The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1902-05-27
Much Enthusiasm
Over the
Players.
GENIUS OF THE
GREAT AUTHOR
Prologue Address on Shakespeare
by Mr.. w. G Smith Fol-
lowed by Presentation.
n GENERALIZATION and not criti-

~ GENERALIZATION and not criti-
cism remains as the pleasant and
willing task in commenting upon
the close OF the Warde season. Last
night, with the shades of Shakespeare
grouped upon the stage and the es-
sence of his inspiration breathed in the
lines chosen here and there from the
volumes OF the master poet, served but
to emphasize the impression made upon
all lovers of the drama by Frederick
warde and his company.
Many repeated the triumphs already
won on the local stage; others. includ-
ing Mr.. Warde, gave us fresh glinpses
of their own ability and the poet dram
itist's genius. Mr.. Warde's rendition
OF the seven ages" OF the melancholy
Jacques" and the subtle summing up
of aspiring Gloster in one short speech
added fresh laurels to his well-earned
wreath as master interpreter OF the
bard of Avon. The feelings with which
Mr.. warde's all too short season, his
genius, his personality and the talents
of his company have inspired us, were
we'll set forth in the prologue speech
OF Walter G. Smith, giving the player
his, not often accorded, but due nesd
OF praise. Mr.. Smith said:
Ladies and Gentlemen:
II is the custom OF Mr.. Warde in
closing his dramatic season to invite
a friend in the audience to speak from
the stage Of the genius OF Shakespeare
or upon some related theme. That is
my excuse for standing, a little time.
between you and the play. But 1t
must seem to others as il does to me,
that this audience, led so far as it has
been into the realm of Shakespeare
wisdom and fancy; flooded as Ii has
been. night by night, with the beams
of that philosophy which Shakespeare
left as a beacon in the world when he
passed beyond these voices; uplifted as
il has been into the region which the
greatest of all the poets has peopled
with the kings and queens of men,
that this audience knows it's Shake
spaare too we'll to need any analysis of
his appreciated powers. Rather would
ii take this hour to honor the spirit and
the art of the player who has brought
that great soul SO near to u.s. Tonight
is not only Shakespeare's but Frederick
Warde's: il calls not only for honor
10 the Bard of Avon, but to the man.
the noblest Roman among all his nne
interpreters.
Do we ever stop to think what man
ner of man il is who can meet the tests
which Shakespeare set for players7 1t
is not merely that he shall follow the
advice which Hamlet gives the actors
of the King; to let his own discretion
be his tutor; to suit the action to the
word and the word TO the action: to
show virtue her own feature, scorn her
own image and the very age and body
. ~t1e hi Err-r
is not merely these qualities that our
player must have, but to quote the
phrase of Antony. wit and words and
worth. action and utterance and the
power OF speech to stir mems blood
There must be a great man to fit the
great play, else the play shall suffer at
his hands. There must be mind spa
cious enough to hold the spirit as well
as the thoughts of Shakespeare: to feel
and live the noble part. II all goes cas-
lily upon the stage. but that is because .
intellect and sympathy. genius and
skill and the power for hard, unyfe1d-
ing work are there.
Frederick Warde will leave Honolulu
much to remember him by. much To
think of and ponder over, and much 30
seek again. To him and to the artists
with whom he is surrounded. this trop-
ic capital. so lonely in the seas, living
so much within its own thoughts and
experiences owes the chance to lose
Itself for the moment in other realms
and among other men ard customs. We
have walked the streets Of Rome with
and knelt with him at the dead
Caesars side; we have seen the mad
Lear, still every inch King. breast the
fury Of the midnight storm: we have
the siYnple-minded Moor 10 his
Jealous vengeance have list ID while
the Venetian Jew called FOR his pound
IF flesh and heard the voice Of Portia
plea ding for the TerCv that b'esseth
hin that gives and him that takes with
Macbeth we have heard the fatefnI