The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-01-06

Mr.. Gillette was a Observation-Disclosures
<actor last week. Many well-intentioned per-
cons were unsparing In their assaults upon
his art. Still others Endorsed him heartily
Just because he was the famous Mr.. Gil
lette, while the discerning ones found the
melodramatic joke a very delightful morsel
worth about 80 cents less than 81.
One of the best things about Sherlock
Holmes is the lighting of It. Nothing
better has ever been seen on Mr.. Shorts
stage. This week Mr.. Mansfield will prob
ably have some excellent light management
along conventional lines. but he will not, IN
all probability, have a greater novelty than
the shadow effects shown by the crafty
Gillette.
There seems to be good reason for be-
leving that the breakup of the Grau-
Savage English Opera Company will result
in a betterment Of the st. Louis organIza-
ton.
We shall probably see more of Mr.. Shee-
han. and-who knows?-Mr. Edward Fanci-
full Temple may surge forth on the Music
Hall stage once morel
There is a likelihood that Mr.. Savage will
change his mind. ike a truly great man.
and present tunefrl. though cheerless. La
Boheme," at Music Hall.
Let us hope that this may be so; for
Ia Boheme' Is one of the few novelties
that are really novel.
There Will, in all probability, be a most
cordial welcome for Mr.. Mansfield at the
Olympic Theater tomorrow night. This &C
complished man seems TO be Americas
greatest actor. all points considered. Ger
tainly he has more daring intelligence than
any other American player. He has, be-
yond doubt. as much of a following IN the
personal sort as any other American. He
has been "at II" for many years, and he
seems to have a busy quarter century ahead
OF him. He IS dangerously extravagant, de-
iightfully accurate. and always entertain
ing, whether On the stage or off. 1t has
been said OF this seasons production of
Henry W. that It Is so big thai its cost
illness outstrlps the possibility of profit II
played In a theater with small seating
capacity. This condition cannot prevail this
week. for the Olympic is one of the largest
theaters in the country. Friends Of Mr..
Mansfield friends. therefore. OF the best
the stage has to offer) will hope for great
audiences for all of the seven perform
snces Of Henry ""
Nine. Bernhard Will play Hamlet" in
st. Louis, a fact which suggests the state
ment that Madame's version of the famous
tragedy was made by a Frenchwoman
whose English is bookmade.
The translation is. therefore. most literal.
Folks who know both French and English
Nsre having some fun out of this literal
ness.
For instance. in the players scene.
shakespear causes Hamlet to hiss the word
"wormwood" in the Kings direction as the
make-believe drama proceeds. up stage.
But your literal Frenchman, having no
notion OF the common meaning of the word
wormwood. applied as Hamlet uses Il,
cats S Bernhard to calculate, "Absinther"
a word generally supposed to be very dear
10 the French heart.
In this connection 1t is worth noting that
the play of Henry V" has a good deal of
French in It; and in order tina this French
may be spoken fiawlessly. Mr.. Mansfield
has brought an actress-Mlle. Brassey-all
the way from Paris to enact the part of
the Queen.
Selma Herman. who will be the star st
Havlin's this week. Is not often seen In |
81. Louis. One Of her last appearances here !
was with Mr.. Mansfield. several seasons |
ago. when he played at the Imperial Thea |
ter, then known as the Hagan Opera House. |
Miss Herman played Jessica In The Mer-
chant of Venice on that occasion, and II |
was a most excellent performance.
Although a reminiscent mood is ant 70 |
bring a sigh from our ancients and a regret
Tor the changes which make things no; |
what they used to be, there are more facts |
and condolences which lead us to believe |
that history repeats itself than to regret
the departed glories.
The loud acclaim against expediency In
dramatic production is pedantic without
The so-called evil detained
against has existed since the foundation of
the theater. Public taste has always die
tated the private procedure. In the days Of
.arrick and Sheridan these lines were writ
ten by Doctor johnson:
The dramas laws the dramas patrons give.
And we that live to please must please-to live.
There is no appeal from that. There is no
ambiguity asking Interpretation. Three CEN
turies ago the dramatic purveyors gave the
public what the public wanted IL the man
lgers wanted success.
y that Light some Of Shakespeare his