Arizona republican., 1907-02-03
CHARLES B. HANf0RD
 AND MARIE DR0FNAH
A Dramatic Treat For the People of
 Phoenix on February 16th. Julius
 Caesar and Cymbeline.

F. Lawrence Walker, manager of the Hanford Drofnah company. arrived in Phoenix, Friday. leaving yesterday af- ternOOn for the west. He announces the engagement of the company here on Saturday. February 16. for matinee and evening performances at the Dor ris opera house. The company will un- doubtedly be royalty welcomed for 1t is one of the few really first class the atrical organizations that in late years have been making regular stops in this | city. It comes this year with a com pany of twenty-seven people and a sixty foot car of special scenery. In the later visits the company has presented to Phoenix audiences in most mas terly and acceptable manner. Tanning of the Shrew, Don Caesar de Bazan and Merchant of Venice these plays being grouped differently in different visits.
 The arrival of Mir. Walker has for many years past invariably proved a reliable omen of good things to come in a theatrical way. This season he announces the production by Hanford, Iof Julius Caesar" and "Cymbeline." A magnificent revival of the great his tOric drama is promised with Mir. Han ford of course the central figure. The production of "Cymbeline" will afford most agreeable opportunity for Miss Marie Drofnah whose accomplishments are such as to make her seem fitted to offer an ideal impersonation of the role of 'ImOgen." Mir. Charles B. | Hanford's season has opened with a brilliancy which seems to afford re- liable promise that it will be simply a continuation of the extraordinary sue ! cess he enjoyed last year. From win ter to winter the story of Mir Han | ford's career has been one of repeti- ton. in that there was invariably the | same increase in popular interest and ! patronage to be noted. From the time that he came forth as a star after his ' striking and remarkable success as Marc Antony" in the company of Booth and Barrett. until the present [ day. he has had the confidence of all | of his first admirers and has won many more to their way of thinking
 Mir. Hanford is fortunate in having no prejudices to overcome. The task which lay before him in conquering public public esteem was only that of con vincing the indifferent or the unin- formed. Graceful in personality, easy yet forceful in conversational scenes and sincerely impressive without want
 or exaggeration in declamatory pas sages. he has not only commanded the eager interest of the amusement seeker
 but has commended himself to the hearty approval of scholarly comment.
 as well as to the more vivacious and trenchant school of modern theatric criticism. He has no mannerisms to be forgiven. no awkward traits of gesture or pronunciation which. as it so often happens with eminent actors. the eye must be taught to disregard. before the intellect and magnetism of the player can be fully appreciated. Tn
 Julius Caesar" Mir. HanfOrd has three heroic roles from which to choose. l'Brutus" and "Cassius" will undoubt- edly both tempt him from time to time.
 but certain 1t is that his favOrite part in the play will always be Marc An
 tony" the character in which he first claimed recognition as a star. By add
 ing "Cymbeline" to his repertOry this season Mir. Hanford has the benefit of contrast, for if Marc Antony is a
 hero par excellence. 'Iachiho" is no
 less complete and ideal a rogue. He is
 a william of the polished type: one
 whose subtleties afford fine opportuni- ties for the player who is competent to
 delineate human character as an ar
 tistic study without depending on the
 romantic sympathies of his audience.
 Another point of great interest in con-
 nection with "Cymbelfne" will be the Opportunity it presents in seeing that
 favorite actress Miss. Marie Drofnah in
 a role of command nding importance. It
 is part which must inevitably appeal
 strongly to an actress who has made
 a close study of the women of Shakes
 pears; a study which has occupied
 practically all Miss Drofnah's notable
 career on the stage. This gentle yet
 resolute heroine is a type such as men
 admire and women worship. Yet the
 character Is but seldom offered to the
 stage for it is one which requires not only long training but special gifts of
 personality. "Imogen is a heroine !, whom the public would not see en- trusted to the care of any but fav- lorite actress