Year: 1876

THE BOY HAMLET AT THE LYcEUM THEATRE.


There is buresque that can compare with the
unintentiona mockery OF the meaning OF great
work Shakespeare knew this when he introduced
The weavers OF Athens, Bottom and his comrades into
the tragedy OF Pyramus and his dearest Thisbe Last
night there proof Of this when company OF
amateurs at the Lyceum Theatre struggled with the
tragedy Of "IIamet," and were, OF course, utterly
Dvcrthrown. There was large audience present and
the interest centred in Master ~ $ Wood, 1.-The
Boy Hamlet" as he is called who was presented as
new infant Roscius.


We do not know who Is responsible for the appear
ancc OF this pleasing youth such character as Ham
lct but whoever was the active promoter OF the enter
PRISE has pcrpetrated a crime. We should take Master
\. : Wood to be about sixteen or eighteen years OF
ne. lie has a grlish face, good figure and agree
,blc, clear though decidedly weak, voice. His eye


ght and his appearance altogether prepossessng The
iympathies house evidently with him dur
ing the evening because OF his evident youth and in
experience, and he at once the victim Of a crime
against art and its aonement He was repeatedly ap-
pauded and frequently ridcuIed He was called before
the curtain several times and received enormous bas-
kets of flowers, which seemed almost difficult for
him TO sustain as the character itself


The natural capacities of Master Wood for the stage
are good. He has evidently strong memory which
in Hamlet only revealed in its parrot-l!ke
phases. He knew most OF tho words of his part and
by that knowledge alone carried the play through its
many difficulties. Hamlet one of the longest parts
on the stage, and for boy remember the lines
" he murders them, is notable in ITS way. But
here his merit ends. He is deficient every respe g


lie has neither grace of gesture nor OF attitude Evi
IDENTIFY he has Edwin Booth and Fechter. and mi
tates them far his feeble physical strength and
mental abilities permit. He did not show spark Of
fenus His merit was confined to rapid repetition OF
Ihe words surprising seliconirol under dsagreeable
circumstances, and an lnonenSlve and gentemanly
manner


We do not blame this boy when we say that his read
Ing eXecrabe that his pronunciation OF Of
words was inaccurate and vulgar-such as dew, -
hcoursc" ana many others that might be quoted-and
that his action was absurd We cannot censure him
know OF Hamletg How he appreciate the sublime
poetry the profound philosophy, the wonderful knowl-
edge OF manknd which Shakespeare displays in this
Tragedy? Master Wood may repeat the solloquy '.ro
be or not to be" as parrot might, but 1t Is
not in the nature of things that he under.
Ghos The heard him, il is truel or
ee the supernatural be inspired by revenge and at the
lame moment be restrained by conscience Ii rs inn
possible that he should sympathize with any element
oi the character The whole performance was iaise,
because the child was placed in false position HIS
vanity was attored to the uury ofhis merits Heuay
become good actor, but lie has made bad beginning
There was not one scene in which he showed any
prehcnsion Of the purpose of the play than skin
aeep, and ,in, IN nearly every passage-e1ceplng
caught up--his Incorrect emphasis made the
meaning almost unnielligible. Master Wood is not an
infant hosclus nor young Betty, but boy who
might come on the stage and speak few lines, like
FRANCOIS. in "Richcleu," and who to this extent is
ar better than some other members Of the company,
Sho were not lit even to carry banners in pro-
session.


To be sure, we do not compare this amateur perfor
nance by the standard which We would apply TO Wal
lacks That would be unjust. But have the right
10 denounce the insult to the drama putting upon the
stage Hamlet" as an object OF laughter and contempt
The majesty OF buried Denmark should be
turned into farce at ludcrous and painful
than even the appartion of The Spectre Bridegroom
To critcse the Ghost Polonus, the Queen and all the
mistakes that were necessarily made would be super
nuous. In light comedy farce company
would have been acceptable enough, but this
great tragedy the mental anguish they gave by their
distortions of the text found compensation the
m"rriment Their ridiculous assumptions continually
provoked The exhibition was painful and depressing
and although IL did make the unskful laugh IL could
not but make the judicious grieve We wish well to
this promising lad, but II would be kindness let
him believe that his Hamlet in respect legiti-
mate and credtabe performance.