The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-12-20
Charles 3. Hanford Taken
for Nebraska Statesman
IN SHAKESPEARFS COMEDY
Character He Portrays He
Likes the Best.


at the Crawford yesterday in two per-
formanees Of The Tanning Of the Shrew''
and the Old Guard bears so striking a
resemblance to 1Vm. J. Bryan that many
who saw him yesterday believed that the
Nebraska statesman was really IN town.
Mr. Hanford was seen after the perform
ance last evening by a reporter for the
Eagle, whom he received very cordially
and with much of the manner of Petru-
chic. whom he so ably portrays. The
Eagle man suggested his resemblance to
the Nebraska De-nOsthencs Hhereupon
the actor laughed good hUmoredly and
said: 'Oh. yes, ] have frequently been
taken for Mr. Bryan and he for me- The
first time we met was three years ago at
Waco, Texas where some sort of a big
celebration was being held. 1 had been
requested tC recite 1.-The Star Spangled
Banner" and when we walked onto the
stage together q ripple of laughter was
heard. which developed into a roar as
some country wag audibly whispered,
they are twins; there are two of them"
We have met several times since then
and each tine sOIae amusing thing hap
pened. Even today, while Mrs. Hanfcrd,
who very much admired the beautiful
window decorations OF your pretty city
took me out for a shopping tour, l was
accosted very heartily by an ardent ad-
mirer Of my Nebraska friend, VINO in
sisted that I was Ar Bryan"
Nr. Hanford first appeared in Wichita
with Booth & Barrett in 1892, in a pro-
ductiOn Of julius Caesar, Mr.. Ha1ford
appearing as Marc Antony Later he
appeared with Thomas Keene in Rich
ard the H." and again last year as
Private John Allen This is Mr.. Han
ford's first season in Shakespearian COM
edy. Lr Hanford was asked which char
acter he liked hest.
The actor promptly replied ST like
each character eually well while l am
portraying it. OF course I like Shakes
pearian roles best and as I am now play
ing Petruchio. 7 like that character best
at this time" When asked whether the
western people liked ShalSespaarean
drama tragedy or comedy best, Mr.. Han
ford said that taken in every way that
Shakcspearean comedy probably pleased
more generally To judge from the real
~ remarkably good business this year
which has beer the best by far since I
have teen starring alone. comedy pleases
most" The reporter asked MI. Hanford
that being so Well known as so line. an
artist why he PLAYED SO many Of the
small towns Instead of larger cities eX-
clusivcly. Mr.. Hanford replying explained
that the larger cities were objective
points OF all big productions, but IN order
to reach those points at such times as
open dates could be secured. that the
intermediate points would have to be
played For instance, we play at Topeka
on Christmas day. but as there ara not
many large cities in Kansas we fill in the
tire and mako expenses. which are Incl
dental to large company like ours by
playing some OF the smaller towns in the
meantime This very fact is one Of the
10 NOT be1-o 1,crA hie, attractions os ali
actors shy at lhe prospect of HAVING to
play so many small towns in the west
where large cities are not so numerous
as IN older eastern states.