The Washington herald., 1911-02-09

poesy untarnished by time and the power
Of its dramatic surge as potent as of DID,
Shakespeare's immortal Hamlet" swept
| through the hearts OF a splendid audi
ence at the Belasco Theater last night,
guided by the genius Of Mr.. f. H. Soth-
ern and his queenly collaboration, Miss
Julia Marlowe.
Mellowed in repose and richer by the
incessant study he has given this great
est of all tragic roles. Mr.. Sothern's
presentation Of the sable prince seemed to
possess last evening all the elements of
| inspired histrionic genius that in other
years have been denied him BY the
critics with memories that hearken back
to the tradition-hallowed days of Booth
and Barrett. Scene after scene he
| wrapped the midnight mantle Of his SOM
ber sadness ever more tightly about the
souls of his auditors. who torn from the
restraint that has made Washington
audiences a synonym for icy reserve.
broke again and again into storms Of ap-
plause that brought MIR. Sothern before
the footlights at the curtains every fall
AS played .ast night. Mr.. Sothern's
Hamlet is unquestionably the most
impressive Interpretation of the role
known to the theatersoers OF the pres
ent generation. There is something about
the delicate nuances that lead Mr.. Forbes
Robertson's Hamlet from the darke-
Passages to those of ironical humor that
is missing from the more consistently
grave characterization Of Mr.. Sothern.
But taken all in all. the latter artist has
so embellShed his performance with
original telling bits of stage business
and presents a figure so wondrously i'm
bued with the spirit of poetry. grace.
and tragic grandeur as to brook no rival
claimant to the laurel-enwreathed throne
Of the EngliSh-speaking stage.
In his first scene, when he sits swathed
in the inky cloak Of his filiaI bereave-
ment and receives the tidings of the ap-
rearance of his fathers ghost; in the
stirring encounter with this honored
Specter: in his immortal SoliloQuieS and
tenderly stormy scene with Ophelia; in
his advice to the players: in. his mag
r:ficently staged play scene where he
entraps the king. and in the tremendous
" moving scene that follows in which he
brings his SHINING mother to her repent
ance-Mr. Sothern's delivery. bearing,
and action bore the imprint Of undeniable
genius
Miss Narlowe was an exquisite Ophelia.
In the earlier scenes she made perfect
picture of girlish winsomeness. and in
the heartrending moments Of her men,
tai wanderings her touch was firm upon
the strings of pathetic expression. hsr
voice. as ever delighted the ear with |
its lifting IuSCiousEeSs.
Mr.. Frederick Lewis achieved new hon |
ors by his forceful. restrained interpre !
taton of the sterling Horatio, and John |
Taylor gave an exceptionally satisfactory |
performance of the venerable bore. Po- |
lonius. Rowland Blackstone gave an in |
imitable characterization of the First |
and the Queen Gertrude of |
Miss Alma Kruger was all that could be |
desired. The remaining numbers of the
cast met all demands adequately.
In its scenic settings and staging, the
production is splendid one in every re-
spect, and reflects great credit upon the
stage craft of Mr.. Sothern. Ef-
fective incidental music. specially COM
posed for the production by Frank A.
added to the impressiveness of
the ensemble scenes and entr' acts.
T. X. S.