The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-03-14
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 FORBES ROBERTSON IN HAM. FIT
BY TH0MAS n. oLANK <sAfss&<sa<sss~s&ss &ss <a<.x <ss ,sSe, :. .. s..s

Thaekery once asked a friend if he liked "the play" 'sYes." was the re- ply. If the play is a good one" "oi you don't understand. What I want to know is. do you like the play think I understand" said the triena, v a play Is well mounted and tne acuns clever. I like it." Fudge" cried Thack- cry. ..you do not understand what I mean: give you up"
 Thackery confessed he did like the play. He liked the play @iouse. he liked the furniture, the stage settings, the audience, the music, the cry of the 500 seated aioft, the very form and impress of the actors business in it's entirety. He loved the applause, the misses, the bad lights, the odors. He preferred. of course, sound art, but fie was not indit- ferent to that he deeme~ poor.
 I might have figured as Thackery's dull friend in the colioquy I began with. like a play when 1t strikes me as being good: would not give farthing to see all the poor plays and poor actors In the world. If this be treason let Thack- ery's adherents and all old play-goers make the most of 1t. Is there good actor on the American stage of today : summons L. H. R. and E. + |. to tes- tify. Personally have long since damned the whole tribe of contemporary actors on this side the water. Now ana then I have been drawn out to see some man or woman like Mansfield. Maude Ad- ans or Julia Mariow. L.. H. R, counseled me to see the last--and have returned home exasperated, dejected and deter mined never again to be taken in. ! am, however, a thorough-faced snob when 1t comes to the English. and have been bruised occasionally by one of their huskined men, like Wilson Barrett. John Hare, though and the Kendais. if not great are SO entirely competent in the roles they essay that so far retain a child-like confidence that when London marks an actor competent" that actor is worth seeing. So when Forbes Rob- ertson amounted he would make a trial of Hamlet upon us dogs of Washington. preparatory to the plays production in New York, I decided to go. My snoh- bishness was rewarded.
 must have seen Booths Hamlet, when the actor was past his prime. never saw Booth in any part wherein he did not impress me as lacking emotional strength or wherein hisselocution. 50 ex- uuisite in It's way, did not seem haccid. almost dull. Even Lawrence Barrett put more life in his Richeiieu than Booth did at least so 1t seemed to me--and I am driven to think I never saw Booth at his best and to regret that this was so have seen, believe, nearly all the Ham, lets of my time except Irving's and q sight of him in other roles has not caused me any great distress that missed seeing him in this;. my tender ness for things English having never carried me into the ranks of his idol aters. Let me surrender at once to the elect and take my flayingi One of the best Hamiets I ever saw was that oi John Mccullough once asked an old friend and admirer of Mccullough if he had ever seen that actas Hamlet. Ne; and would have taken beating rather than see it." Of course Mccullough could never seem the conventional Prince oi Denmark; he was too big man. He con- cefved the part admirably and spoke his lines with wonderful precision and grace There was a full resonant quality in his voice that joined with the justness and perfection of his utterance of words made the heart at times jump within you, surprised into felicity.
 Forbes Robertson has London repu. tation as Hamlet but he did not coms to the United States, tbink with ans purpose of trying to renew here llis sue cess in that play. He came to offer ui a dramatization of 'The Light Thai Failed and the commonplace pun. thai rises to mind describes his poor fortune The company had been brought together for one purpose and he turned their tai. ents as they were to a rendition oi Hamlet. He was accordingly handf capped by ragged support. In spite