Evening star., 1900-09-25

mlnQ WdnQ0r Tar away IrOm the SuTEOuuu-
ingy OF the theater In perfect confidence
that he would be recalled to any love scene
which might occur by the amorous gurgle
OF the clarfonet as 1t performed Julian Ed
wards admirable incidental music. Charles
Kent played the role of the unprincipled
king In fine fashion.
His work rang true with the note OF
human plausibility, his conception being
forceful. probable and inteliigently con-
veyed. Marcia Van Dresser was q villain
ess Of comely personality, but rather sub
dued in her diabolism. Clarence Handyside
is good actor. He played the part OF
Captain de Mendoza, who has great deal
OF trouble owing to the fact that one OF
his daughters is blind, and the other insists
on using her eyes to capture husband
who Is not of his choice.
Viola Allen plays the role of Dona Maria
Dolores de Mendoza in the manner which
has endeared her to SO many loyal admirers
Her reception last night amounted to an
ovation, and she was liked in all that sne
did, whether 1t was to make love to the
kings half brother, hurl defiance to the
parental teeth or come before the curtain
to prettily apologize for the modesty OF the
author In refusing to come before the cur
tain. Wise author.
The play Is developed upon such rugged
lines of action and with so few pretensions
to the rhetorical graces that the entire ao-
sence of sword-play Is disappointing to the
auditor who has settled himself for an
evening of shocks and thrills. 1t Is only IN
the scene where the king stabs the car
dinal, part well played by Edgar i. Dav-
enport, that there is any recourse to hard
ware, and this enterprise Is very luke
warm and unsatisfying one. A good hgnt
at this point would disarm the suspicion
that In the Palace of the King is a melo-
drama which got little bit ashamed OF It
self and is trying to put on airs. In the
last act the cardinal walks In quite re-
covered from the stab given him by the
king, and the audience, who supposed him
dead and buried is confronted with feel
Ing that 1T might have been home half an
hour before II some Shanghai correspond
ent had not been tampering with the news.
The performance Is series of delightful
stage pictures, and Miss Allen Is a charm
Ing heroine. AS a melodrama, the play
contains strong and frequent appeals to ap
pIause its wealth of spasmOdic incident in
the latter part being offset to the ex-
treme talkishness Of the earlier acts. AS
contribution to stage literature the piece
does not compel serious regard
COLUMBIA THEATER-Surrouud Mr.
CIeston Clarke with the rich settings
play of royal action should have of right,
and give him company of gifted or highly
capable people, who through possession of
sufficient intellect and by hard study and
application have become qualified to live
as nearly as possible the true characters OF
Shakespeare, and the Hamlet of the
young tragedian would be a notable event
In theatricals wherever seen AS matters
stand at present, Mr.. Clarke rises superior
apparent In his production, and by the in
tensity and faithfulness of his portraiture
of the Danish prince sways his audience
In marked degree. AS the opening attrac-
ton of the season at the Columbis Mr..
Clarke and his company, including Miss
Adelaide Prince, played to a big house. No
Shakespearean play has been more widely,
nay, universally. read and studied than
Hamlet" Naturally, following such a
broad familiarity with the role, there is
wide divergence of opinion as to the ideal
parsonage. Hamlet is also always sure
of a studious and critical hearing. Conse-
quently the actor who produces a profound
Impression upon his audience and whose
work meets their expectations fully
throughout, is indeed accomplishing much.
This may be said of MIR. Clarke last even
o clock, would have been pleased mani
festly had Avon's bard doubled the time Of
action. Each year has marked an improve
ment in Mr.. Clarke He has studied we'll
and wisely, and his conception of the role
assumed last evening Is looked upon by
many who have analyzed Hamlet" word
Tor word as most nearly approaching the
true conception. His Hamlet Is quiet one
but In its repression there is latent
force and power fully conveyed, and con-
sequently in those scenes where an acceler-
ated Intensity is required he rose clearly
to the mark, and hence there was given q
fitting emphasis which could not have been
with the ranting, heavily tragic ideas Of
many one attempting the part The COM
pany was quite evenly balanced, few bad
spots being compensated for by others ex-
ceptionally good. The king of Mr. Arthur
Balfour was notably lacking, while Mr..
Ashley as Laertes was excellent, and John
Carter narrowly missed being very fine
POloniuS. Miss Prince PLAYED we'll all that
is assigned to Ophelia. The stage settings
were rather worn and haggard," and
could be improved at little cost The pro-
ducuon. as whole, however, was most
pleasing, Mr.. Clarke's personality and mag
nificent work holding so closely the minds
OF his hearers that their eyes fingered not
for long on the battered throne, nor did
their ears hear too acutely any mincing of
lines by the support. After 1t was all over
one could not but have a desire to see Mr.
Clarke's Hamlet amid the glory of gor-
geous settings now known to the stage and
with a company of players who would
give him In support an atmosphere as well
as words Tonight Romeo and Juliet
will be the bill.
ma Leigh and Sylvia Thorne gave a new
and clever turn at the Academy last night
and 1T met with hearty appreciation One
stood looking apparently into a mirror in
which she saw her reflection. The appar-
ent reflection, however. was the other come
dienne. There are many good things on
the bill this week. There is not a dull act.
James Thornton. who has written SO many
popular songs, has given up singing them
and now talks agreeable nonsense in the
role of monologue comedian. He did not
appear until late, but he made such a pal
pable hit that his hearers were 10th to let
him retire. James F. Dolan and Ida Lem
han appeared in a farce written by Mr. Do
Ian, "A Heightened Burglar" which SEEM
ed to be highly appreciated. Genaro and
Bailey, locally well known, the ''originators
of the grotesque cakewalk dance" appeared
In an apotheosis Of poetry and motion
which was roundly applauded LozelIe the
gymnast exhibited some daring and diff
cult feats on the trapeZe. Bonnie Thorn
ton sang prettily as usual and Alice Mon
tague and j. Roger West entertained the
audience with musical sketch, "One Sum-
mer's Day" Joe Farnum and Lii Nelson
comedy acrobats, were amusing and Carrie
Behr won applause for her singing in char
acter One of the most enjoyable features
of the evening was the presentation of the
comedy. Her Friend From Texas" Only
four persons composed the cast but all We're
good and no points We're lost. A very good
sized gathering was present. and one that
was fully appreciative of the good things
presented.
CHASEs NEW GRAND.-That novelty
Is the spice Of vaudeville was aptly illus
trated by the large audiences that greeted
Lockharts elephants and an excellent vau-
deville cast at Chase's New Grand yester-
day. While the billing of troupe OF
dumb" beasts as topiners is an under
taking OF some ponderance, probably no
one who witnessed the antics of these
heavyweight vaudevillans will deny them
front rank in novelty's realm. They need