The times., 1898-11-17
THINGS THEATRICAL.

QlNUO LEA nJOAu.
One who had never seen him play the
part could hardly imagine Charles B. Han
ford appearing as Shylock in THE Mer-
chant of Venice" So few Washingtonians
have had that experience that one need
perhaps go no further in his efforts to ac
count for the rather poor house that
bia. And yet when one has taken into
consideration the marred and hammered
Jew of Richard Mansfield. the elocution-
airy methods displayed by Walker White
side and the immaturity of james Young.
who most lately essayed the character
here. he cannot well resist yielding the
palm to Mr.. Hanford. For the Shylock
of the local actor is hot only as intell-
gent and comprehensive a portrayal as
could be wished. but it has. In addition, a
certain broad humanity totally lacking in
the conceptions OF the trio named above.
With the performer under consideration,
the part reaches neither the height nor
the depth frequently given it, but pro-
ceeds upon n plane that seems unusually
parallel with that OF nature. Mr.. Han
ford's Shylock is. not by any means a
prodigy or a caricature-it is a distinct
impersonation from which one may gather
frequent marks to assist him in Identify
ing IL with the men whom he meets in
everyday life rirst last and always an
egotist. the Jew portrayed yesterday even
ing was to no one else so great a hypo-
critic as to himself He was the person de-
ceived by the manner of his Justification
he the man most necessarily satisfied of his
honesty before going on toward revenge
In brief. Mr.. Hanford's Shylock, with his
distorted ideas of right and wrong is the
perfect embodiment of the line with which
Antonio aptly qualities him-'The devil
can cite Scripture for his purpose" So
the role becomes neither that of a re-
ligious fanatic nor of a vengeful scoun-
drel, but rather that of a being with
whom every act of cruelty is first excused
by the stress of some fancied or real in
jury. AS Portia. that clever actress. Mary
Timbermann. labors successfully to over
come the disadvantages of her appearance
and makes most charming heroine, while
John Milton plays a thankless part-one
even less firmly grounded than is that of
Romeo-with discretion and skill. George
Morton is put to the stress of melodra-
matte tricks for his results. but is never
theless a good Antonio. Two of the casts
best impersonations are the Launcelot of
j
and Duke of John A. Ellsler Neither
could be improved upon. Frank Tennig.
James A. Young, Richard Buhler. Law
renee Lowell. Myra Chavalier and Marie
Drofnah are so much above the average
Shakespearean support that they make UP
for the unusual inefficiency and dirtiness
of the supers employed in the production.
An excellent business is being done this
week at the Lafayette Square Opera
House, where the droll work of Dan DAILY
and the efficiency of his supporting COM
pany are making the merits of ''The Belle
of New York" stand out with unusual
prominence. Gustave Kerker never COM
posed a more thoroughly tuneful score
than that of the recent Casino success
and lovers of the sort of melody that
pleases the ear and Fuckers the lips are
duly appreciative of its merits. The
familiar songs, Teach Me How to Love"
Follow On, "The Belle of New York.
Mamie Clancy" 1.-The Song of the Res
cue League" "Old Glory and a number
of others are encored nightly, while the
comicalities of an able corps of comedians
provokes almost constant laughter. Alto
gether the attraction is an excellent one
and is drawing accordingly.
American heroism, Cuban cowardice
and Spanish treachery are graphically
contrasted in 1.-The Red, White and
Blue. timely patriotic play which will
be presented next week at the Columbia
Theater, with Wednesday, Saturday and
special Thanksgiving Day matinees.
Ihe story of this realistic military
drama, which is said to surpass "Shen-
andoah In popular and contemporaneous
appeal, illustrates forcefully the perils
experienced by our countrymen resident
IN cuba prior to and during the recent
campaign. The prosecutions endured by
a party of "Gringos' at the hands of the
enemy, their flight toward the coast, their
pursuit, capture and rescue by Uncle
Sans marines, form series of exciting
incidents, absorbing situations and thrill
ing climaxes. The battle scene which
furnishes the finale of the play is sup
posedly ingenious in device and realistic
IN erect. In 1t are employed over one
hundred and fifty supernumeraries.
Inc settings used reflect picturesque
cuba and the atmosphere has been capi-
tally caught by Walter Burridge, the
artist who painted them. Frank J. Kee-
neen. stage director of 1.-The Christian
fas personally supervised the production
and has selected one of the best casts
seen recently in this class of work. 1t
includes Gertrude Quinlan, Ida McMil-
ian, Maude Hosford, Lottie Alter, Charles
Kent, Stephen Wright. Raymond Hitch
COCK, David Murray, W. S. ST. Claire.
John lnce, jr., r. F. Sullivan. Charles Fl.
stewart, Z. b. Poor, C. NJ. Raphun. F.
Duncan, and Hazel Kirk Clark The
numerous inquiries for seats and boxes
promise series of large audiences in
attendance at 'The Red, White and
Blue"
Alice Nielsen, the charming little star
who brings "The Fortune Teller to the
LafaYetta next 1vaalc r,,a.. ho al