Kansas City journal., 1898-01-25
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o MUSIC AND THE DRAMA, @
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Mr. Walker Whiteside is a young. earn
est and talented actor on whom not a few
of the lovers of poetic tragedy pinned
their faith when the great lights of the
Shakespearean school went out.
But Mr.. Whiteside is not progressive
and that faith that inspired and sustained
him. when he was in the experimeutaI
stage is on the wane.
This is blunt, but it is true. II is vastly
more important TO Mr.. Whiteside than 10
anyone else to know that 1t is true,
rms young actor has been before the
pubic Tor some seven or eight years. His
Iirst three or four seasons We're spent in
tne small towns of the West. He was
supported by the most ordinary companies
anu lurnisheC with the most commonplace
equipments. His native talent however
was suf1cient 10 interest his auditors and
10 oazzie the unframed critics. He re-
SelSeu Iulsome praise when he should have
mad guiding criticism. As a result, he ac-
qulfed faults and mannerisms that greatly
compromised his chances when he gained
entrance TO the more discriminating cities
1et he made reputation that aroused
considerable interest and his first engage
Hieuts III the large centers of the country
were prosperous. His audiences We're
large. The critics found so much 10 praisc
mat they could not but be considerable
even toward his shortcomings. especially as
ne was young and earnest and had been
..s'iHpcitN ny lIe worst sort OF experience.
no other Shakespe2rean beginner was ever
treated with more sincere good will The
highest compliment that could be paid him
mat or discriminating criticism, was be-
slowed upon him at great length
But so far Mr.. Whitesde is still a rough
diamond. He has not taken the polish of
which he was susceptible nor that was ex-
pected.
HIS first appearance In this city was some
four years ago. He has played here every
season since. and opened Il brief engage
n fsr. To-,
III what is regarded as his best role, thai
of Hamlet Yet he brings with him the
same imperfections that were noted on
MS first appearance here. and they are ali
the more marked because there Is no longer
tie interesting element of novelty in his
performances.
II is a significant fact that the first en-
gagement here was more successful than
any succeeding one The best that a young
greater the expectations. the greater the
enort necessary to meet them and cXpec-
tations must meet with a least gradual full
fllment or interest must cease.
Mr.. Whiteside's Hamlet" is a most I'M
even impersonation. II has moments of
poetic beauty. picturesque effect and thrill
restless and again strangely passive. In
& vocal exp eXpreisis;i9n there are moments of al
most M tedo1sI sa and others
bits or natural colloquialism. but much
more that is STACEY. The terminal RS"
OF emphatic worus are rolled to an offensive
degree;
tration in the quality of voice so much
earnestness in general demeanor. so much
that denotes the inner workings of this
distraught prince. that one can not escape
the conviction that there is much more to
this young actor than has ever been re-
vealed.
Mr.. Whiteside needs study and obserya-
tion. He needs the best coaching that he
can secure. He does not even know the
art of makeup and dress. A years absence
from the stage. devoted to the study of the
characters he wishes to portray and to the
observation of the best models the stage
affords. would do wonders, if indeed. Mr.,
Whiteside is capable of becoming a finished
artist.
Miss Leila Wolstan is a fairly good
Ophela. The King of Mr.. Charles Her
man and the Laertes of Mr.. ]. NJ. Stur-
Geon are heavy with obsolete traditions of
Legitimate" expression. The Polonius and
First Grave Digger of Mr.. J. NJ. Saphore
on the other hand. are trivially modern
Some of the smaller parts were better.
The RozencrantZ of Mr.. Robert Leland.
the Guildenstein of Mr.. G.. B. Tower and
the First Actor of Mr.. W. Collins were es-
Mr.. ]. NJ. Sainpois has some very good
points. Mr.. James Cooper posed for the
Ghost. but Mr.. Herman's big voice was
plainly distinguishable in the reading of
the lines.
"Richelieu' will be the bill Tonight
The Merchant of Venice" that of to-mor-
row afternoon and "Othello'' will be the
AUSTIN LATcHAw.
Tickets for the I.eb testimonial concert
which will be given at the Academy of
Music Thursday evening, are on sale at
the various music stores.