The daily sentinel., 1909-04-13
FINE BUT HIS
SUPPORTING COMPANY WEAK

In spite of the many counter at
fractions. including the big ball at
the Auditorium, the Kingsley ban
uuet at the La Court and several
other meetings and functions that
took place last night, Easter Monday
night, splendid audience gathered
at the Park opera house to again
greet and applaud that able and pop
uIar veteran actor and Shakespearean
scholar, Charles B. Hanford.
There were, perhaps, 80 vacant
seats in the house, showing that, in
spite of numerous worthy counter at
fractions and in spite of the fact
that Hanford has visited Granu
junction annually for years and is
therefore no stranger, this man, one
of the most distinguished OF the IN
terpreters of the greatest plays tne
world has ever known, has magnet
ism and worth that never fails to
draw to his performances large audi
ences of cultured people.
From his repertoire for this sea-
son Mr.. Hanford offered Grand juno
tion last evening the sumptuous pro-
duction of rThe Winters Tale" cas-
lily one of Shakespeare's greatest
plays This powerful play, present.
| ing in wonderful way blending oil
tragedy, drama, comedy, pathos ana
|
human passions and affections, al
| fords numerous opportunities for the
brilliant and versatile talents OF MI
| Hanford and his wife, who is known
to the theatrical world as Miss Marie
Drofnah.
The performance was easily one Of
| the most creditable that Mr.. Han
| ford has ever presented in the city
His work and that of Miss Drofnah
/ - ut. f.al IA oh
In the trial scene and in the accusa-
tion scene Miss Drofnah aroused the
highest admiration and never has she
Ldone better work in her engagements
here than she did in these great
scenes last night. Both as Hermione
and as Perdita Miss Drofnah was de-
lightful and brilliant.
In "The Winters Tale" there are
not afforded as many powerful ORA
matte situations for Mr.. Hanford TO
| meet as in other of the Shakespear-
can tragedies in which Mr.. Hanford
apnears: vet the role calls for work
of the highest type. No actor of in
deterrent ability would dare assume
the role unless to make himself a
laughing stock
Throughout the performance Mr..
Hanford delineated King Leontes.
who allowed himself to be devoured
by unreasonable jealousy, in most
| ideal manner Mr.. Hanford's work
| justifies no harsh criticism.
An innovation that adds bright
| ness to the performance is that in
volved in Mr.. Hanford assuming in
one of the acts the role of Autolycusi
a rogue, and later that of the Bo-
hemian peddler. the characters in ne
way conflicting with the tenor OF
the play or having any bearing on
the work of Mr.. Hanford as Leontes
1t is a bit of refreshing deviation and
brings out in a most pronounced
manner Mr.. Hanford's ability to as
sumo either the role of a comedian
or that of a tragedian, handling each
with remarkable success.
A lovely feature of the preform-
ance of "The Winters Tale" is the
dancing and singing of a bevy oi
pretty and graceful girls.
Miss Gertrude Fowler was charm
ing as Paulina. She is very capable
too. However, with the exception OF
Miss Drofnah, Miss Fowler and Alex
ander Mckenzie, who have been with
Mr. Hanford for several seasons. we
believe that Mr. Hanford is supported
by the weakest east of principals he
has had with him in years. John NJ
Kline tif it was Mr.. Kline). in the
role of Polixenes, the Bohemian king
WAS very. very pooi- tlc gave III
life whatever to this superb charac-
ter. A number of the other princi-
pals were Indifferent in their work
However, the splendid work of Han
ford, Miss Drofnah Miss Fowler and
the fairly good work of Mr.. Mcken-
zie, with the assistance of the bevy
of pretty young women, overshad-
owed the Indifferent work of some
of the company's members.
to. Ill s.aI...
magnificent. There were numerous
scenes portrayed in THE Winters
Tale" and Mr.. Hanford gives them
in a luXuriant, correct and pleasing
manner. AS a scenic production it
ranks with the most elaborate ever
seen here.
MIR. Hanford renewed the alIegi-
ance of hundreds of old admirers and
made many new friends last night.
Next comes Ruth White in "The
Burgomaster."