Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-27
ADJUSTMENTS.

Creston Clarke was appauded for his por-
trayal of the melancholy Dane at the Col
lumbia last night was indicative of sympa-
thy for the actor in his recent bereavc-
ment was only natural yet. barring that,
there was evidence that his hearers were
giving proof of their appreciation.
AS is well known, Mr.. Clarke pre-
sents scholarly conception of the most
celebrated of Shakespeares characters.
While following the accepted traditions
of the stage, there is no weak and timid
imitation in his characterization. 1t has
been said that the soliloquies in Hamlet
are the key to the character of the sable
CARRIED prince. Judged by his reading of
these. Mr.. Clarke showed that he had fully
grasped their significance and had clear
ly defined conception of the playwright's
thought. Mr.. John Carter's Polonius was
a highly creditable performance. and Mr.
Barrett's Horatio was intelligent and man.
ly. Al! the sweetness and tender insanity
in the part of Ophelia was brought out by
Miss Adelaide Prince, who some time ago
cut out for herself a niche in the pubics
AFFECTION. Other parts were taken by Fred
erik Forester as King Claudius. George
d. Parker as Laertcs. G. +. Lurssen as
ghost E. Vining as Rosencrantz, j. w.
Bennett Guildenstern, J. j. Sambrook
as first grave digger, l.. r. Gray as second
grave digger, Anna Moore Osrick, Geo
d. Parker as first player, w. James as
second player. j. Burton as Marcellus G.
Coutts as Bernardo, Howard as Francisco
j. Willard as priest Alice Gale as Queen
Gertrude and Grace Wallace as player
queen. The Bells tonight.
THE WINTERS TALE.''-Washingt
devotees of Shakespearian drama and the
night. when, amid embellishments of
scenery and costumes truly magnificent,
the James-kidderH anford triumvirate
gave a revival production of THE Winters
Tale a play seldom attempted nowadays.
An extraordinary cast and a setting of
great proportions are requisites, and the
expense attending is a mercenary man.
moth few managers care to embrace. The
dor of the surroundings anent it's perform
ance. induced Mary Anderson to choose it
as the vehicle for her farewell to the stage.
Not since that epoch has The Winter s
Tale" been seen in this country until the
members of the James kidder Hanford Or
ganization, with justfable confidence in
their individual and joint dramatic abilities,
determined to give the English bards pow
erful romance of Sicilian and Bohemian
history to the playgoers.
1t would be difficult. if not entirely i'm
possible, to go into the many details of a
production Ike that at the New National
Ii st night. Shakespeare's lines have sell
dom been so intelligently' read nor his char
acters been set amongst more fitting and
elaborate scenery, nor CARRIED in robes
more beautiful and costly Dealing with
regal people and with ancient lavishness,
the settings We're indeed worthy the courts
where the scenario is laid. Every bit of
scenery and every article of property is
carried by the company. Every costume
was designed and constructed with faith
full regard to correctness in cut and mate
rial. And especially pleasing was the fact
that all Of this was brilliantly new. The
company, large and well trained in stage
craft. was happily cast throughout. The
result of these favorable circumstances
was production Of Shakespeare which has
rarely. if ever. been equaled on the Amer
lean stage. Every one witnessing the per
Torrance was forced to this conclusion
Ana so great was the interest of the large
audience in the rendition that all sat
| thrilled during the ciimaxes so wildly por-
| trdyed. The stiffness attending this close
attention To every detail of speech and ac-
ton was interrupted only when bursts of
applause could no longer be restrained by
an audience wrought to a high pitch of ad-
miring enthusiasm. Flattery too fulsome
cannot be laVlshed upon the principals for
their individual work and the thoroughness
OF their production. SO much in general
terms.
Mr.. Hanford and Miss Kfdder in 1.-The
Winters Tale have been cast in the more
important parts and divide between them
the great honors OF the evening. Mr. James
mas comparatively minor part a comedy
role. His ability and personality however
shone forth to such advantage even under
this handicap that he was appreciated and
appiauded continuously. In the theater it
is d Weli-known fact that no matter what
the minuteness of the role the true actor
will be discerned. So it was with Mr.
James as Autolycus. the rogue and i'm
postor. HIS lines fairly bristled with good
humor and lost none of their Doignancy at
his hands. His work was most plea sing
| OF Mr.. Hanford enough cannot be said. In
all his career in classic roles never has the
tragedian been seen to better advantage.
! los D1a .lt1 he. f,,J I'll
called for during the course of the play
might too easily be overdone. Mr. Han
| ford tempered these moments of passion
with the dignity betting the majesty of
the king he portrayed without losing the
| force and effect of his unjust TRADES against
| the chaste queen. There not d let-up
| i'll the character of his Interpretation at
any stage in the progress of the drama.
! Consistent and powerful throughout was
/ his reading of lines whose dramatic bril-
! liancy and strength are such that many
| actors fear their undertaking. Mr.. Han
! ford's Washington friends were naturally
| and justly gratitied, while the strangers in
! the audience We're satisfied that they had
! witnessed a rare and expressive portrayal.
| Miss kidder was no less faithful. no less
! convincing and no less appreciated in the
/ Qua ro!es of Hermone. wife of the jealous
| tyrant. Leontes (Mr. Hanford. and Per-
| dita, her daughter. Through the dignified
! scenes Miss kidder enacted during the first
| four acts she was followed with apprecia-
J
| of the queen, but was womanly well.
| Sc clcverly and effectively did she portray
| this character the audience doubted if she
! could make the transition to the young
! girl of the later scenes These misgivings,
| however were quickly and effectuaily dis
| PEELED when in the fifth act Miss kidder
| led the country dance with all the girlish
simplicity of one in the first exubo rance of
| life. AS Perdita she was just faithful
! to the part and fitted it well that OF
| the stately queen. The remainder of the
| company was very. very good The cast is
, long one, and it would be manifestly I'M
! fair to particulariZe. There was no weak
! Tess apparent for the stars needed no con-
! trasts to add to their brilliant work. 1.-The
| Winters Tale" will be repeated tonight
| and tomorrow night and Saturday matinee
f! The School for Scandal is being given at
| today's matinee and will be again present
| ed Friday evening, while Ma cheth'' Will
| be the closing bill Of the week, Saturday
! evening
| BECAUSE SHE LOVED HIM So
| Because She Loved Him So. a new n
| sational farce by William Gillette and
| produced by Charles Frohman. will begin
| weeks engagement at the New National
| Theater on Monday evening. 1t had re-
| markably prosperous run of nearly two
] hundred performances last reason at the