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


Hamlet. Fhe adhrtos published iater
were woefully/ deficient. The legend upon
which Shakespeare based his play was en-
tltied Amleath." Saxo Gramaticus. a
writer OF the twelfth century, was the au-
thor. and 1t Is stated that tragedy on the
suoJect was written by certain Kyd. to
Wnom Shakespeare was considerably in
deoted; Before writing Hamlet Shakes
peare mad passed through years of apprea-
liceshlp' dramatizing popular tales with a
VEN OF comedy. After that he turned to
the SURFING parts of history. Then came
the love story OF ''Romeo and Juliet" which
was followed by Hamlet
NO play has~caused more discussion and
DIVERSITY OF opinion In the whole range
OF OF art tnere Is no other part that is so full
0. apparent contradiction. Yet the charm
OF Hamlet's character gives a fascination
that Is almosH universal. He has been de-
scriDed as concentration of all the in
.erests that belong to humanity" One
man considers Hamlet" great. but wicked;
ahotner good, but weak; third, that he
.acks courage and dare not act; a fourth.
tnat ne mas too much intellect for his will,
anu SO reflects away the time of action;
some conclude his madness half genuine;
etners that 1t is wholly feigned. Coleridge
ASKS What did Shakespeare mean when
lle ufew the character of Hamlet? He new
or wrote anything without design, and what
was MS design when he sat down to pro-
auce this tragedy? My belief is that he
Always regarded his story before he be-
gan TO Write, much in the same light as
iCSdIuS his CdHNdS DtiOTe ne De-
Ems 70 paint, as a mere vehicle for his
Inoushts, as ground on which to work.
What, then, was the point to which Shake
sPeare directed himself in 'Hamlet%
IHahespeare wished to impress upon us
me truth that action is the chief end of
existence; that no faculties of intellect
however brilliant can be considered valu-
a l.,l or otherwise as misfortunes if they
witHoraW US from render us repugnant
10 action, and lead US to think Of doing
untI the time has elapsed when we can do
awning eHectnaily. In enforcing his moral
truly shakespeare has shown the fuIlness
and force of his powers; all that is amiable
anu excellent in nature is combined in
1amlet, with the exception of one quality
ne Is man. living In meditation, called
upon TO act by every motive human and
divine, but the great object of his life is
defeated by continually resolving to do
yet doing nothing but resolve"
The dramatic vigor of Hamlet is in
marked contrast to many of the plays of
To-Day Its construction may be dissected,
its beauties analysed, it's power and pas
sion weighed in any balance, and still it
must appear the greatest dramatic work
presented upon any stage We have evil
dence right through the three hundred
years OF its existence that the groundlings,
as they were called in the old days, and
the gods. as they are known today, have
shouted themselves hoarse with applause
at the terrific tableaus, the thrilling Incl
dents and the perils of the young Lord
Hamlet TO the present generation pro-
auction OF Hamlet" is a novelty. Twenty
years ago 1t was one of the most popular
D1Ils presented; parlor comedy was not then
the vogue. Whatever may be the verdict
OF the production at the National Theater
there Is no denying the fact that it is the
most commendable venture of Mr.. Sotherns
career and one that has already added to
ms tame as an actor wherever the English
language is spoken. The news of his de-
servedly splendid success in New York was
telegraphed to every city in the country,
awaking great interest in the production.
The cast includes Edwin Varrey as Polo
MUS. Vincent Sternroyd as Laertes, and
Rowland Blackstone as the first grave dig
ger.
1t is specially noted that owing to the
elaborate nature of the performance the
curtain will rise at 7:45. This will enable
the management to get through the per-
formance by the usual hour. A matinee
ming at o'clock Il
COLUMBIA THEATER.-The changes
which half a century has wrought in home
ana business life, in sentiment. public and
private, and, even more striking, in the
costumes of men and women of tn north,
are set out infs'The Dairy Farm, which
comes to the sColnmbia next week, with
matinees on EMrsaay and Saturday, The
antedating thSsadvs Int of the telephone or
the modern neRspapsr, when railroads were
still unknown#to the majority Of the rural
population. W len news was brought to the
villages by peddlers, when the slavery
question was the dominant public issue,
when parents deemed 1t their right to uic-
tate the choice of husbands and wives for
their children, when young women minced
cOquettiShly in gowns fistended by hooDs
when men habitualy appeared in claw
hammer coats, stock cravats and boots,
when political discussions at the village
stores were serious counsels rather than
mere exchange of wit. The atmosphere of
the piece is nGrhapS oh TT
Is rather play of types than action. 70 be
sure, the story is strong and the interest
great In its development, but there is also
added enjoyment in the study of the charac-
tiers, all distinctly individual. No attemnt
is made to startle by effects which after the
first glare leave an unpleasant taste Each
incident In the story is born of natural
causes, strong and effective with not the
slightest hint of melodrama The scenery
was painted from models made in typical
villages In the region where the story was
lald The cast is u strong one and includes
I ti ID author, MISS Eleanor Merron; James H.
Naiilck, and under whose direction the
company Is touring: Henry Leighton, Les
lie bingham, Paul Taylor, Author Sanders
Tony West, Marie Bingham, Seymour STRAIT
ton, j. j. Hyland, Louise Bates, Harry Rob-
mson and others. A special scale Of prices
Will be inaugurated during the engagement
of The Dairy Farm the MANAGEMENT be-
lievins that the piece is one that Appeals to
many patrons Who are averse to jndulgiag
usual high prices prevail. The scale of
prices are to be the same as those main
tanned during the engagement of the "Old
Homestead aud which proved to be a
most successful innovation.
LAFAYErTE SQUARE STOCK COM
PANY.-'Sowing the Wind" a powerful
drama, by Sidney Grundy, will be revived
next week at the Lafayette Square Thea
ter. 1t offers many splendid roles to the
popular players of this stock company and
the dialogue and literary merits OF the
play are far above the average In next
weeks production Percy Haswell will be
seen as Rosamund, the singer a sweet and
lovable character, both winsome and dra-
matte. The great scene of the play is the
celebrated sex against sex' climax. In
which the senior Brabazan, played by Mr.
Ormonde, pleads with the singer to give I'M
her love for his adopted son, because her
mother had been a woman of notorious
character. At the end of the argument
and as tragic climax, Rosamund dis
closes the real name OF her mother. and
Brabazon is brought face to face with his
own long lost daughter. The part of Bra
bacon is a difficult one and will show Mr.
Ormonde in the character of q middle-aged
gentleman. John T. Sullivan Will portrav
the principal william. the kind of cha racter
work which has made him SO popular with
the 49,