The Saint Paul globe., 1900-04-13
AT THE THEATERs.
METROPOLITAN.


so much of tradition surrounds the
portrayal of the character of Hamlet that
he who essays the part today must needs
regard his audience almost as his mortar
enemy; no procurement of Shakespeare s
picture Of the court OF Elsinore will be
sanctioned" said Walker Whiteside in a
speech made before the curtain at the
end of the second act of Hamlet last
night at the Metropolitan. The fact,
however, that Mr.. Whiteside was per-
sistentlX called before the curtain ami the
fact that the speech itself was due the
insistence of an appreciative audience
proved that, in spite Of the fact that the
young tragedian has seen fit to be law
unto himself IN the reading of the lines
OF the tragedy rather than to be an OBJ
server merely Of the forms prescribed by
other Hamlets. his audience was with
him in sympathy.
Whiteside is a very human Hamlet, all
the more human because of his modern
reading of his lines. A noticeable thing
in his portrayal of the character is the
lack of any declamatory effort. Gener
ally this is rather pleasant departure,
but in-the scene where the ghost first ap-
pears the restraint is rather too notice
able. In numerous other ways White
side has departed from the conventional,
but there is certain freshness about his
treatment that commended itself to the
audience, which, while not large last
night, was deeply attentive.
1t is the fourth time Mr. Whiteside has
visited ST. Paul, where his work as an
earnest student of the best IN the drama
has always commanded admiration.
His support was, in the main, good.
Miss Zelia Wolstan was the Ophelia. and
Miss Josephine Morse, the queen, and
their acting was by no means secondary
to their physical charms While Miss
Wolstan, in the mad scene, did not so
much portray the wild passion of a Wom-
an to whom the knowledge of sorrow has
brought insanity as she did the pathetic
vagaries OF wandering mind, her read
ing of the lines was eommendable in that
Interpretation.
John L. Saphore, as Polonius, followed
the example of Mr.. Whiteside and did
little declaiming, but read his lines in
~telHgently The weak voicesso F. A. De
Wolfe and ]. A. Harold, who essayed
the parts of Guildenstern and Rosen-
crantz, respectively, detracted not a little
from the success of the play.
Horatio was ably presented by George
A. Holt, and Laertes by Severn De Deyn.
The play is finely staged and the scenic
effects good.
The artists of the French Grand Opera
company will appear in a grand Easter
concert at the Metropolitan opera house
Sunday afternoon at 2.30. Mile. Clement.
Nile. Pacary, Mile. Berthet, Nine Eta
de Montjau Nine. Frasset, NM. Gau-
thier, Layolle, Bouxmann. Zery, Ansaldi,
Rossel and Bonnard viii be assisted by
the entire orchestra.
Miss Ada Rehan and company will be
at the Metropolitan opera house for the
first half of next week. commencing Mon
day evening In "The School for Scandal"
Tuesday. ''As You Like IT." Wednes-
day matiner and Wednesday night THE
Tanning of the Shrew'
The combination of Richards & Prin-
giles MinstreIs and Ruseo & Holland 8
company in one big minstrel organization
will be at the Metropolitan for three
nights and matinee, commencing Thurs
day, April 10.
GRAND.
'"The Hottest Coon in Dixie" is doing
splendidly at the Grand this week. There
is no great plot. but there is no end Of
fun furnished In the shape Of amusing
scenes, situations, good rag-time dane
ing, and some splendid ensemble effects
in the vocal line. Matinee Saturday at
2:90 p. M.
The musical farce comedy, WHO Is
Who?" will be presented at the Grand
opera house the coming week. commence
ing Sunday night. The company num-
bers twenty-four people, headed by Pusey
and St John.