The record-union., 1899-09-14
ADJUSTMENTS.

Theatrical surprises are infrequent.
Sacramento had one last night at the
Clunie Oepra House. The theater was
filled by an audience to see Dailey's
road stock company produce Shake
speare's greatest work Hamlet" with
Darrell Vinton as the melancholy
Dane Unhappily for players and most
OF the auditors-and the fact is a sig
nificant one-a considerable pamber
present had never witnessed a play of
the immortal bard evidently, or their
tastes have been so corrupted by famil-
iarity with the lower orders of dramatic
work, the flash melodrama, the farce
comedy and the sensational order of
Lays, that Hamlet" was Greek to
that portion of an otherwise excellent
and intelligent audience. The result
was that some of the finer passages
were ruined by the untoward laughter,
snickering and side remarks of people
whose ignorance of the drama was
thus made conspicuous. Nothing could
more signally testify to the decadence
of public taste in certain directions.
But if Shakespearean dramas could be
presented as well as Hamlet" was last
night by the Daley company, at what
is familiarly denominated popular
prices" there would speedily be worked
a benefcent change. If Mr.. Daley
and those who may follow his example
continue in the good work, they will
accomplish great educational reform
and infinitely benefit an exceedingly
large class of people-those who as
sumo, perhaps with good reason, that
they are barred from the playhouse by
the exorbitant prices of most Shake
spearean companies. But enough of
that-"Hamlet" in Mr. Vinton's hands
was good Hamlet; excellent work,
really dramatic entertainment of the
better order equal to the work of many
more pretentious artists, whose ability
is manifested to the public only. in ex-
ceedingly high priced organizations.
Mr.. Vintons Hamlet commands the re-
spectful attention if not to say the ad
miration of lovers of high dramatic
art. 1t is simple justice to say that it
is an intelligent, careful, soulful and
satisfactory Hamlet. His Prince of
Denmark is essentially a melancholy
and a philosophical one. 1t has the
fine virtue of not being overdone in any
respect, there is rather the refinement
of reserve. Rant, mere defamation,
nor volume of sound We're at any mo-
ment permitted to ursurp the function
of reasonablesneSs, or substitute them
selves for naturalness. In some re-
spects his interpretations and stage
business part company with those ideas
of Hamlet most accepted; yet there was
not one of these that did not have be-
hind it much strength of reason 1t was
e., Al
touching Hamlet in short, and won
the heartiest and most pronounced in
dorsement of the critical and exacting
among the auditors who repeatedly re-
called the accomplished artist. Mr..
Vinton has a fine voice, and he handles
it in a mastery way. His countenance
is very expressive and reflects the
thought of his speech His stage pres
ence is good. his action not one whit
extravagant, strained or forced. In
fact his Hamlet was as natural an as
sumption as one might wish to see Mr..
Vinton reads excellently. His enun-
citation is perfect, his intelligence of the
value of the lines given him to speak
is of high order and hence his Hamlet
was a distinct success, and writes Mr..
Vinton down as an artist of exceptional
ability. Mr. Daley staged and cos
tuned the play well, far better than
we expected. The stage fittings were
neither rich nor elaborate, but at least
the unities were preserved, there were
but few incongruities and small vio-
lation of the demands of either text,
scene or action. Mr.. Daley himself was
not very successful as either second
grave digger or Guildenstern; but it is
no discredit to him to say as much.
Shakespeare is a new line for him; and
one is not to step at once from the
versatile work of his stage life into
the realms of tragedy and a Shake
spearean atmosphere
So, too, Miss Nannary as Ophelia,
while pleasing personality could not
be spirituelle enough to please the