The herald., 1897-05-11

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LOS ANGELES THEATER-otis
Skinner was welcomed last night on
his temperance by q large audience
which followed his personation Of HAM
let with an interest that was shown by
the deep attention given to the acting
and the curtain calls that honored the
performers at the close OF each act.
The personation of the Danish prince
as presented by Mr.. Skinner Is of the kind
that might be expected Of an unusually
clever actor Of romantic characters. 1t
is not entirely satisfying to the student
of Shakespeare, for, while 1t is surpris-
ngly good in places, the satisfaction it
gives is tempered by the feeling that the
actor just misses the ideality of the char
acter. The moody, brooding character
istics of the prince and his habit of intro
spective thought are subordinated to the
display of q nervous, energetic tempera-
ment that exhibits itself spasmodic-
ally, and only fails to accomplish its
purposes because its subject lacks con-
centration. set,fts.ssf -ft~.rs..,
The Hamlet of Mr.. Skinner would
never indulge in metaphysics, and there
fore is, to that extent, not the Hamlet
of Shakespeare. In place of quiet, digni-
fed delivery, such, for instance, as is re-
quired in the scene with the courtiers
in which those gentlemen are requested
ITO play upon this pipe" Mr.. Skinner
loses himself in a fit of indignation that
finds it's expression in something ap-
preaching rant. 1t Is this exhibition of
superabundant energy that is the ac-
tors chief defect at this, stage Of his
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gains applause where he would other
wise sometimes miss it, but this consid-
Grafton should not weigh with a man
who has set out to conquer the dimcul-
ties of Hamlet
In the earlier part of the play and in the
last act Mr.. Skinner appeared to the best
advantage. The soliloquy, 20. what a
rogue and peasant slave am l." which
Is the test speech of the play, and the
most difficult to interpret, is on this ac-
count omitted by actors of the caliber
Of Louis James. Mr. Skinner delivered
it with fine feeling until he came to the
line, "Am coward ?" from which point
he dropped into mere elocution, losing
the fine significance of Hamlet's self
accusation.
The ITO be or not to be" soliloquy was
we'll rendered, the attitude Of the actor
being full of significance. Mr.. Skinner
takes the folio reading Of the line in his
soliloquy, "The pangs of dispriz'd love. p"
but he accents the word dispriZed on the
second syllable.
Mr.. SINNERS delivery of the lines Is
remarkably good, his enunciation is
clear, his voice is musical and of his in
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of doubt. His surplus energy Is most
out of place in the closet scene. where he
fails to impart the tenderness that is in
dicated in the adieu that closes the act.
| Maud Durbin's Ophelia is delightful
characterization delicate, spirituelle, re-
fined and breathing an atmosphere OF
tender sympathy that must have evoked
responsive chord in every one who wit
messed the performance.
The queen of Sarah Truax was effective
and the little part of the player queen
was made to stand out pleasantly by
Eda Aberle.
The remainder of the cast calls for nc
special mention. The arrangement of the
play is somewhat open to criticism, par
ticularly the appearances OF the ghost
and the murder of Polonius. but at the
same time Mr.. Skinner deserves the
greatest credit for the reverential care
with which he has edited the text foI
representation and for the excellence OF
the performance as whole.
Tonight His Grace de Grammont."
THE BURBANK.-The old familiar
spectacle, 1.-The Black Crook" opened
for a weeks run at the Burbank last
evening. But if it was an old play 1t was
cleverly disguised in new spring suit
replete with color and scenic effect. The
audience was large and appreciative
and presented a gala appearance. The
first nighters were there, the small boy
was there and enthusiastically appla ed
when Rudolph took fall out of Count
Wolfenstein. The representative of the
effete east was there bedecked with his
badges of the Order of Railway Conduct
ors and all applauded roundly this clever
portrayal of the famous old play. The
presentation was indeed surprise. In.
stead of the usual old, wornout scenery
every setting was entirely new, with
plenty of silver and gold tinsel and un.
der the calcium light in different colored
hdo tHC appearance VI oldSt
fairyland indeed. The costuming was
one of the strongest features, all new
and in unique patterns. The designs
colors and clever groupings won ap-
plause for every tableau. Everything
throughout the performance was bright
and crisp and fresh and new The noun
tain scene in the first and the grottc
scene in the second, with the towering
crags, the skeleton and cross bones, the
owls, animals and snakes, the appearance
of Zamiel and his followers made a very
realistic ensemble.
| Mr.. Montserrett was good as Hertzog
the Black Crook, Norval McGregor as
Rudolph, poor artist secured the sym.
pathy Of the ladies in the audience. Wal.
ter Fessler gave the necessary amour,
of villiany to the character of Count
Wolfenstein, while Mr.. Tjader as Grep.
pc, Immediately won the favor of all
his imitation of a slender servant
brought down the house. His songs an6
dances with Oracle Plaisted were clev.
erly done and deserved the many en-.
cores given them during the evening
Miss Plaisted is a perennial joy and nc
matter what she attempts she does well
Her songs, particularly the Lullaby, ;
were we'll rendered and the "Gobble'
duet from Mascotte with Mr.. Tjader
was one Of the gems of the evening
Miss Gertrude Berkeley made yer,
lovable Armenia, while Adah Sherman
as Guilda, the queens attendant, made
the most Of small part. Arnold Kiralf,
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