Evening star., 1901-03-12
ADJUSTMENTS. A

NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-That E.
H. Sothern is a gifted actor has long been
conceded. But many gifted actors have
fallen short of the requirements of Shakes
peare, and the announcement that he was
to stake the fortunes of an entire season
on single production of Hamlet was
regarded even by warm admirers as evil
dence rather of laudable ambition than of
practical judgment. These misgivings, I'M
complimentary though they may have been
at the outset, now serve to make Mr.. Soth-
ern's triumph the more complete. His por-
trayal last night reflected in an eminent
degree the qualities which make the char
acter one of intense and universal faSci-
nation So numerous are the elements of
interest in this strangely diverse charac-
ter that it is difficult for an actor of seri-
Gus intelligence to wholly fail in it. Ii he
clearly follow even one two of the deli
cate tracings of sentiment 80 compleXly
yet symmetrically interviewer by the mas
ter poet he has done much, and he will
command share of approval Hamlet"
played simply as a melodrama, with all
things subordinated to the general car
mage in the last act, has it's share of in
terest; indeed, this phase of the drama
must be in no wise neglected by the play
er who purposes an appeal to the public at
large and not to limited cult. But it is
the intellectual side of Hamlets nature
which forms the test of an actors best
quality. And Mr.. Sothern meets this test
with pre-eminent ability.
AS Hamlet the poet Mr.. Sothern showed
true idealism. The fine, sensitive nature of
the young Danish prince found potent and
unaffected expression in the actors per-
Sonality. AS Hamlet the young man he
delineated by a few delicate touches the
pathos of the awakening to lifes sterner
moods which marks the transition from the
lightness of youth to the responsibilities
of manhood. AS Hamlet the philosopher
he was precise and plausible. AS Hamlet
the lover he was ardent and sincere AS
Hamlet the cynic he was keen, though un-
smiling Mr.. Sothern entered into each of
the many moods which the role presents
with such completeness as to convey the
idea of individual identity rather than of
artistic assumption. His sudden contrasts
of feeling, the flashes of brilliant sarcasm
against the intense background of melan-
choly shone out like lightnings in the night
Mr.. Sothern's conception of the character
is intensely human, and the more poetic
for that very reason. He leaves the tues
tion of whether Hamlet could have been
subjected to the mental tortureS which be-
set him without being touched at least with
monomania to the physicians Perhaps he
dlsmisSes that problem with the generality
evolved by a certain philosopher who
averred when it comes right down to fact,
We are all little looney." But Mr.. Soth-
ern stands squarely on the text of the
play, and presents Hamlet as man who is
not only sane, Lut who is keyed up to the
highest pitch of logical perception. He
does not allow the idea to become obscure
for moment 1t is the only Interpretation
which is poetically satisfying. The theory
that Shakespeare assembled the thaater-
going public of Elizabethan London and
all posterity to attend the rawlings If a
| lunatic might be alluring to the physician,
but it would be scarcely gratifying to the
average auditor.
That Mr. Sothern bestows a handsome
personality upon the role as he unquesrion-
ably does, and that he has mounted 1t with
all the laviShneSS which even the exten. live
resources of the modern stage would per-