The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-02-14
!. AMUSEMENTS
B: Hanfordj in ''raming OF
the Shrew'' at the metropolitan.

..Tamng Of tho Shrew' is one of Shaks-
pere's plays that has grown old with the
lapse Of time. Unlike his other immortal
comedies, it shows its age. Perhaps this is
because it is really mere adaptation Of a
broad farce popular in Shakspere's time and
! because his genius. while touching with i'm
mortality the telling of the story, did not
| change it so much in substance as was the
case with others of his adaptation A more
! likely reason, however, is found in the fact
| that it is a sixteenth century treatment of a
problem that is differently approached in the
| twentieth century. Katharine had in her
| the making of new woman but her en-
vironment and education were such as to-
| prevent the development of her character as
| it would have been developed nowadays and,
| for that century she was shreW who must
needs be tanned. But once we assume the
sixteenth century viewpoint it is seen to be a
deliciousy funny comedy, revealing in char
acterstic Saaksperian fashion many variant
aspects of human nature
| Charles B. Hanford, who after years of ex-
perience in support Of stars in 'the legiti-
mate" now elects to shine himself, is GER
! tainly deserving of praise for his produce
ftion of Tanning Of the Shrew." Cutting out
! the induction, which is incomplete and awk-
! ward to handle, he has made adaptation
of the text which, without departing in any
essential from the original, is well suited to
the purposes of a modern production. Mr.
! Hanford's Petrucho is fine and free inter-
/ probation ofathat dashing sutton and rigorous
Husband. From the moment when the plan of
! wooing, winning and subdung Kate is con-
ceived, he takes on the swaggeringS air and
testy temper, Of his assumed character with
! a. relish so great that the audience shares in
| his evident enjoyment of the progress of the
plan Even when he lays about him most
! Justify among the affrighted servants, there
is twinkle in his eye motto be nisunder-
stood by keener folk. OF all the delicious
! comedy with which the role is invested, Mr..
Hanford loses not touch. A more satisfy
! ing Petruchio it would be hard to imagine.
| Miss Helen GRAVITY who plays katharine,
/ is not so happy in her conception of a role
THAT has been illuminated by the genius of
! Ada Rehan and other great come d1ennes. Miss
! GRAVITY makes at first the mistake of forcing
her voice in her efforts to- emphasize the
| tantrums Of the Maynard Kate, forgetting
/ that a women with astemper finds other
| WAYS of making herself disagreeable than by
| raising hersvoice. But Miss Gfantlys great
est mistake lies in. failing ito infuse into the
| characteristic sly hllmor with which Shaks-
pere invested it. Kate, It: - true, learns by
/ sad experience that her fits OF temper react
upon herself and spoil her ENJOYMENT of life.
/ Petruchioys contrives to teach her a better
| method Of having her oWnsSWay and, while
she learns the lesson, it as not to- be sup-
| posed that her entire character IS changed.
i Indeed, 1T Is much more Likely that while
apparently submitting to her husbands will
she is studying him and thassshe sees through
his plan Of campaign If the sequel to
Tanning of the Shrew' weresknown, it would
doubtless be found that Rates character had
not been changed SO very much and that she
had her own way in the household, quite as
4 often as her lord and rnaster u { Miss GRAVITY
could now and again indcatee silly that Kate
was not without appreciation of the humor
Of the situation. what an inproFenent in her