New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1901-09-15

Murders Without Reason" a reflection, one
might think, on the late Mr.. William Shakes
peare's capacity a dramatic author Hamlet
himself is longer a Dane, but Prince of
Damascus This shifting of the locality is dis
tinctly judcious as permitting the semi-Orien-
taliZlng OF the mise -en-Scene and bringing the
action nearer to the audience.
II also makes it difficult for a European to
more or less as We are in the habit of seeing
him. though stiff European collar was a
strange set-off TO his presumably medieval cos
tune The other male characters wore hetero-
geneous clothes of the pantomime class, while
the women had 90 little on that there is nothing
much to say about their fashions. Clearly the
ancient city Of Damascus must have been a
very hot place when Hamlet was Prince. Queen
Gertrude wore the strangeSt robe | have seen
on the stage. Low necked and fitting close to
the body like all the others, il had lengthy
train which might have lent a regal dignity
TO the wearer but for the fact that it was cut
short in front that its lowest extremity hung
about eight inches above the knees.
All the names have beer OrientaliZed. Ham
let is Jehangir: Ophelia Meherbanoo; Polonius,
Humayan; Gertrude, GohUrnissa, and so
The light comedy is mostly supplied by Marcel
lus longer a stern officer with few
lines say. but Hamlet's comic body servant
with a fat" part. He is ably aided and abetted
by several new tiOns.'' notably his faithless
sweetheart Rehana. one Of Ophelia 5 handmade
ems. and by certain Anwar who We are given
to understand is Horatio's brother.
To run rapidly through the play in its Indian
form. the first scene is in the royal palace
where the Queen and her new husband
ranging that the latter shall usurp the throne.
Egeunt both and enter Hamlet, who mourns the
death Of his father and is shocked at the perfidy
Of his mother. To him comes Horatio with
words Of comfort. Polonius interrupts him with
the news that ClaudiuS has been proclaimed
King. Despair Of Hamlet, who after working
his audience up to q fine pitch of tragic excite
nent. spos the effect by bursting into song.
This song is doubtless expressive OF grief and
&c. but being sung a tune which appears to
be compounded of Marching Through Georgia
and We won't go home till morning" jars on
European in a scene Of this sort.
In the next scene Ophelia bewaiis the GOODNESS
Of Hamlet a -tOmming accompaniment of
the Belle FatIna' class Of music, while her
handmaidens in a shrieking chorus lament with
faT. At the time they point out that
everything will come right with time; that Ham
let is AL right when you know him, but you've
comes in to them and dspeis this illusion by ex-
planning that after his mothers perfdy he has
lost ali faith in Womankind.
Here the first comic relief comes in MarcelluS
arrives to claim the hand of his lady love, but
the tickle Rehana slaps his face. just like a
cockney soubrette at the Gaety. She then tells
him that she is going to marry HOratio's
brother and be a real lady" The first act
winds up with the ghost scenes with which
Shakespeare's play begins.
Act III opens with Hamlet telling ioratlo OF
the ghosts revelations and Of his own intention
10 feign madness. Again Marcellus comes 20
b. claim the hand Of kehana, and this time NJ IS
decked out for the wedding with Veil made Of
flowers. which hangs down from the front of his
hat. serving hide his face and tickle his nose.
The lady viii have nothing to say to him, and
his hated rival appears opportunely on the scene
with two Of his servants dressed up like exc
cutioners of the Holy Inquisition. ON seeing
these unprepossessing people harcelluS believes
them TO be Senii of which species he stands in
terrible fear. At their bidding he hurriedly