AMUSEMENTS.

Press, Volume LIX, Issue 11190, 3 February 1902, Page 6

AMUSEMENTS.

THE WILSON BABBETT SEASON". "HAMLET." Taking the -"whole range of characters on the dramatic stage, "(Hamlet" probably st*ryds alone as regards the scope vrbich it gives to the actor to indivtdneAise his conception of the part. Nearly every Shakespearian actor of note <has put fonra-rd on th.c stage iiis rendering of the character, and commectators of all kinds have also given their versions. Kiwwing that Mr Wilson Barrett <i£zke in his histrionic pnirr-t-Tayal and the stage peering of the play had introduced some notable diversities on th« accepted version, the production of "Hamlet" on Saturday night vns ne*orally looked forward , to -with much interest. Those vrivo w*i>e present at wha-t -was tine CTilffitinaiiTig performance of a reruarkaibly successful season could not fail to be struck ■with the success which, attended! the whole representation. The alterations made by Mr Barrett clear away omch of the vaguene.ss trith which the play has hitherto "been invested. Sot only is Mr Barrett's delineation of the character of "Hamlet" one of die finest T?e have been privileged to see here, but the alterations which he has made in tfoe acting version of the play, although in some respects open to criticism, yefc on the whole are judScious, and make ■whs* has hkherto been obscure perfectly clear and inteUigible. The main point in dispute with. aU commentators has been as to whether the madness of "Hamlet" was real or only assumed. Mr Barret* strongly emphasises tfhe latter contention, making the assumption of the "antic disposrtioTi" stand o-ut prominently. In his scene -with his tiwo friends after having seen the ghost, Mr Barret* brought this point out very finedy. He has altered the scenes' co as to do away with the incongruity in t>he ordinary action edition, in which, people are made to talk about the death of Poloniue when they can know nothing about it. With Mr Baxretf/e version the inferences are properly made toy those on%r yrho are aware of what had taken place. The most important departure from the recognised version ig the play scene taking place in the grounds of the caetle. For this, as with; all his improvements, Mr Barrett baa strong warrant. He makes the mimio reproduction of the murder take place on the vary epot where the crime was actually committed, thus doubly arousing the guriby conscience of the king. The reairamretneat of the scenes is an

artistic improvement, particularly m that pant of the play -where Hamfet epeake the speech beginning, "Wfby, what a rogue and -peasant sburo am I." Of the impersonataoa of "Hamletf * by Mr Wileoa Barrett it ia inapoerible to epeak too highly. There ■was not €-sven a euspdrion of exaggeration throughout, the eo&loepiies were spoken aatnmlly, but efcifl with, that repressed power and force wiadh ie the chief charm of Mr Bairefefe acting. This wee perhape most noticeable in tJ» well known "To Bβ or sot to be." In *he toce&ee with Ophelia Mr Buret* indaoatod the instance which leads to Hamlet treating her almost ruddy. The* he loves Ophefia deeply and truly Mr Barrebfc shows, *nd it is onify wh«n - he fincfe, by catiJhfag sight of the and Polo«ios behind tlhe arras, tiheit Ophelia is in league "wifh tibemi, that his afifeotion changes to xager, rntenefied Vhen Opielia replies falsely to tiie question, as to the ■whereabouts of her feqher. This Ti-ae a very effective pheee jtf ,the character, mosti artttrtncally In the famous close* scene, Mr Barrett was splendid. Hβ brought ouJjStrongjlyQinw, more ift sorrow than in danger, he'eseays tie task of caimncmg iae- mother of aec guilt. The ecene "-with , the' Ghost, too, was esseedrogly fcaadhinz, Mr Barret* ftrU stsope to the tender affection Wiuoh Hamlet bears to -tihfe memory of his faiher. • The fencing scene f| wi±oi Laertes, and tlhe 'death ait the end of the piny, also, •were' afrtiefcioally done. Wotrfhfly eotefited ito *afce rant -vnitfe the impeTßomticßt of Haanlefc vrt* that of Mxsa as OpheUia. Throughaab it "was a bigWv efieoteve irapereonatooin, pairtfcalaely in fee eoane wita Hamlet, Where eihe gives back his gifts. In this Mass M'cCartlh.y sftwrwed 'how OtJheka, acting as ber f»t3ifer directe, dislikes the duplicity wdth which, aftie attempts to deceive Hamlet. In the road eoene Miss JtEcCarthy was touchdngiy pathetic. Miss Beimore-was not'Jwippilycasbaß Queen Gertrude, thdpch she played tlhe closet scene wifh «, good deal of eisooees. Mr Carter Edwards made an excellent King, speaking tlhe lines vtith well-jndged elocution and farce. ' Mr Gheen, Kom€FWharti fowed in parts, gave a faidy good represenr ta-bton of the fiery Laertes. The Ghost was well played by 'Mr M. Majeroni, and the appearances -and disoppearaxioes of the abadnwy visitanb .were managed mitih ranch more euocess and semblance of reality than in former productions. ■ Mr Hodges was a capital Poloniue, the timereerving chamberlain being ttoll poactrayed. He was specially good in toe well known advice, to Laertee. The dry, oanstio htunour t of the First Grayedigger found a* most able represenrtwbive in >Ir who added yet anotiwr to Ms successes anting the season as a character actor of the highest ability. Mr Brock was rattier a coJoorfew Horatdo, and Mr .Ajfeholwood made a very excellent Player king. The audience wore most entbueiaetacj - and calls were 'frequent during tlhe eveninig, tbe curtain finaiDy- descending amufet a (perfect storm of cheers.

