Evening star., 1898-11-17
AMUSEMENTS.

ater last evening, where The Merchant of
Venice followed Julius Caesar" What
were Hanford's advantages Tuesday night
"a fine physique and a resonant voice-be-
came his handicap last night, for whoever
heard of stout Shylock with sonorous
sentences? Yet. despite his manly figure
and voice, Hanford presented a hfelike
Shylock. real person. There We're evil
dences that Mr.. Hanford had deeply studied
every line and every infection He had put
himself in Shylock's place. and as a result
he acquired Shyocks cunning his servil-
ity, his burning hate. his merciess cruelty
and finally his despair. Shylock has been
faVorite of great actors. 1t calls out great
abilities and great minds are attracted to
1t. Hanford does not suffer when compari-
sons are made. The speech beginning
Hath not a Jew eyes?' addressed to
lr1cn1S oil Antonio and BaSSano in the
thrd act was given with fire and earn
eStness that sent a thrill through every
nearer. 1t was lofty and well sustained
night worthy of the foremost stars of the
American stage. The rapid transition from
grief over his daughters flight rage against
the enemies OF his race, to joy at the losses
of Antonio and the anticipation of future
revenge was mastery portrayed. This is
Mr.. Hanford's greatest scene. In the trial
scene. necessarily, he was circumSDect
Apart from the final collapse and despair
little feeling, beyond that shown in an nso-
lent and triumphant sheer could be dis
played. Mr.. Hanford was master of the
quleter scenes equally with the more pow
erful Mr.. Hanford has surrounded him
SELF with a capable company. Portia was
portrayed by Mary Timbermann. who gave
her lines with distinctness and intelligence
and made an impressive and agreeable ap-
pearance IN the court scene Jessica Shy
Locks lock, daughter, was daintily given by
Marie Drofnah; Merissa, by Myra Lee
thaValler The male parts were carried
with good judgment. Antonio was pre-
sented by George Morton: Rassanio. by
fnr II,
arino, James y. Young; Sa,anio, Richard
Buhler: Lorenzo, Lawrence Lowell: Tubal
NJ {. Stone: Launcelot GObbo Paul G.
Iayior; while John A. ElIsler took the
double roles of the Duke of Venice and Old
GODbo. The scenery. costuming and access
sorles were appropriate. The audience was
large Tor rainy night and enthusiastically
appreciative. Miss Timbermann was given
a curtain recall and presented with an i'm
meHse bunch of chrysanthemums while
after the fifth act the curtain had to be
raised repeatedly. until a length Mr.. Han
ford appeared alone IN response TO the an
plause. number of cadets from the East
ern High School were present and made
things lively, Tonight Damon and Pyth-
las will be presented.
A CHANGE IN THE CAsT.-Mrs. Thom
as Nhiffen of the New York Lyceum The
ater Company will replace Mrs. owen Mar
rowe as Mrs. StanyOn in The Tree of
knoWledse' at the National Theater for
the remainder Of the week commencing
with this evenings performances Mrs.
Whiffen originated this part at the Lvceum
Theater last season. Mrs. Mar!owe's daurh-
ter ded on the stage Of the KnickerhOckor
Iheater In New York last night and she
was compelled to give up her part that she
might attend the funeral.
THE FORTUNE TELLER EVERY now
ana then new star wrinkles in the thea tri-
cal armament, and the public intuitively
begins to speculate on the newcomers
chance of success The season lust com
menclnS is 10 exception to the rule excepf
Tor the TACT that the realm of light opera
mas not in many years welcomed an aspi-
rant 50 well equipped for lyric honors as
A1ce Nielsen, who makes her stellar debut
mere next Monday night at the J. lfayette
Square Opera House. When this youna
singer created the role of "Yvonne' in Her
bert and Smiths tuneful opera The Sere-
made, in New York year ago last March
and becam me famous in night, the prophecy
was then generally made that there were
two young ladies destined for stellar hon
Crs. One was Maude Adams who has full
hlled her promise If success and the OF her
AIce Nielsen, who has accomplished a
companion hit in Herbert and Smiths new
opera. The Fortune Teller The company
supporting Miss Nielsen, it may be safely
said, is the best and most important oper-
Sltlc organization touring the country this
StdSoa IL has been formed by Frank l..
Periey, whose successful direction of va:
rious important theatrical enterprises is
well known Numbered among its person
tt"t f'-t fhitCe .\letSetl, Marcia van Dresser
Jennie Hawley, Billie Norton May BoIev,
Richard Golden, Joseph Herbert, Joseph
CawthcIn and Paul Nicholson, comedians:
Eugene Cowles. bassO Frank Rushworth h
tenor; William F. Rochester and Franklin
Wallace. baritones, together with a chorus
OF sixty voices, eight trumpeters and a
drum corps trained by the instructor of the
I'D Regiment Band. a prismatic ballet and
large orchestra under the direction of
Paul Steindorff
Tine Fortune Teller" the libretto of
which is by Harry b. Smith and the music
by victor Herbert, has received more than
ordinary attention, as the contract between
Manager Perlcy and thu librettist and com
poser provided for their exclusive work.
ana prohibited them from engaging in the
construction of any other opera until after
this one WAS delivered and accepted An
elaborate scenic production has been fur
nished, and judging from the operate slate
at the present time the Nielsen Opera Com
pany has already taken place as the stand
ard operate organization of the country
THE RED, WHITE AND BLUE'-"The
Red. White and Blue a timely, patriotic
pay, Will receive its first presentation in this
city at the Columbia Theater next Monday
night. This realistic military drama prom
lses to attract a series of bumper houses
ior II is ahNe with the sentiments so dear
TO the American heart at the present mo-
ment. Patriotism pervades the production
American heroism, Cuban coWardice and
Spanish treachery are dominant threads in
love ana war. The personages of the play
are now familiar to all theater-goers. The
heroes are national types, always in the
public eye, yet especially endeared by their
recent exploits on land and sea. The heart
interest is strongly appealing, and is re-
lieved by Il bright vein of comedy, charac-
teristcally American. The episodes possess
a favor of originality, the mechanical eff
tects are unstereotyped. the situations of
absorbing interest and the climaxes thrill
ing, notably the battle scene, which fur
"'shes the finale of the drama. stirring
episode in the play is the rescue of party
OF Americans imprisoned in an old Spanish
tort. A band of mounted insurgents dash
en- the stage at full gallOp, treat with sum-
| nary vengeance the Spanish guards and
l.eerate the prisoners. The cast, which is
one of the best seen recently in meIodra-
matte productions, includes Charles Kent
David NJ. Murray, Stephen Wright Ray
mond Hitchcock w. S. St. Clair, John lnce,
jr.. Gertrude Quinlan, Ida Macmillan,
Maude Hosford, Lottie Alter and Hazel
kirke Clarke
WAY DOWN EAST."-The atmosphere
of homely wholesome naturalness that per-
vades ''Woy Down East" the new rustic