The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-01-19
ADJUSTMENTS
Charles 3. Hanford at the Metropolitan
in "TamIng Of the ShreW."

in "Taming OF the ShreW.
."The Tanning of the Shrew" is a sew
enteenth century problem play. It was
Shaksperes. solution IN comedy form OF
the eternal problem OF the relations OF:
the sexes, a solution which seems to US
moderns a merry absurdity, but which
was undoubtedly considered by at least
the men Of it's first audiences a just and
righteous solution. The world moves and
modern Katherines are not thus tanned
by the Petruchios Of to-day. Yet 1t IS
well to remember that, like all great COM
edies, this one is projected upon a serious
background If one can but contriye to
look at it through seventeenth century
eyes, its mad merriment will stand forth
in truer colors. -
It is difficult to speak temporarily OF
Charles B. Hanford's buoyant aud DASH
ing Interpretation of Petruchio, which has
If anything gained in attractive qualities
since it was first seen here last year. Mr..
Hanford adroitly. takes US into his con-.
fidence at the outset and, through all the
phases of his boisterous wooing and we'd
ding and tanning of bonnie Kate, we are
in the secret Of his plan. Thus we: get
to know and like the true Petruchio be-
hind the mask Of his tickle and gusty tenn:
per and with him we: enjoy consumedly
the success of his little adventure at wo-
man tanning. Mr.. Hanford carries the
thing off with Immense relish. His Pc
@truchio is fam to stop In the midst; of
some wild scene to enjoy the consterna-
ton his madcap doings are causing and,
when Katherine, in a flash Of her old
spirit, touches him with one of her
thrusts, he :. enjoys it as keenly as If
he had himself welded the rapier. One
can see, too, that, unlike all the others
who have set the daughter Of Baptista
down for a mere shrew; he perceives her
good qualities; and that he carries the adj
oh
cenary design upon her dowry, nor alto
gether because Of his love for a jest we'll
carried out, but because he F. has con-
ceived a. real affection for Katherine and
means to be happy with her. In fine, MI.
Hanford gives us no superficial or obvious
conception of Petruchio, but one that gets
much nearer to the heart of Shakspere's
meaning. In the technic Of his art he Is
gratefully clear and unaffected. His voice
is the chief factor in distinct and natural
articulation and his carriage is easy and
graceful. .'....e' s... r
Miss Marie Drofnah-the anagram in
whose stage name seems a mistake
makes a very acceptable Katherine-more
spirited if less beautiful than that OF Hell
en- GRAVITY who played the role a year
ago. She is at her best in the wordy war
I of the wooing scene, where she quite
justifies the esteem in which the tempest
uous Kate was generally held. In the sub
wherein she is gradually but certainly
driven back from her untenable position
by the crafty Petrucbio, Miss Drofnah
seems to yield somewhat too readily. Nor
is her retreat well illumined by those
flashes Of rare humor which the greatest
Katherine in the stages history, Ada
Rehan, utilized with such effect But it
| is a consistent, intelligent conception and
! it will grow. She spoke the epilogue with
fine effect and demonstrated a good ca
| pacity for acting and a fine understanding
| Of the requirements Of the art. 49, T. =
| The supporting company is entirely
| adequate and the whole production is on
the liberal scale now considered as essen
tial in the Shaksperean drama as in mod
ern plays. :
Mr.. Hanford has chosen-and wisely, it
seems-to cut out the prologue and to
| substitute as curtain raiser, 1.-The Old
Guard which gives him an opportunity
to demonstrate his versatility by a fine
impersonation. of an old Napoleonic sol
dier living over his campaigns in his old
age. Miss Rose Curry achieves in the
same sketch a pretty and girlish imper-
sonation of the old fighters daughter,
which, despite some crudities,. shows her
to be young woman not only of beauty
| but Of promise. ~ 49,. ....
| - nh rJo;r