DIX'S GAJETY COMPANY.

At the invitation of Mr P. S>. Djx, » large section of the men of th» Eighth Contingent visited the Opera, House on Saturday evening. The , interior of the ball presented 4 'striking , appeoranoet Flags 'of all sorts were hung round the circle, and the special portion, of the circle reserved for the Mayor and party was also artistically draped with bunting. The Mayor of Cbratehurch and Mrs Rhodes were present, .together with several of the senior officers. The men "were * placed, in. • the orchestral stalls, which had been, specially enlarged for the occasion, while the-officers were seated upstairs. A special programme had been arranged, and the items were all more or ! Jew of an appropiate character. Several original songs were song, introducing allusions to the Contingent and its'officers. Mr W. B. Cadzow, who w-as encored for his eong, "The King's Letter," responded with-"Let mc Like a Soldier Fall," toe last I verse of whsfcli he had Miss I fMUlie by special -treqoest, sang "Good-bye, Dolly Gtav" v with much, success, wKiile Miss Pearl Lovell, who sang ttfo martial- songs, had Jto respond to. a double encore The' first part concluded 1 with a patriotic finale, "Sods of New Zeai land," by Mr Ernest Brinkman, and an I appropriate tahieau was presented, the curtain was lowereiv 'In : pffli?3«SF- B. Murphy, an Iridi-American '•ntimorfet, prefaced hie-tern with .spieeaiion the cordial relations which existert- between Americana and EnglisbrqiMv. itrVMurpTiy gang his original'efiinjg ga»," and iieplkjd to an encore wi*h another original composition <sa the Eighth. Con- | tangent. JEs Beryl GihnsMvs songs were I louder applauded, aaid the turns of Lucretia, .Messrs J- STeirion and B. all *ecesT«i witii T3ie entertaanmenb came to en end shortly after .ten, and Ifce men left immediately for the oamp. At th« conclusion of the first part a flashfehi Iphotoaraph of the house was taken by Mr Sorrefi.

THE HOLLANDER OOXDERT SEASON. Miss Alice wboen Christchnrch atrasio inrexs retain pleasing recollecijions. TviJl opeo .her season.at the Choral fiall to-mg&t.' Miss Hollander irill be ewpported by Mr If«al MoCSiy, the new tenor •who iias come out to Mr J. C. WilHamson; H«arr VoUmar. a 'ceßwt of repute, and Mr Farrell, -who brings Tsitn. him a. high reputation as a eolo pianist as well as accomparaets To-night Miss •Holia'nder will sing "Langi Dpi Caso Bene." by Saitti; "Still is tie •Sight," hy Bohm ; "'Oh. my Heart is Weary," hy A. G. Thonue, from the opera "Xadeschda"'; "to tie Angels,"' by Zank>, -with 'cello obligate, by H«rr ToQmar. Mr Neal McCS»y will «ng "In the Cloisters." by Sawyer: "Bid I my Choke." by ShepheTcl; "Votre Main, est Glaoee," from "La. Bohemie," by Pnocini" ; "■Beaanse I Ixjve Yon," by Hamlet; "Xinon." by P. Tosti. Herr Vollmar play *T«uSasie," by Servaia; '•Nocturne," by Chopin ; "TraHinerie," by Schumann : "Mus*t*e, r * ,r La Clair." Mr Farrell -Bill play

"Stodv in G," Babinstetn; "Polonaise hi E Flat-," C3Kopin; "Caprice Scarletti, ,, Padereirsfci.