The Salt Lake herald-Republican. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1909-1918, 1910-02-03
SALT LAKE THEATRE.

The strongest impression left by Mr..
Mantell's remarkable delineatlom or the
character of Hamlet is that of mex
pressible sadness. Hopeless and sunk
in profound grief, he moves through
the play, his sOmber robes typical of
the utter Wretchedness which it is his
art to portray. His lighter moods are
forced, he makes plain to the specta-
tors, and there is no relief for the deep
sorrow into which events plunge him,
The Interpretation is highly intellectual
and the effect of grief is a minor note
which is the constant accompaniment or
the theme of revenge,
That much considered question OF the
sanity of Hamlet does not enter into
Mr.. MantelTs Interpretation. He is
eminently sane, and the character gains
extraordinary force from this presen-
tation. There is not much interest at
tached to the doingS of an insane per
son, and whatever room for argument
the play affords upon this matter, Is
offset by Mr.. Mantells clearly DEFINED
position. He conceives Hamlet as
responsible being, with the INDIGESTION
of character sometimes due to intel
lectuality. Thinking too much he fails
to act, and the drama takes its newt
able course to a tragic ending.
To portray human nature in It's eN-
tremity, the soul torn by conflicting
emotions is the actors part in the role
of Hamlet, and of that tragic parsonage
Mr.. ManteI makes a figure Of pro-
found melancholy. He creates this I'M
preston by subtle means, rarely rals-
ing the voice or employing eXtrava-
CANT gesture. His art is that of re
preston, and the convincing force OF
his personality gives the effect desired
which lesser artists strive TO produce
by holder effort. The nobility of the
characterization is felt profoundly, and
new beauties are found in this We'll
loved role through the mastery presen-
tation of last evening.
md TTT1i
love story of the ages, was played before
a deeply thrilled audience at yesterday S
matinee. Whatever the somber dignity OF
Macbeth the majesty of Lear and
the noble philosophy of Hamlet TINS
drama is enshrined in all hearts as a
play apart. For romance and poetry, for
beauty and charm it is unequalled among
classic or modern plays and its presenta-
ton is an event looked for in every com
plete Shakespear5an repertOry. For the
first time in this present engagement OF
Mr. Mantell and company the audience
was such as the merits of the perform
anCe warrant.
The role of Juliet is prominently the
leading one in the drama and nearly
every great actress includes it in her re-
pertory. But for Romeo there are great
scenes made notable in this presentation
by the high art of Mr. Mantel. The we'll
remembered meetings of the lovers in the
garden and in Juliets chamber show nm
in a new light, that of the romantic and
impasSioned lover. His melOdiOuS voice
is heard in the lines of tender beauty
that thrill the heart. Also there is the
excellent portrayal of the wrapt lover go
ing about the streets absorbed in his pas
sion. But Mr.. MantelTs acting when he
learns of Juliet's death. the repression,
his grief told in few words yet profoundly
felt by every one in the audience, is the
nOblest performance of all. Then follows
the scene before the tomb, when Romeo
adiures Paris to leave him. the duel and
death of Paris all done in the nOblest
strain. The hush that fell upon the spec
tators forbade applause as they witnessed
this sublime spectacle of grief.
While it cannot be said that Miss Rus
sell is an ideal Juliet, she portrayed the
difficult role in excellent fashion, that
won enthusiastic applause. Her voice and
manner are not altogether suited to the
tender love passages, but under stress of
strong emotion she is an admirable act
Tess. When Miss Russell draws herself
up in scOrn or with hauteur she is a
ma gnifiCent woman of commanding pres
ence. AS the emotions mount she is
wholly adequate to the demands of the
role and only in the lighter moods can
exception be taken to her portrayal.
Miss Genevieve Reynolds distinguished
herself by her excellent work in the role
of the nurse She is a character actress
of ability and she won appreciative APP
plause Fritz Leiber as Mercutio again
showed himself an artist. Exceptionally
we'll done was the death act, where he ap-
peared bedonair as always but ennObled
by the shadow of the great calamity. Mr..
Yeiber is as versatile in his way as Nh.
Mantell himself and each of the roles in
which he has been seen is a perfect piece
Of artistry,