The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-09-26
NOTES AMONG THE ACTORS.
HELENE MORA or THE VAUDETILLES
PLAYS HAMLET VERY WELL.

How Mr.. ReeVes-smith Differentiated Two
Characters That Look Alike-A Second
Sam Bernard Who Duplicates the First
One-Some Points in n Music Hall Play.
Mistaken identity caused by the resemblance
OF two characters has always been a favorite
subject with farce writer's, but seldom are the
parts 80 we'll played as they are by H. Reeves
Smith In "A Brace Of Partridges." This Eng
fish comedian invests each role with n charao-
ter of It's own. He Is quiet and convincing as
Arthur Pnrtridge. the lover and matinee hero
Of the piece, Some Of his scenes while in this
Ruise show him TO be capable OF serious acting
OF a high order. AZ the other Partridge, a
"Bertie-the-Lamb" sort OF chap. he speaks In
n squeaky voice and adds q nervous laugh.
TIL play requires that the cousins should look
alike. but Mr.. Reeves-Smlth takes the liberty
OF changing them as to facial expression. So
well does he denote the different natures OF
the men In his face that he makes the plays
foolish plot seem almost sensible. As the
young man who gives up wealth and position
for love he has that far-away look with which
Sothern has delighted the girls for years. A
vacant stare and an idlotio smile make up the
only expression OF visage that the brainless
double can boast OF.
While Sam Bernard Is striving at the Bijou
to clinch his departure from the music halls,
Dick Bernard at Roster Il Balls Is copying
him very closely. The involved German dia-
lect Is reproduced faithfully. the pauses Of the
better known comedian In pointing his fun are
followed and the general manner OF speech Is
reproduced In every small detail. One char
acteristic trick. an upward toss OF the chin.
used by Sam to express complete faith In his
own assertions or contemptuous snubbing OF
other folks. is Dicks possession. Sam is all
there but a certain authority. or magnetism.
the lack Of which the imitator may attribute
to the large auditorium in which he Is en-
gagged. and so be comforted.
One Spaniard to a whole melodrama OF the
current war Is a scant allowance. and the
actor who played that one in "A Daughter of
Cuba" made him hideous. He was tall. spare.
and almost black. Soiled raiment suggested
an era OF social and commercial depression.
When he lauRhed'o or threatened, every tooth in
his head cleaned white. But the makeup.
intended to be impressive. proved lauRhable.
The gods jeered alike at his promises Of VEN
Reance and his Attempts to get 1t. His death
throes we're accompanied by a fall from q
height Of six feet. Fortunately. the Stars and
Stripes were a background to his midair de-
mise. and the spectators were too busy cheer
ing to deride him.
A. rifle expert at the Pleasure Palace last
week Is named Toperwine, and thus burdened
his aim Is steady. One of his tricks contrasts
slow; unsure shooting with rapid: accurate
Spanish. the other as American practice.
Keith importation is a muscular equili-
last, he visited these shores. Some Of his
TO his chin. and while balancing it on end
fires a heavy charge from it. Then he holds
niHt' no "a w TonSts % Ss fS a tine seTi9u S1t,ise Of his
task. Finally he lifts a WON an seated at a
piano. stage hands supporting, instrument
man gets beneath. The piano is a light
weight counterfeit, and the woman this time
strong man has q hard time smiling.
1t was not in the least ridiculous. ALTHOUGH
by the conventions 1t should have been. Ham
let in a continuous roRran me does not seem
any other than q humorous possibility. Pre-
coded by an imitator Of Sousa1and followed by
negro knockabout comedians. the closet scene
Of Shakespeare's tragedy would appear to be
wholly out Of the serious question. AS II these
conditions were not discouraging enough.
there was a woman in the part Of the prince.
But the result was far removed from failure.
Helene Mora, hitherto a vaudeville balladist.
was this strange %venturer at Hyde d Behman's
In Brooklyn. That theatre had never been re-
gaIded as a temple Of the serious drama: vet
it becomes wholly sedate during the thirty
minutes of Shakespeare. for which the audi
ence had no more preparation than a few
NAsAAAA . SAAAAAo bAA wv hANoAS vi NAiS AAhA
beloved in Bowery melodrama. The scene
disclosed was appropriate and satisfactory.
The action began with the speeches between
P0Lonius and Gertrude. Then the young Prince
Mora had the slim figure OF a youth. He hair
fell back In curlS. Her legs were straight and
f5eRd sastu asr w sh9q Ipky bl TsEe w 6FRad no 9 todo6 6a #
bright color; About the throat was the glimpse
Of a white linen shirt. The fault of her per
ton. She was lacking in freedom of motion
and in variety Of gesture. Her understanding
Her reading In the deep tones OF her unusual
voice was agreeable and suffered only through
was remarkable. 1t is safe to say that nobody
In the theatre missed a word Of Hamlers
speeches. and that was not because OF the force
with which they were delivered. but from the
Intelligence and clearness Of the elocution.
Miss Mora was quite free from affected inter-
modes. Look here upon this picture and on
this" drew the contrast between a portrait of
Glaudius at the Queens neck. The murder OF
Polonius behind the arras was swift; and
graceful The actresses vehemence in. the
treatment OF the mother was touched with the |
suggestion Of pathos and despair. Through |
out the half hour devoted 70. the scene she
as could be revealed in the short time per-
mitted to her in a vaudeville bill.
The first performance of I'm Gotham at
Roster d Balls lasted until half an hour after
midnight. The repetitions have been briefer.
What was uninteresting has disappeared. and
the best elements OF the latter part Of the ex-
travaganza are now agreeably congested.
The excess OF matter indicated a belief that
too much Of a good thing is not possible.
Especially in the Yiddish cake walk was this
disposition noticeable. II two caricatures OF
Jews are funny. why should not forty be forty
times as funny? The management answered
that question convincingly In the Affirmative.
The long line OF quantity attired figures is
an amusing sight which wins from the spec
tators about the heartiest laughter OF the per-
fvrmance. There are other episodes in the
last act which are excellent. One IL a bur-
lesque Of the conventional comic opera.
with Richard Carrie as the tenor hero,
while Josie Hall is the heroine. the young wo-
man with a few lines to speak. ana the femi-
tiated these characters distinctly enough by
voice and action. 1t is plain from their trav-
esty Of traditional mannerisms what they are
doing hnT in order 10 avoid nny ppufuginD |