The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-02-10
In Humble Appreciation
Of a Delightful Week


Al. but it has been good hasn't it.
ROW? II has been week when the dra-
matte editor was glad OF his job.
Forbes Robertson has been here. He
mas given us two performances OF the
best Hamlet on the stage today; and
ne has given us a delightfully."- realistic
embodiment OF one Of the greatest fig
lrrs of antiquity And he has given us
"a delightful. clean cut comedy role
Miss Elliott CAIrs. Forbes Robertson
has contributed an unusually vivid i'm
personation OF a coloriess part in her
Ophelia, and a simply delightful and
convincing Cleopatra while her Peggy
has more than justified its British rep
utatiOG.
or the Hamlet there seems little left
10 say. il seems To- ua tile iLca.
Hamlet. Booth at his best may have
been equally great but doubt II. Ana
he certainly did not stick auy thing like.
SO close 10 Shakespeare. Forbes hob
crtsou plays Hamlet virtually as m,
Bard of Avon wrote it. 1t is condense,
n litIe, SO that from beginning TO emo
IL has movement and tensity as a dril-
matte narrative
ZION the keencst and most distinctive
appeal Is its humanity. He allows hir--
self q liShmoss and a playfulness, a
manly tenderness, a youthful warmth.
that is a relief from the too frequently
presented Hamlet, all compact Of
gloom. And yet it is above 81. IN intro
spective Hamlet. though II is the mos;
human and the most beautiful 1 have
ever seen-a most lovahle Prince Of
Denmark. gracious to old friends ten
der 10 Ophelia, stern In his denunciation
Of his mothers crime. intense. exalted.
ard imaginative
Being al these things Il seems I'm
possible that il should be supremacy
natural But It is-not merely Mr.. Rob
ertsons Hamlet. but the entire com
pany's support. They do not stalk
through the piece. making their points
with portentous elaboration, wringing
each hr" 40 tine last drop Of its inn
pressivcuess. They take their parts and
their speeches simply. naturally, human
j.. They speak their lines hriskly and
yet keep their poetic quality Such Il
Hamlet is a new experience to most
of U2-an achievement WAicn will nuger
Ions in the memory.
And it is a Hamlet that apparently we
owe largely 20 Sir Henry Irving. In
his dressing room the other night MI
Robertson said, Il hesitated long
while about putting 1t on. OF course. I
knew the part: had my own conception
OF II; knew just what I would leave out.
But 1 doubted myself There had been
so many Hamlcts. was not sure. that
the worid wanted another. that il want
ed mine. But Sir Henry was ALWAYS
urging il. He was infinitely kind 10 me
always encouraging me FINALLY ne
went on for an eight months tour. and
7 took his tbeater during his absence
\y-bat .bo,,rI 10. - .r,,,,.
P'"' ''i'' '1'
tianisI lie lalTiy pulled me into IT,
III gao ne ulu-
'O''' '90''' are 5Ood many
'',,0' f.oi''
'eIIS ~ 'iS great CON- I''lil-e"I 'lc
p'lu nun III Ne" oih. %.
60 '1u'-N - oe6t''is IN ~ Pi"S - a.
- "a
'''''''''TV 80 " P"NA'u Hou9y %
' i- ~ D." ny '''e p-lS
'''' o.
''N 60 WIZ ''''S i''''e
,''.' l'-.'' 80 WIN - '"i'"'"S anu I"ue'
O''' ~ va ma ~, ou'
was ''''
,r.s p,rIf,tf &C. ..r,,,si,,.- ..I.,,,+ o,.r.,-
d., sl. rcaIizas tbst i, fs ,., arae,ri,.
.r, .r OBJ, nav, Ines. ;,,,,,,.sf,.l,. -.
max. .,.it,1 81. ,r.t.reefi,s, .'yo,, l-,,v ..
sin, saws 81 r.ly. ,lu-g,s r,,rie5 mar
,,raD /, ,,l. .i,-sT Il nod tb. ,,,, ,,.l,,l
had IN. uart-tn.v were am mon ,beu
-cr,fubr.I thar thar was mo- SORT ,r q,
mari IFS .ri, business VS. s,f,.fr.. ,,F,,,
uaonlr c1es 81 IN ngcir,. hin, Srsl,a.-
rcare wrote in the mad scene-just IN
..i,.. him, sor,.+bir,- r., IL. ,-,,, l-,o,,-
and keep him from backing ,lt /
altogether"
Perhaps from us novelty The Caesar
and Cleopatra should have had first
place. II las a good part OF the public I
guessing. one Of my esteemed c0ntem- /
poIarics-Hot Lo say hated rivaIs-mCt (
M, the other night after "a second. or /
perhaps. q thlIl. view OF it. still. to use ,
his own phrase. "alI hailed up" What /