The times., 1899-09-27
THINGS THEATRICAL.
Columbia-aHam1et.v

Ine unfortunate circumstance account
able for the postponement of Creston
Clarke's performance of Hamlet from
Monday evening to last night, at the CO.
lumbia Theatre, gave added and impressive
significance to that rendering. The role OF
the Dane should be realistically played by
man whose own father has been dead only
a few hours, and many In the audience
present evidently realized the fact. while
appreciating also the strain incidental to an
impersonation fulfilled under such condi-
tons. 1t may have been this understand
ing that was responsible for the layishness
with which Mr.. Clarke was applauded, and.
again, it may have been the apparent in
telligenee OF those who did the applauding
Most modern Shakespearian assemblies feel
themselves called upon to commend every
long speech read; that being discussed ap-
proved chiefly of those cautiously read.
Mr.. Clarka's Hamlet is so well known
in Washington that it requires no more
than casual mentien. 1t is careful and
conservative portrayal portrayal which it
would be too much 10 call natural and too
little to describe as being purely tradi-
tional. In the primaly conspicuous scenes
of the piece-in the soliloquy, the address
to the players the dialogue with 0phelia.
and other important portions-Mr. Clarke
departs only trifiingIy from the we'll
thought-out action and accent of his pred
ecsssors in the part. With a tragedy In
which every line is so thoroughly familiar
as are those of Hamlet" in which every
word carries it's bane OF not unprejudiced
comparison. this tendency TO follow in pref
erence to leading is rather sensible than
otherwise Certainly, when it is considered
that there can be only one correct way Of
giving these scenes the most captious will
agree that nothing can be lost by timidity
in diyerging from the Hamiets Of a dozen
generations Mr. Clsrke's Hamlet Is most
decidedly manly forcefuf, distinct, and
when necessary, intense, the climax TO the
appearance of the performers before the
King and Queen being admirably con-
structed and maintained.
The best member of what is undoubtedly
the best cast with which Mr.. Clarke has
ever shown the work in Washington is that
veteran actor and student. John Carter
whose portraiture of Polonius, whose ma
ture formed the second kalf of his ulin-
territorial paradox, .'breyity is the very
soul of wit" is one of the few entirely
worthy OF commendation among those re-
Gently seen here So, too. the Horatio os
p. s. Barrett is both intelligent and ef-
fectual, Frederick Forester is hardly
more than an adequate King Ciaudius, but
George ID. Parker merits unlimited praise
for the excellent manner in which he diff
ferentiates between the doubled roles of
Laertes and the First Player. G. F. Lurs-
sen sticks to the trite idea that all ghosts,
and the ghost of Halmet's father in par
tieular. have bass voices. while E. Vining,
]. W. Bennett, ]. ]. Sambrook, L. r. Gray.
and other men of the organization are
good. Adelaide Prince is a charming,
albeit rather sp:ritless. Ophelia, and Alice
Gale does not always read the lines of
Queen Gertrude correctly. The play is pro-
duced as Hamlet too seldom is-not
lavishly but tastily. The Bells" will be
the bill tonight.