Evening star., 1913-02-23
R.D.McLEAN

frankly admitted a desire for your kind
applause and worked to earn it with
charming indefatigablity. vivacious
plot, an enthusiastic assemblage of play
ers, beautiful costumng. the performance
of "Grabbe and Runne," buoyant and
unhackneyed, was a refreshing relief.
"The Painted Woman" is a good play
with a misleading title and an unfor-
tunate selection of character types and
costumes. 1t is impossible to avoid as
sociating the name with productions like
1.-The Pink Lady Pirates are too COM
ical. as rule, and Puritans too uncom-
promisingly impossible to be accepted
either as serious villains in the first in,
stance or as romantic heroes in the
second. PHILANDER JOHNSON.
HAMLET'S TOMB.-Miss Lysa Graham,
the terpsichorean artist who appears in
THE Merry Countess" while in. the vicin-
ity of Copenhagen last summer decided
to run out to Elsinor. where the tomb oil
Shakespeare's Hamlet is located and take
snapshot of the headstone.
Surprising as it may SEEM Miss Gra-
ham recites. when ! reached Elsinor
was greeted by the natives with stares of
amazement when | confided to them my
ambition. Finally, however, after in
Vulnerable inquiries l was directed TO a
simple stone, in little plot of ground,
marked 'HamletS Grave.
LAS I had experienced so much diff
Guilty in locating it, / was surprised to
find it so well cared for. | concluded TO
investigate the matter l asked more
lNtrt tn
anything about either the grave or its
sexton l was becoming discouraged
when | espied an old man, stopped with
the burden of many years, making his
way toward the grave with sprinkler In
one hand an little hoe in the other
The sight was awe-inspiring-it brought
to mind 'Hamlet's ghost | quickly de-
cided TO face the old fellow and make
my intrusions kindly at first. but when !
told him / was an American and had
made the long pilgrimage just to see the
historic grave he became more friendly.
Speaking in the most perfect English,
he told me he had taken up his abode in
an old hut nearby. furnished simply with
| a rough couch and few volumes OF cias-
sic literature. and that so long as the
breath of life remained in his body he
| would tend the grave with all the devo-
ton of his ardent soul. His only wish
was that the Almighty would allow him
many. many years in which to care for
immortal character
LOOKS LIKE THE POPE-Theater-
goers who have laughed and wept with
William H. Thompson, the character star,
have never until this season seen his face
on the stage as it really is during the
forty-seyen years he has been player.
During his long career he has played APP
proximately leo characteristic roles, 200
of which he created himself but they
were roles requiring makeup. In
speaking of it recently, he said
Many time have l spent an hour and
a half in front of the mirror preparing
for my appearance in a different charac
| ter. At last L decided to appear in my
own face for change. and think, from
| the attention the people give me and the
warm and generous applause with which
| they favor me- they welcome the oppor-
| tunity to see me as l am. even as l well
| come the chance to let them
| ALWAYS IN A HURRY.-"Why
| hasn't America produced more operate
stars" asks Nine. Gadski. and she pro-
ceeds TO answer thus: Blame Ameri-
can customs Here in America it's
ever a rush. turmoil hurry and worry
and scurry.
| "A young woman comes to nae and
says she is going abroad TO receive
vocal education. ON, / m going to
work hard she remarks And that's
just it, She works hard, and one can't
| work hard and educate voice prop
erly. II takes time patience, care, but
hurry never Americans want every
f, thing too quick.
| HE WAS IN MISSOrRI-R. d. Mac
! Lean relates some amusing incidents in
! connection with his stage career.
! Il was in the box office at Joplin. Mo-,
! "A year ago. ne says and a man came
up 10 the window and asked:
What show have you on for to-
night?
The Winters Tale he was told.
Who wrote II?
William Shakespeare, replied the
treasurer.
lis he with the company? the man
asked.
The treasurer smilingly referred the
man TO me for answer. | replied that
Mr.. Shakespeare was with us in spirit,
hoped
| Well. is this musical comedy? in
!. sisted the man, who evidently intended