The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-18
SHAKESPEARE COMEDY
CHARLES 3. HANFoRD AND COM
PANY AT THE OPERA HOUSE.
Tanning Of the shrew' and nMueh Ado
About Nothing" Appreciated by a
Large Audience.

shakespearcan comedy ruled at Sweeney
x Coombs opera house yesterday In two
magnificent productions Of the Tuning Of
the Shrew' aud Much Ado About Moth
Ing Alr. Charles h. Hanford and his com
pany scored heavily IN the favor OF Hous
ton theater-goers. MIR. Hanford needs no
Introduction to an audience IA this city,
where his interpretations Of the roles Of
the famous bard have frequently been
heard. His talents have been called into
play upon the most difficult tasks that
Shakespeare has assigned to the actor and
on each occasion be has acquitted himself
with credit. Mr. Hanford was largely
trained 10 the school of Booth and keenc
ana II was natural for him to choose the
role OF tragedy. In this he succeeded, but
In his presentation of the Tanning OF the
Shrew" and "Much Ado About Nothing"
he demonstrated that his greater success
Hes in the role OF comedy. He engcnders
thoroughly human and thoroughly natural
manner into the characters he imperson-
atrs IN these two plays, but at no time de-
parts from what has been termed the
shukespearean atmosphere" He has u
spienuld stage presence, n clear and
resonant voice, and an original and impress
which equip him TO present the creations
OF the greatest of dramatists.
Ihcre were large audiences at both-mati-
nee ana night performances The Tanning
ot the Shrcw was the matinee bin ami
was highly praised by all who witnessed It.
rs curtain raiser to the comedy. -.
Hanford appeared In "rhe Old Guard, a
one,act sketch. II portrays the pqtheHc
ending OF one of Napoleon's loyal old sol
dicrs and is possessed OF great literary
merit. As Haversack Mr.. Hanford does
some excellent character work
The Tanning OF the Shrew" was admir-
ably played In every detail MIR. Hanfprd
Is wen fitted for the rollicking Petruchlo,
which character he essays In this cast D..
Miss Marie profnah gave a correct pre-.
sentation Of Katherine. Every moment
was one OF mlrth during the presentation
Of The Shrew"
Much Ado About Nothing was the
night attraction and IN this the company
achieved a great deal. The play Is mag
Efficiently staged. The costumes are rich
and handsome. and the scenery beautiful
The climaXes are frequently given double
effectiveness by the perfection of the stag
management Particularly Is this notice
ablc lin the chapel scene when Il false at
tack is made upon the virtue of woman
while clothed in the white-r1bed purity o. !
bride aud the arrow of cnlumny almost
stingS her to death The bright anC
epigrnmmatic lines which ill this work OF
the Bard Of Avon have few equals IN
dramatic effect. Mr.. Hanford was at his
best aud he found in the lines many hidden
meanings that casual reader wouid have
overlooked and gave an expression to the
part III Bcnedlck that quickly won his
listeners. He made him quite Ms brave and
witty MS the author Intended. and at last
sufficiently subject TO the charms OF {
woman to forgive him for all tho scornful
ness with which he was imbued during the
first act.
Miss nrofnah portrayed Beatrice to splen
did advantage. She was gay and winsom'
in the light scenes and met the heiGht'
recurring greater powers in most satistac
tory manner. Her improvement even since
appearing in Houston last year was demon
strated Miss Rose Curry was especially
creditable IN the part Of Hero. As Dog
berry and VerGcs, Fred Hight and Roher
Lee Allen evoked high praise, while Mis-
Violet Plerson as Margaret did some credit
able work
The audience manifested their apprecla
ton of the performance by numerous cur
tain calls Of Mr.. Hnnford and Miss Drof
nah.
The next attraction at the opera hous'
will be the Marguerite sylvia comic Qperi
company in "The Strollers," on Wed
nesduy, one night only.