Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-23
ADJUSTMENTS.


NEW NATIONAL THEATER.-Therewa was
a comfortable sense Of security throughout
the auditorium of the New National Theater
last night William Shakespeare, thanks
to the industry of a number of actors and
| managers who persisted in a certain rever-
ence for the classics, has come to be as
well known by his works as by reputation.
Hamlet has become something better
than the melancholy reminder of school,
boy days, when the recitation of the solilo-
guy was an incident which only emphasized
the irksomeness Of life's monotony. The
efforts of many players reverent In their
art, although occasionally misguided In the
estimates OF their personal powers, have
awakened the casual theatergoer to the
fact that Hamlet is a vigorous, flesh and
blood drama, with tinge Of the super
natural thrown in for good measure; q
play in which there are climaxes and
thrills sufficient to content the most ardent
admirer of melodrama, together with
wealth of poetic refinement and philOsophfc
thought which. relieve the story of all
harshness. In addition to these qualities
the play gives scope for spectacular opu-
lence which would make the earlier pro-
ducers of it stare in admiration could they
see the splendors Of a modern production
such as Mr.. Sothern is now making at the
New National Theater. It was a salts
faction to know before the curtain arose
that the play itself was no uncertain guam
tity, and that the players had only to DO
lQe1r parts eH1C1GnCly TO ASSUME III cNeu-
ings entertainment worthy of scholarly
consideration, and yet comprehensive to
the unassuming occupants Of the most re-
mote and economical perch in the theater.
Perhaps 1t Is this concentration OF respon-
sibility, this lack of all chance to throw
the blame for failure back upon the author,
that makes many actors SO wary OF Shake
speare.
Mr.. sothern's Hamlet" too, was q
known quantity. He had previously pre-
scented the play in this city and won de-
gree Of approval which left no room 1of
doubt that his performance would be inter-
esting and praiseworthy.
Mr.. Sothern's Interpretation Of Hamlet"
last night was pitched on higher key than
before He allowed himself but little range
for variety of mood. He permitted himself
no relaxation from the enormous emotional
stress which comes over Hamlet after he
encounters the apparition. Hamlet's bit of
badinage with the players is strong sug-
gestion that the buoyancy of youth has not
been wholly effaced by the shock Of terri
BILE experience. Now and then there Is
flash of sunshine from the old life when he
and Rosencranz and Guldenstern were
careless companions Indeed the embitter-
ment of naturally sweet and sprightly
fancy into cynicism is one of the most sig
nificant and appealing qualities Of the char
acter and 1t Is in danger of being wholly
lost in so rigidly austere conception Of
the role as that toward which Mr.. Sothern
is tending. Yet his impersonation is vivid
and human. He leaves no unexplained pas
SdSeS III the text LOT the imagination 10
blunder over Both by original thought and
by traditional research he has made the
character lucid and respondent revela-
ton of human possibilities. 1t is scarcely
needful to remark that so conscientious
student as Mr.. Sothern is leaves no room
for question as to Hamlet's sanity. The
idea that Shakespeare invited the public to
sit for hours listening to the dwellings of
a mailman Is now generally recognized as
too remote for second thought, especially
when the somewhat resentful and unre-
strained temperament of the playgoerS to
whom Shakespeare catered Is remembered.
Cecilia Lotus gave a refreshingly nat
ural and girlish Interpretation of the role
Of Ophelia. Her gentleness and simplicity
graciously relieved role whose grewsome-
se play Is TOO MISS 1o@s 6pba is
of the few that inspire affectionate sympa-
thy rather than dstaste.
Edwin Varrey makes Polonius a some
what rolicking old courter, but plausi-
BILE and interesting one for all that. De-
spite the comedy with which he invests the
role, he brings out the subtlety of the char
acter with fine effect. Rowland Blackstone
did not lose sight of the fact that the first
grave digger is expected to be very mirth2
full parsonage, despite his solemn surround
ings, and Henry ]. Carville was discreet
and impressive, though comparatively in
conspicuous as Horatio. Other characters
in the play were performed with the vary
ing degrees Of merit or reprehensibiity that
are inevitable in SO extensive and onerous
an enterprise as the performance of a
Shakespearean tragedy.
The play ran last night till an hour which
might tempt the auditor to interject the
terse and comprehensive criticism Of Polo
MUS, this Is too long" But interest did
not flag nor enthusiasm wane. Mr.. Soth-
ern's production Of Hamlet" deserves in
many ways to rank as a splendid and men,
orable achievement.
COLUMBIA THEATER.-Just why an
astute manager like Charles Frohman
should hide the light Of talent in the play
ers OF his company at the Columbia this
farce is difficult to understand. This time
the farce Is called THE Two Schools but
a hundred other names would have an
swered the purpose Of the playwright quite
as aptly. The characters are those with
whom many playgoers are familiar, and the
only purpose suggested in this instance is
to prove all men morally unworthy and to
place most women in the same category.
The atmosphere is charged with talk Of in
fidelity from curtain to curtain, and the
moral Of 1t all is that the young woman
had better choose the man she loves rather
than the one she has been led to respect,
for the playwright says both will prove de-
ceivers before many months are gone by.
What excuses can Mr.. F'rohman make for
such a production?
At the same time 1t is hard to believe the
play Is capable Of working much wrong.
1t is such silly thing all the way through.
The audience last night laughed with re-
markable heartiness despite the fact that
the frankness of the piece was more than
alarming at times. Poor old Paris is made
responsible for the plays existence, and the
program says is was presented at the Varie-
ties Theater there all last season. Play
wright Alfred Capus has assuredly evolved
some ludicrous lines and situations but the
latitude he has taken in doing 50 offers
another striking reminder Of the inherent
nerve Of the French comedy makers.
Thanks to some very clever acting on the
part Of the principals in the cast the piece
is made SO humorous that the vicious i'm
preston which might otherwise prevail Is
quite driven away by gales of laughter. The
play is said to have been wonderfully toned
down since its presentation in Paris. 1t is
morally discouraging to think what 1t must
have been in the French capital. The COM
pany is a splendid one, capable Of playing
on a much higher plane. Jameson Lee Fin
ney, as the young husband who cannot help
flirting, is typically the hayward young
man. Ida Conquest, as the young WIFE, is
spared the immortality of the others, and
the impression she has heretofore created
as a delightful young actress was many
times enhanced. 1t seems safe to assume
that no Partisan roue could outroue the
Joulin of NJ. A. Kennedy. With all the old
rake's misdeeds one could not help laugh
ing at his irresistibly funny characterize
| ton. Jessie Busley is given over to the de-
| lineation Of one of the vilest characters the
| stage has known. Yet despite this fact she
| plays the part with SO much skill her Es-