Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-09

Il
derful and artistic hit Miss Harmed has yet
done that she is quite as modest and unas-
Stunning as her talented husband.
Il like the change to Shakespeare, though
l have been awfully fond of Lady Ursula
and some of the other roles 1 have given;
but do not like part where there must
be all weeping or all laughing. Why, per-
sons in real life do not do that As a usual
thing, my roles do not become monotonous,
unless the part is melodramatc. Really, L
think if | should be rescued, or rescue some
one every night for many months, l should
go mad"
Mr.. and Mrs. Sothern are one of the few
married couples who are travelling as joint
stars. Like Maxine Elliott and Nat Good
win, Mr.. and Mrs. Kendall and the few
others, too. their houses are excellent re-
pudiators of the claim that the receipts are
not so large and the public interest much
less when husband and wife are presenting
the Leading roles. Mr.. and Mrs. Sothern
were married some five years ago, and re-
sarding their desire to play together Mr.
Frohman tells what he considers a capital
story on them. The year after their mar
riage Mr. Frohman made Mrs. Sothern a
fattering offer to start out for herself. To
this both Mr.. and Mrs. Sothern objected.
W oNf
arated," said Mr. Frohman, Il will arrange
your bookings so that you may play in the
same cities at the same time" Mr.. and
Mrs. Sothern hesitated. But then we
should be playing against each other they
finally answered. And" adds Mr.. Froh-
man, in relating the story, Il was forced to
give up the idea simply because Mr.. and
Mrs. Sothern refused to be separated two
hours and a half each evening". Mrs.
Sothern laughs and adds:
s.Rut that last mart isn't tr1Ie at all for
we just thought it would not be good bust
ness policy to play against each other"
An argument their friends deem not quite
logical.
Next year Mrs. Sothern. however, will
leave her husbands company and have one
of her own. She will star in a dramatiza-
ton of Alice of Old Vincennes."
81 suppose that Immediately every one
will begin to gossip and say we have be-
come estranged from each other" she said.
The truth of the matter is, we expected to
put on Much Ado About Nothing next
year; but Mr.. Sothern's Illness the first of
Hamlet for a second season. l do not
feel like giving another year to Ophelia,
and 1 have this good offer to star. How
ever. 1 won't sign for more than three
years. and then Mr. Sothern and hope to
Join forces and give a mammoth Shakes
pearean production. OF course, there is
nothing definite about that, but that Is
what we hope to do
The prompt book used by Mr.. Sothern is
almost identical with the version used by
Henry Irving and Edwin Booth. According
to the New York and Boston critics, Mr.
Sothern's study of the part has been with
the intention of illustrating the tenderness
and pathos of the part rather than the las
sion, softening the reading OF the pas
sages lending themselves to rant, avoiding
the melodramatic side of the tragedy as
much as possible. using the best of the
traditional Methods. but being as natural
as is consistent in the delivery of the lines,
agreeing with the stage methods that hold
today, avoiding necessary posing. 1t was
specially noted that equal care had been
given to every scene, whether Hamlet was
in the picture or not.
In the play scene, fireplace in the mid
die of the stage has been introduced. 1t
is consistent with the period of the trag
edy. Eight centuries ago 1t was common
to have hole in the center of the roof
through which the smoke assembled from
the logs in the middle of the floor. The
men at arms, servants, etc, rested around
this fireplace. 1t serves to hide Hamlet
from the king while he is furtively study
ing his features, while the freight shows
Hamlet's face clearly, and makes the pic
ture more effective as he uses the tablet
and notes the action of the play.
In act 3, during the scene with Ophelia,
there is reading that is apparently new.
The Get thee to a nunnery" speech is
given with great tenderness. The momen-
tary outburst of passion is changed to
pathos and the business of the parting with
Ophelia shows the love Hamlet has for her.
Can I get six good seats in the par
quette this EVENING"" said lady at the
box Office Of the Columbia Theater this
week.
Very sorry" replied Stein. ''but the best
1 can do is three seats in row p"
"Oh. dear" replied the young lady.
Every time I want to see the Rogers
Brothers 1 get pushed away back in the
rear of the house. Won't you save me six
seats next season when they come back?
My name is Miss l."
Mr.. Stein promised to save the seats.
Charles B. Hanfords losses by the recent
warehouse fire are very serious. Mr.. Han
ford had long made a speciality of collecting
scenery and had one of the finest assort-
ments Of stage settings and costumes pos
sessed by any actor in the country. Among
the things destroyed We're the Booth-Bar-
rett production of Julius Caesar" together
with the music used in their presentation of
the play; all of the Thomas w. Keene pro-
auctions, the McLean-Tyler -Hanford pro-
duction of Romeo and Juliet" valued at
$1,000; the Katherine Clemmons production
of "A Lady or Venice and 200 trunks full
of costumes. Mr.. Hanford has some little
solace In the fact that the sword used by
the elder Booth was recovered. This Is the
weapon with which the great tragedian in
one of his ungoverned moods as Richard III
pursued Richmond off the stage and through
the streets Of Baltimore. Mr.. Hanford has
had a very successful season with Private
John Allen" but the loss is severe shock
as the insurance on the property DESTROYED
amounted to only loo.
Frank c. Bostock passed through the city
this week on his way to Buffalo to make
arrangements for one OF his characteristic
displays at the exposition.
II was born into my present field of pub
lie usefulness" said Mr.. Bostock. Early in
the nineteenth century my family laid the
foundation of the present Bostock enter
prises. Their stock in trade consisted Of
three snakes. The fire in Baltimore made
serious inroads on my belongings, but I
have two other menageries, and I expect
soon to regain all that the loss of the Bal
timore place cost me-"
One of his principal interests now Is chi
qtita-" a very little lady, who represents
very large money. Mr.. Bostock resents the
idea that she Is freak in the ordinary
dime museum sense OF the word. She Is
never exhibited In connection with any