The Washington times., 1905-03-26
Hamlet andOthers
Notable Bills Redeem City
From Mediocrily = Nj.
Robertson's S Version of the
Greatest Tragedy.

EXCEPT for Quincy Adams Sawyer"
anG Albert Chevaiier the theatrical
menu for the past week would have
been very poor ..pickn' 81 Wang"
came to life, but he still bore the hall
mark OF the cold storage. THE Wizard
Of Oz' was attenuated with time and
worn with labor. The Academy, with
Fast Life In New York" and the LV-
ceum. with -'rhe Dainty Duchess" COM
pany, dic no more than hold their own.
Many small city, where good companies
stay but two or three nights, had bet
ter week than Washington
Happily, the outlook is brighter Forbes
Robertsons Hamlet is as good a per-
fermance of that heroic role as the mod
ern stage affords Lew Dockstader's
minstrels offer an admirable entertain
ment, all black-face-like the minstrel
Of thirty years ago-and constitute a
fine foil for the engagement at the Co
Iumbia. Captain Darlington" at the
Lafayette. is an artistic and beauti-
ful play written originally with Charles
Richman IN mind, and entirely success
full as long as independent bookings
could be found. Its author, Victor
Mapes, is well known in Washington,
and the engagement has an extra In
terest because some of his friends have
bought out the Monday night house for
the benefit Of St. Agnes Guild. Chase s
> loses Chevalier and resumes the even
course OF polite vaudeville. At the Acaa-
emy, 1.-The Queen of the Highway" and
at the Lyceum, THE New York Stars. -
complete the offerings.
E.,n~ - aTI,a
Mr. Robertson's Hamlet has been
seen in Washington and heartily com.
mended When he disclosed it here
last year the enactment was practically
new TO America. The Capital was In
stantly and deeply impressed. Then Ne
went to other Eastern cities and con
tinued his favorable course But when
lie reached New York he met with In
difference from many critics. favor from
few and ill-digested dieapproval from
the rest.
A year has suffieed. to correct this
Gothamite judgment Even New York
cannot long withstand the force of true
art. Today one of the best newspapers
in the city has not hesitateds TO publish
an editorial urging the people .sof New
York to attend these performances TO,
the credit and Improvement of the city
No one in Washington who reads this
column and can afford TO see Mr.. Rob.
ertson play Hamlet should neglec,
the opportunity offered by this engage.
raent at the Columbia. 1t is in som,
respects opposed to the text of the play
II IS not remarkable for It's fire; but Il
is, all in all, the clearest exposition OF
~ 4
or this generation.
In order TO simplify the stage settings
and. thereby reduce the time spent OF
scene-shifting, several OF the scenes arr
transferred to the palace of the king. Ir
order. also, to keep the real Hamle
uppermost and clear in the minds o.
the. audience, several of the scene.
which reveal Hamlet unfayerably ar,
omitted These are the only libertie,
taken with the text Otherwise the per,
formance is remarkable for the lucidity
with which IL spreads oat the real Ham
let-sane, depressed, caught in a tid'
OF untoward events, a prince Of melan
choly, and noble heart.
Comic With a Vengeance.
The ether side of the Washington
shield this week Is comic with
vengeance Mr.. Doekstader has prepared
for his local engagement with specia
interest He is friends, 1T appears. witt
half a dozen men high in the council!
of the administration and they have
been helping him make ready a series OF
local jokes which ought to make new
record
Ons of his advertising schemes proved