The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05
WILL SEE SON
PLAY HAMLET
Special Dispatch to The Call.


LONDON, Feb. 4.-London play
goers are curious to see if H. B. Irv-
ing, Sir Henrys eldest son, will make
anything like - striking success in
the part of Hamlet as his famous
sire did thirty years ago. Oddly
enough, Harry" Irving, who will play
the Dane for the first time at the
Adelphi soon under the management
of Otho Stuart, stands to-day almost
exactly where his distinguished father
stood prior to his appearance as
Hamlet. He has made himself rec
ognized as one of the ablest actors on
the British stage. but is not yet re-
garded as great player. Of course
after the memorable night at the Ly-
ceum when Henry Irving first played
Matthias in The Bells there was lit
tie doubt that he would take his place
sooner or later as a tragedian of the
first rank, but it was not until his
Hamlet was seen at the same the
ater in 1874 that he took his place at
the head of his profession.
III. B. Irving-whose initials stand
for Henry Broadribb-is 35, or slight
ly younger than his father was when
he appeared at the Prince of Den
mark. 1t would be an exaggeration to
say that his most successful perform
ance, SO far-that of Sir William
Beauvedere in The Ambassador
was as striking in its way as his faith
er's acting in The Bells" but this
impersonation made it seem certain
that the younger Irving would be soon
fn Of
since then II. B. Irving has had no
part that gave him a chance to be
great" but it is doubtful if his per-
formance of Crichton in Barrie's play
could have been bettered and he was
uncommonly good as Letchmere in
Pinero's Lefty" and as Orlando in
THE Twin Sister,
STUDENT AND WRITER.
He is student and a writer-chiefiy
on matters connected with criminology
and has published two thoughtful
works, French Criminals of the Nine
teenth Century and 1.-The Life of
Judge Jeffreys." His Hamlet will be a
profound character study whatever
else it is, and he will have the advan-
tage of being supported by the Adelphi
though they began badly a while ago
with The Prayer of the Sword are
now enjoying prosperity with THE
Tanning OF the Shrew' In the coming
production of Hamlet" Oscar Asche
will be the King and his wife, Lily
Brayton, the Ophelia.
Probably there will be no more inter-
ested spectator of his sons perform
ance in Hamlet than Sir Henry Irv-
ing himself. The Knight is in London
at present, but leaves for Portsmouth
at the end of the week to begin a pro-
vincial tour, which will last until Eas-
ter. Then he opens at Drury Lane for
three months. playing his repertoire
and in the autumn will leave for the
United States on what is almost certain
to be his last tour there. In 1906 Sir
Henry's farewell appearances in Lon
don will be made-or at least so he
thinks now.
Mrs. Langtry has put on Mrs Der
ing's Divorce at Terry's for a season
of only six weeks, and from the plays
reception it hardly seems likely that
this time will have to be extended. AS
in the United States. the piece has been
adjudged rather thin, and there is this
against it. too. that the Identical situ-
alton is treated much more amusingly
in The Freedom of Suzanne Marie
Tempest's play at the Criterion. Crit
les, however, find Mrs. Langtry's act
ing much improved and that she has
gained in ease and confidence.
AUTHOR ONCE WRESTLED.
Jean Richepin, who has come to Lon
don to see his ''Du Barry" play pro-
duced by Mrs. Brown-Potter. doesn't
lock in the least like dramatist. He
is over six feet tall and has skin that
is almost copper colored AS mat
ter of fact, Richepin had no idea of