The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1904-04-18
RICHARD III"


prefer OF Shakespenrean roles when
Charles H. Hanford appeared before
a ahamefuliy small audience Ina what
some critics consider the bard Of
ANon's greatest tragedy. Richard
ILL.," This drama bly,
represents the great author at the
apex OF his power II Is the product
- the mature manhood or the
mlEhtlcst intellect that ever lived
Compare that earlier work. "Othet-
Ia" ia which lagos plot f. first
sown. and springs ur. aud gradually
grows and ripens IN his brain with
Richards downright annunctation OF
his projected series Of crimes from
the first and we may discern the
difference between the great poet In
his eallow but brilliant youth and
the same author as a wcll-devrlopcd
full-rounded man whose breadth OF
vision had been widened by the rich
experiences In the world. his onfn-
prvhenstve sraup OF history and his
analytical knowledge Of human ma
tare In an Interim OF some 10 or
e years.
The scene OF the play L. laid iu
England during the trouhl0us times
when the houses Of York aud Ian
caster we're wagtng the Hundred
Years War. the hlnodieat conflict In
nrltains history. While the play
covers n period Of but II DAYS IA
that brief time u gives Us a glimpse
of the Death ~ Henry VI. the dying
days Of King Edward ~. the brief
and fitfal regime Of Edward V. the
momentary taste OF power thar
Bloody Richard had and II paves the
way for the reign OF Henry VII
Mlserah bic England was a sticky
land. dreuehsd with the blood %
kings and princes, devastated by
wars. rent IN twain with intrigue
and revolution. and the people were
In foment OF terror. not knowing
to whom ohsisancs might next be
due. Richard. the .troublcr Of the
paor worlds peace. e monopoilxrs the
whole action Of the drama. the other
characters Of this play 81 passion be-
INK for the ua0st part Intended mere
~ 20 set of the h.ro's ideal ViiiaIny.
Ths play deals. according 20 Shakes
peare.a own words with the
'tr~acherous plots 81 Richard against
hia brother Clarence. the pitiful muir
der 81 his innocent n-phews. his
lyrRnnienl usurpatiou. the whole
course % his detcstabls life and hts
most deserved death"
The drama u a revelation
% the pregnant possibilities which
lie dormant TN an iudomitable
will baptized With power. Richards
IL character In which no good
finds place. IN which are blended
greed. avarie~. Hypocrisy. ambition.
tseach~ry. deceit. cruelty. pride. tn
gratitude. craftiu~ns and cunning.
aggravated by a brilliant Intellect
which commands admiration as we'll
as contempt.
AFR. Hauford'a trnpsrsonation os
Richard will never so down IN his
tory as n classic performances. al
though he handles the part eapabiy.
consistently and reads the lines true
20 his own conception % the part
Older tfsater-goers VIII. perhaps.
remember Thomas kesue.n coucsp-
tion % the role. how true ., was %
shaksspeare'a own IDEA. how be bore
the burden Of Descending Nature
20 faithfully 10 the text that no mat
ter what your own conception Of the
bloody Richard might have been.
Kesne's portrayal biottrd ~ out %
mind and took Its place. Keens was
true first 20 kla own IDEAL and was
convincing. Richard Mansfield could
not read the lines Of the part prop
srlY. but his Richard III. was a sue
cess because the production was
maguificeutlY staged and the play
was IN the hands OF artists Of su-
perior genius
Hanford's Richard simply chaI-
ienses ones own conception. II does
not convince. IIia makeup f. not
Shakespearean. but the broad iifer-
ties Hanf0rd has taken with the text
fustifies his physical appearance.
Hanford IL strong I'm the love scene
with Lady Anne. Tor every nsndish
element IN hiH mental. moral and
physical nature are emphasized In
his deuouiaeal triumph over the
heart OF the woman who had been
made widow and robbed Of her son
b. the stroke Of Richards sword.
In the coronation scene. In the
third act. Hnnford IL at hts best.
lie does not rant and roar. bat re-
veais Richards true character IN all
its shocking aspects quietly and IN
a calm subdusd way. displays best
OF all his reaehsry and subtle
hypocrisy.
The tent scene r. not noteworthy.
II has been handled more capahIy a
soors Of times. but the duel between
Richmond and Richard on B0aworth
field IL splendid. one Of the best bits
Of sword play seen on local stage.
but Hanford doesn't know how 60
die. The fact that Shakespeare In
Isoted Nemesis thirsting for revenge
Into the piece from the very first.
and It's presence being apparent all
through the course OF the play
seeing 20 have been overlooked by
Hanford In the final scene. Hanford
dropped Ike a loR. uuttsred
gTunt like Rroan and then lay Ftffi.
n wasn't artistic. TO say the least.
Hanford's support. except for
Frederick Forester. who plays the
part Of King Henry VI. and also
appears as Richmond. - Indifferent.
Marie Drofnah works hard. but she
rants and waves her arms IN sense
less gestures. IN and out OF place.
Their unfitnesa was most apparent
when she was weighed down by n
Widows SORROW and a mothers grief