The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-06-07

play pleases not the millions; tits cav
hre to the general; but It is-as I
received it, and others, whose Judgment
IN such matters cried in the top OF
mine--a wonderful play" And con-
corning MIR. Sothern's own portrayal,
what words could better describe it
than Hamlet's again, IAN honest meth
Cd, as wholesome, as sweet and by very
much more fine than handsome"
The actor makes Hamlet a very mod
ern creation. The audience watched last
night not tragedy enacted long ago
within Elsinor's grim walls, but the
struggles of a human being of the pres
ent time, or Of any time, bending be-
meath an awful burden. That burden
at times partially unbalances him, but
always it goads him on to revenge.
Sotnern's Hamlet is a lovable charac-
ter. instead of becoming impatient with
the sadly disturbed prince because of his
fretful outbursts and his apparent vac
llat1ons, the audience Is compelled, by
the huTnanness of the portrayal, to go
step by step along the tortuous path
that the melancholy Dane is forced to
tread. The actors personal appearance
mas much to do with the appealingness
OF his portrayal, it approaches so close
to ones ideal of the Danish prince. The
sp1rituelle face tells Of capahility for
suffering as plainly as the woeful eyes
tel Oh Jnat suffering.
In the play" scene, especially in the
denouement is Sothern's acting effective.
In the scene with ODhelia his act very
nearly reaches its summit, for though
ne speaks for the most part grun or va
cant words, he is able to impress ON the
audience the reality Of his love for the
girl. His best bit Of acting, however,
is in the scene with the queen when
ldanlets mind IS divided between love
Tor his mother and horror of her crime.
1t is the most strongly human touch
in a gloomy, almost repelling study. The
sollloquy was given a most effective
reading. The actor sat huddled in a
chair in the rear Of the stage, bending
over in brooding fashion while he pom
dered the great problem that will never
be solved. So many actors seem to fam
cy that when a man faces suicide square
ly he must speak his piece with dec
lamatory effect that Sotherns reading
OF the lines was a refreshing novelty.
The actor has very wisely surrounded
himself with, for the most part, capable
players. Miss Adelaide Keim's Ophelia
admits Of little criticism. Miss Keith
has beauty, grace of manner. distinct
ness or utterance and nistrionic intelli-
gence. There was not a suspicion OF
ranting in the mad scene. Its pathos
was very human. The Polonius of Ed
work. His admonitions to his daughter
and his son Laertes were spoken with
excellent effect. Arthur B. Lawrence
was satisfactory as the king. Charlotte
Dean was excellent as Gertrude Her
scene with Hamlet, especially after the
murder of Polonfus, afforded her the
best opportunity Of showing her ability
and she made the most of it. The part
of the first grave digger was admirably
played by Rowland Blackstone William
Harris made a digniied and almost con-
vincing ghost
Hamlet" was finely staged last
night. The two scenes where the ghost
appears and the czlurchyard scene were
especially realistic.
For entr' aotes special music was
played, composed by Niels w Gade,
Frank A. Howson and Adolf Mohr
The play will be given the remainder
Of the week with Saturday matinee