New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-03-04

piece after another in rapid succession with
unity Of direction and symmetry OF effect. No
London company can do what this provincial
company succeeds in accomplishing, and that
IS to produce Shakespeare's plays with per-
feet sense OF proportion and harmony.
There have been two changes of programme
this week: Hamlet has been produced with
the complete text in afternoon and evening per-
formances lasting five and half hours Mr..
Benson's work Hamlet was earnest, but
perhaps too vehement at times. He discards
Mr. Forbes Robertson's theory that the sweet
prince was feigning madness. and was essen
TALLY a man of inaction: his hystercal out
bursts tend to support the opposite view that
Eamlets mind was dsordered- He gives an
entirely new direction to Hamlet's scene
with Ophelia by revealing the princes love
for her: he also offers fine athletic ex-
hibition by picking up Polonius in his arms
and carrying him and off the stage
without straining a muscle. Mrs Benson's
Ophelia is girlsh; MIR. Oscar Asche makes
really great part of Claudius, Mr.. Brydone is an
excellent Polonius, and Mr.. Weir is the best
Gravedigger seen on the London stage in many
years and plays his part new lines This
unabridged Hamlet has delighted Shake
spearian scholars and thoughtful students OF
the drama; it is not meant for conventional
playgoers.
Mr. Benson has also produced 1.-THE Rivals"
alternating play for Hamlet for a fort
night. The best work is done by Mr.. Weir.
whose Bob Acres, while not equal to Mr. JEFF
ferson's, is delightful The Benson company
has indeed, introduced London TO a comedian
OF the highest rank. Mr.. Weir has the art Of
concealing his art. and plays with subtle re-
fnement of method.
Mr. Martin Harvey's production of Don
Juan's Last Wager" at the Prince Of Wales's
Theatre delighted first night audience with
the charm of Spanish coloring. The play was
mounted with artistic taste and the scenic
pictures. with costumes and architecture of the
sixteenth century, beautiful. There were
Spanish clothes on the stage, but there was no
Spanish blood except possibly in the heroine
Mrs. Martin Harvey, whose voice. face and pose
suggested the sunny peninsula The play Itself
IN the adaptation of Zorrillas work by Mrs. Cum
ninghame Graham, lacks inspiration and the
local feeling of the most popular Spanish legend
tn which lcentious fend is saved through love
Of a pure woman. Zorrilla's ending Of the
legend is neither that brought about by Da
Ponte in the libretto for Mozart's opera nor that
given by Moliere in the play recently produced
by the Elizabethan Stage Society; IT converts
the play into holiday function reserved for All
Souls Day in SPAIN since Don Juan IS rescued
at the last moment from the penalties Of his
blasphemy and debauchery by a single moment
of penitence and the contributory action of
womans innocence This play is not suited to
English public, charming it's setting may
be. Mr.. Harvey is picturesque Don Juan,
with moments Of simple eloquence when he is
pleading for mercy and redemption but he has
not found an impersonaton which fits him
closely as Sydney Carton in THE Only Way"
There art novelties this week except
private view to-day of collection of water
color drawings of Swiss mountains and italian
towns by Mr. II. Goodwin az the Dowdeswell
Gallery. There will be a notable art sale at
Christies next week, when the collection Of the
late Mr. Virtue Tebbs, with paintings prints,
fafence, bronzes and furniture, will be auctioned
on. The pictures include a series Of drawings
by Rossetti. Millais's original design for THE
Vale Of Rest" and many interesting works.
l. y. T.