The record-union., 1899-02-01
ADJUSTMENTS.


ADJUSTMENTS.
AT the Clunie Opera-house this even
ing, beautiful blue-eyed, accomplished
Belle Archer in Hoyt's latest low COM
edy, "A Contented Woman" Ii is rep
resented as being a cutting satire upon
political life. sharp and heavy blow
to the ambitions of women in politics,
and yet a. roaring comedy. but not OF
the raw farce variety, which gave
Hoyt his first success. 1t is to be pre-
sented with fine scenery and handsome
costumery, and several specialists,
among whom is Bonnie Lottie,
young girl dancer of phenomenal skill,
and whose final whirl on one foot Is
said to be something wonderful. She
is known as the Dancing Marvel But
the center of interest is Miss Archer
as Mrs. Holmes, who is induced by
woman suffragists to run for Mayor OF
Denver where women are permitted to
vote. She runs for the office TO avenge
domestic wrongs existing mainly in her
perverted fancy. She wins politically,
and then discovers that she does not
want the office She refuses to qualify,
and her husband, who was her political
opponent, is installed as Mayor, though
by what warping of the Law this is
effected one must call upon MIR. Hoyt
for explanation Miss Archer has sur
rounded herself, if the press accounts
are to be believed, by good and a
very large company, none Of whom
rival her and yet none have their abili-
ties suppressed. In her dainty, Wo-
manly ways, her arch manner. and her
abandon to the excitement of the cam
paign, she is original and shines with
out dimming any other lights of the
company. The argument of the play
is nearly all with women, and they
may therefore be expected to be par
ticularly in evidence this evening.
Aside from the novelty of the plot,
there is a deal of merry entertainment
in new songs and clever specialties
given by pretty women and capable
comedians.
The Hamlet of Mr.. JAMES at the
matinee yesterday was finished per-
Torrance, and drew a far larger audl'
ence than we anticipated could be gain
cred by day on any other day than
Saturday date. The tragedy was su-
perbly staged. Mr.. James in the char-
acter of the unhappy Prince OF Den
mark rose level with the demands OIL
a high standard of art Miss kldoef
Ophelia was an ideal PRESERVATION; we
do not recall gentler, more eHectlVe
Ophelia, or one that drew SO closeiy
to her the syrnpathies OF an audience.
Mr.. Warde was the Ghost, and his Re"
lines were read better than any tnlhg
we have ever heard this talented
tragedian deliver. 1t was something
very superior in dramatic delivery.
With Mr.. Langdon. the fine oid-scnooi
actor. as Palonius, and Mr.. tombstone
as the impetuous Laertes, 1t can De
easily understood that the auolehce
was treated to an exceptionally me
performance But the triumph OF the
engagement notable in the dramatic
annals of the city, came last evening"
when Macbeth was played TO
crowded house Often as the tragedy
has been played here, it has never oeen
so deliberately and handsomely staged
as it was last evening. MI Warde -
Macbeth. which he has given here De-
fore. showed distinct betterments, the
result of light developed by study OF the
text of the great Bard. 1t was a more
human, natural, and we may say
manly Macbeth than the conventional.
It was notable for new shadings in the
reading and especially for new business
of the stage directly related to the per-
sonation. The audience was conscious
Of this. and manifested recognition OF
il in the warmest and most compliment
tary manner. 1t was compact, Dig
nified mastery and artistically con-
structed conception of one of the great
est of Shakesperian characters. Mr..
James Macduff was level with the best
work he does. 1t is a high tribute to
his art to record that in the scene where
news of the murder of his family Is
communicated to him, he won tears
from many eyes But the greatest
triumph of the evening was reserved
for Miss Kidder. who gave US new
Lady Macbeth the most natural, wom-
anly and reasonable we have had since
the DAYS of Charlotte Cushman. But
comparison with that great artist, or
with Mrs Bowers, or any other, is I'M
Just, because Miss Kidder's persona
ton is wholly feminine-nothing of
masculinity enters into it. Hers is
really tender and loving Lady Mac
lection of the wife rises superior to
the ambition of the woman. To say
that she won sympathy for the char
acter is not inaccurate; indeed it came
near to being defense. Her read
ings. in several cases were wholly new.
with fine and justifiable shadings radi
cally differing from those of most
Shakesperian actresses. She threw her
whole soul into the PRESERVATION certain
~, but it was the soul of a tender, low
ing woman rather than self-seeking
one. Her reproaches of Macbeth were
devoid of anger or ferocity, and even
her part in murderous design. subor-
dinated 1t to her devotion to her hus-
band. There is no hesitancy whatever
in pronouncing her one of the best
Shakesperian readers ever heard here,
and in many respects distinctly rev.
dictionary reader, giving interpreted
tons notably and almost startlingly diff
ferent from those generally accepted as
standard. These occur SO frequently
in her reading that 1t is NOT noSsib 1e