The Detroit times., 1911-03-09
! 1914 ;5H, i; PLAY HOUSES

of Denmark. and Detroit theater.
goers had the privilege OF witnessing
IL shortly after its premiere. At that
time Mr.. Sothern and his conception
OF Hamlet were talked about and
written about from one end OF tho
country to the other by Shakespearean
commentators. students. professors OF
colleges and dramatic reviewers. He
was censured and he was praised.
lauded and condemned. but In the
sum total, admiration overrid preju-
dice and. at the end OF the season. the
score was far larger on the credit
than the debit side.
Besides, people fiocked TO see his
presentation, and a feat that most
managers and actors had believed i'm
possible OF accomplishment became a
fact, In that there was found to be
very large American public eager
to see Shakespearean tragedy acted
In the manner OF Mr.. Sothern and
with the magnificence OF scenic IN
yestiture with which he surrounded
II. Mr. Sothern's Hamlet" proved
to be as big box ONCE winner as
the most popular musical comedy OF
the moment. IL has lost none or its
drawing power since, as the size and
the ,caliber OF the audience. Wednes
day evening. In the Garrick theater
testified.
II is a coincidence that Mr.. Soth-
ems second visit to Detroit with
Hamlet four years after the first.
fell upon March s, 1905, and now his
third, came upon March s. 1911. six
years later to the day. In the de-
cade, that which was fine. Is become
finer and finest, and the Sothern
Hamlet of 1911 Is far more artistic
ally perfect than the Sothern Hamlet
of 1901.
Mr.. Sothern's presentation of the
melancholy prince has ever been that
In which the human note Is upper
most The question OF Hamlet's san
ity has exercised the argumentative
for centuries. Mr.. Sothern has not
been troubled on this point, for he
presents him as a man in full posses
sion of his senses, indeed with mind
and wits abnormally acute, because
of the purpose In his heart to carry
out the ghostly commands Of his be-
loved father that he be revenged
upon the king who usurped that sire's
throne and despoiled wife and mother.
In person, Mr.. Sothern makes Ham
let a not too-youthful person mot fat
and scant of breath" but as In Ophe-
LAS word "the glass of fashion and
the mold of form" He clothes Ham
let's body in garments of deepest
black-Mr. Mantell elects to wear
royal purple-and the wavy black
hair is brushed back from a high
and noble brow. His mien Is that
of settled melancholy, even in his
moments of satirical chatting of the
tiresome, meddling. old busybody,
Polonius. The note throughout is
that of a brooding melancholy, but
not of mind diseased and distract,
in the sense of lunacy. In the read
ing of the lines, Mr.. Sothern is hap
pier, perhaps, in Hamlet, than in any
other Of his tragic Shakespearean
characters. His musical voice Is ac-
curately tuned and his elocution as
smooth and delicately shaded as the
most critical ear could ask. In the
famous soliloquies every word was
hung upon by the audience. and Mr..
Sothern's delivery of them was as
well-nigh perfect as human endeavor
can encompass. Altogether. Mr.. Soth'
ern's Hamlet" is one OF the notable
achievements OF his career, and what
ever he accomplishes In the future, or
has attained in the past, his concep-
ton and acting Of the Dane will ever
remain one OF his best efforts and
successes.
Miss Marlowe's "Ophelia" has i'm
proved with maturity also, and she
gave very moving impersonation OF
the gentle maid crazed with the