The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-01-28
Recent Criticism,

Appeal SAYS OF LOUIS JdHcS.
With pelting sleet beating from
the north and a wind that carried an
eastern chill with it, last night was
not a propitious one for theater-go-
ing. Many people braved the ele-
ments, however, in order to witness
Louis James in 1.-THE Merry Wives of
windsor, at the Lyceum theater.
There were but few vacant seats and
the audience represented the best in
terests of the city. It was essential
~ cultured audience and one that
enjoyed every minute of the per-
Torrance. Mr.. James never received
more cordial Endorsement than the
one given last night His wonderful
versatility was never before more
convinclngly illustrated No actor on
the stage today has evinced talent
of such unlimited scope, and none
have claim to such a diversity of
characters, wei played. His Falstaff,
as given last night, will receive a
chapter unto itself. There has been
nothing offered this season so entire
" worthy of Memphis peoples sup
port. and those who braved the ele-
ments were more than compensated.
Much might be written of Mr..
James performance. Critical stu
dents of the play watched him close
" at the Lyceum last night. There
were men in the audience and wom-
en-, too, who knew their Shakespeare
well. They noted the perfect poise
of his impersonation. Physically and
vocally Mr.. James is the ideal Fall
staff, but last night he showed that
intellectually and from purely dra-
matte point of view he also fulfills
every expectation of the character.
The external attributes were freely
admitted in advance. The burly form,
the round, rudy face. the rimy fringe
of whiskers, the bright, penetrating,
merry eyes, the rows of even teeth,
/ the strong, well-developed voice, the
pompous, gross, selfish animal de-
meanor. These were all admitted,
but as to the spirit of the part some
people differed-as is always the
case with reference to art of decided
character and conspicuous merit. Be
fore the performance was half con-
cluded Mr.. James had banished all
doubt. His humor was both unetu-
Gus and satlrical. He Interpreted a
mind that was merry, but one in
which merriment contained a tinct-
ure of seorn.
Mr.. James is splendidly supported
by company entirely worthy of him,
and even to the smaller characters
the cast is satisfactory.
Nelly McHenry, so well known to
1.-THE older generation, was delightful
as Mistress Quickly. Her assumption
of the character was refreshing in ev-
cry particular 1t was instinct with
pure comedy She shared with the
star in the enjoyments of the two
scenes in the Garter Inn, and was so
eiferyesoing that the audience was
always amused. She was quite ire
slstible.
Aphie James was a most mischiey-
Gus and winsome Mrs. Ford, while
Charlotte Lambert as Mrs. Page, was
no less entertaining. The wives We're
well named merry, for they more
than sustained their right to be so
called.
Norman Hackett, an admirable
actor whose reading is always a de-
lightful feature of his performance,
presented an ideal Mr.. Ford. He was
just the impetuous, suspicious ieal-
Gus husband one might expect His
impersonation stands clearly out per-
fectly defined and graceful in its ar
tistic contour. other members of
the cast were most acceptable.
Hanford's Marc Antony.
Following are excerpts from two
criticisms of Mr.. Hanford's produce
ton Of Julius Caesar" of interest to
Paducah theater-goers and Shakes
pearean scholars.
| Louisville Courier-Journal of
Tuesday. october 0, 1906: Charles
D. Hanford opened his half weeks en-
gagement at Macauley's last evening,
presenting Shakespeare immortal
drama, Julius Caesar" The drama
was presented to a good sized audi
ence and certainly to a gathering each
member of which accepted the pre-
sentation with deepest and most re-
spectful attention, and with highest
admiration for this actor, who, by
dint of perseverance and those sterl-
ing qualities that go to make the art
list, has wone for himself a place high
up among the honored and distin-
guished actors of the American
stage.