New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-09-14
BEHIND THE FOOTLIGHTS.
Mr.. SOTHERN'S INNOVATIONS IN HAM
LET-IHE METAMORPHOSIS- OF
STEPHEN PHILLIPS-NOSES

The production of Hamlet which f H.
| Sothern is to give the Garden Theatre in
December will not, it has been announced, diff
fer in scenic equipment, in stage business CT in
Interpretation from the Hamlet of tradition.
While this is practically true, in one respect
al least, Mr.. Sothe-a's production will be unique
If present plans are carried out. The ghost in
the play, despite the famous interpreters it has
had. and the profound effect that has often
attended its appearance. have also frequently
been theatricalIy ineffective. sometimes even
rivalng the dragon in "Siegfried.' The finest
ghost cannot DO better than parade off through
the wings sink through trap. In Nh. Soth-
ern's production, however, the experiment will
be made of ghost that seems TO melt gradually
into nothngness, as true ghosts do. This effect
viii be achieved By means of mirrors A lay
figure, exactly resembling the stage ghost. viii
be constructed, and the reflection of it thrown
from behind the scenes upon a mirror Ccl'ceaied
in the stage scenery. taking the place OF the
player ghost. who will make blind exit Ihen
this reflection will be gradually obscured; VIII
In fact seem TO melt into nothinSness. The
scheme devised By Charles braoley: IoT-
merly Mr.. Sothern's business manager anu INV"
manager Of the BostonIaDs-
Speaking Of the ghost in Hamlet recais a
minor point in Shakespearian Interpretation
that while not affecting one way or the o'hef
an actors reading OF the line, has proved
stumbling block TO- more than one student Oh
an examination paper At the first appearance
of the ghost (Act l. Scene d Marcelius cries:
Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horato
A nopular note to this line states that the
exclamation of thou art & scholar hes III the
fact that ghosts were supposed u OPP Ei+,al!<s
the language of the Church. professor hltu
of Harvard. whose own explanation is tnat
ghosts OF spirits dangerous beings 70 talh
to- and the more you know about thenl 'I4e less
NIely fhey tn a
was safest in the GHOSTS company ohoe
asked on an examination paper Tor comments OH
Most of the students wisely chose Professor
Kittredges Interpretation, but one man stuch 70
the popular note, and adaeo w. haesmsa If
explanation that ghosts spoke Latin BECAUSE 1t
s a dead language
who is stephen Phillpotts. author Of 'Ulys-
ses?' is the question more than one patron OF
! the different Frohman theatres in this city mas
asked In the last week or two. In the lobby OF
each of these theatres there has been displayed
a group of colored pictures showing MI Tree
Ulysses with other characters OF the play
and in the centre Of the frame a caro- annouhc-
ing that Charles Frohman will present this WIN
| ter Ulysses by Stephen Phiilpots, just as
presented Her Majesty's Theatre young
man approached the manager OF one OF these
theatres the other evening and hunbiy sug-
gested that "PhiIpotts" should be changed.
about if. hut would ask MI Hayman who hap
! pened TO be present.
Philpotts is right said Mr.. Haynlan
me young man, however, was not satsned,
so ne called up another man on whose business
card appears the OF firm which Is not
one OF the lesser members of the theatrical
syndicate, and said him
- II any should ask sou who wrote
ULYSSES, the play produced by Beerbohm Tree
last winter, what would you say?
should say he answered. that L hadn't
the fafntest idea"
III wac Eden Phillips. wasn't t?' his aues-
toner asked
Maybe. he replied. but thought there was
stephen in his name: saw II posted in q the
afre the other day
Late last week those responsible for the pict-
ures and placard decided that Stephen Phillips
| Is, AFTER ALL the real author OF Ulysses. They
SAID they had an idea he was from the first. but
wnen Charles Frohman returned from Europe
| ne told them Phillpotts the name.
Last Monday night, when the fftieth ami
versary OF Wallack's Theatre ceebra ted.