in play
would be laudable If the results should
prove the wisdom of his judgment. But,
30 far as Romeo and Juliet" is con-
cerned, the star, in his attempt to enact
the young, impetuous lover. is not so
successful as in other and heavier roles
which he plays with satisfaction
In Hamlet" Mr.. James has commit
ted an offense against art because,
while people might be willing TO ac-
cept him as an artistic though out OF
date Romeo" his Hamlet could
never be regarded in a serious light.
Moreover there is this consideration to
take into account. When leading actor
undertakes to present play of Shake
speare his Interpretation should be, TO
some extent at least. in conformity
with received opinions But when,
as is the case with Mr. James, he gives
a reading so entirely different from ac-
cepted standards, so changed in its ar
rangement, and so subversive of all |
teaching on the subject it Is easy to see
that the student, the blossoming play
goer, is placed in position Of extreme
difficulty. With no previous experience
to guide him, he finds that the reading
of the play is not only wholly dissimilar
from what he has been taught. but that
the general effect is not what he has
been led to expect. The aim of the
r~.or should be to supplement the work
the student and to present the real
ton of the best conception of the
i. racter he assumes.
\ Julius Caesar" Mr.. James as
3rItus is at his best, although his
splrtacus is a close second. There
Is also a good deal of praise due to HIS
D'st lieutenant, Mr.. Lindsey, although |
mt gentleman Will find it necessary to |
rcome the unfortunate gasping habit |
ich disfgures his elocution. Miss |
na Kruger initiates Mr. Lndsley's |
ects, and gasps with a rhythmic |
ence that falls about on every fourth |
of the blank verse which she has to |
iver. Miss Kruger means we'll, but |
ability remains to be demonstrated |
the present time she appears to be in |
boarding school stage, with the ex- |
tion that she does not chew gum. |
= other members of the company are |
mostly ambitious young men who are
IN various stages of dramatic fever, and |
they are doing we'll.
Mr.. James has not played to very good |
business curing his engagement; not |
so good, in fact, as he deserved, and NOT |
few voices have been heard to the ef |
rect that 1t was pity the partnership |
between himself and Mrk Warde should |
have been dissolved. Mr.. James has |
many good wishes for the success of his
present tour.
Louisville, KY, has eight theaters IN
supply population of 100000. These
theaters are not we'll supported and the
atrical affairs in the whisky center ara I
consequently going to the dem
milton bow-wows. The condition is
made worse by an intense ri
VARY existing among the managers
VINO indulge in enormous lithographl,
auVertislng' which brings serious evil
IN the shape of a food of dead-he
passes, given out to pay for exhibitine
the hamboyant colored bills. So had il
the evil that. it is stated, passes are on
sale at reduced prices, and people buy
theln. VINO would otherwise pay their
way IN 10 the show One energetic man
Aser writes; A curse to every theater
ana attraction in this country is the
lithograph and bill board pass system
managers no longer control their own
business but are dictated to and led bv
the nose by lot of fellows, who act in
the capacity Of advertising agents. Peo-
pie are no longer influenced by a lot of
autographs put in windows and posted
on fences but by what is truthfully told
in the newspapers"
Ihls manager talks good common
sense. People regard the colored litho-
graphs OF theatrical people much as they
90 the circus posters. Everybody knows
that the gorgeous display of the circus
poster Is lying attempt at imposition.
ana an attraction that resorts to circus
!netnods Will not achieve success there
~ SO e~@'' 4iieSiiiSCiil y.
referring to an obnoxious custom |
prevalent IN so many places, even where
a knowledge of politeness and the po..
session of good breeding are supposed 70
govern 'soci1y," contributor to tho
Dramatic Mirror makes the followin,y
remarks. which will be appreciated as
applying not alone to New York. but IN
some cities on the Pacific coast. He
says: rH
One night last week 1t was NV 1ot
20 experience a sensation extraordinary
and unprecedented. / actually heard. In
q New York theater, the tag" of anlav
Let 1t be recorded that the play was .tF1r
Bonnie Prince Charlie" truly delieh..
ful entertainment, if trihe somber. ami
the tag" spoken by Robert Taber was
distinctly audible. 1t was the first time
this season that / have been enabled 10
hear the closing words of play. The
effort of our audience is to escape as
soon as may be from the theater, ana.
to this end, scenting the plays end from
afar, the worthy patrons of the drama
are wont to rise and to make for the
doors sometimes before the tag is in
sight. At our theaters, no sooner does
one man fancy the final curtain is az
hand that a hundred rise with him. grab
overcoats and hats, and fall to putting
on these garments; the ladies follow
suit, wriggling into capes and wraps,
and all bob up or down, blithely chatting
about the play, the weather, or the ques-
fiOn of in fan fr,ir |