HERR BANDMANN AS HAMLET.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 3078, 9 May 1881, Page 3

HERR BANDMANN AS HAMLET.

Herr Bandmann and his company opened at the Theatre Royal on Saturday evening with Hamlet. Although the company only arrived late in the afternoon, md Herr Bandmann thought it necessary to apologise for what he considered the shortcomings in the evening's performance, with the exception of the delay in commencing, there was no fault to be found even by the most captious. The house was well filled, with the exception ot the circle, and that it was appreciative was evidenced by the frequency with which Herr Bandmann was called before the curtain. Herr Bandmann's rendering of Hamlet, whilst possessing much that is original, is evidently founded upon the theory, expounded and defended by some of the most thoughtful critics of recent times, that Hamlet is a man of action. In his delination behind the assumed madness there was apparent that quickness of perception, readiness of expedient, and fertility of resource altogether inconsistent with the idea of a dreamer and sentimentalist overpowered by the responsibility laid upon him by fate. The fervid and acute workiug of Hamlet's mind was admirably brought out by. Herr Bandmann in the encounters with Polonius, Guilderstein, and Rosencranz. The soliloquies throughout the play were given with earnestness, frequently rising to passion. In the scenes of familiar converse Herr Bnndmann is excellent, and the more emotional passages, as for instance his address to Ophelia and to his Mother in the Chamber, were given in a manner unsurpassable. The play scene was thrilling in the extreme, and its conclusion fairly brought down the house. Herr Bandmann's whole conception of the character will bear comparison with any the public of our day are acquainted with. It may have appeared to some—in fact we heard the opinion hazarded— that there was too much of the boisterous in Herr Bandmann's rendering of the melancholy Dane, but any who have thought this have altogether failed to understand the probable action of a vigorous man assuming madness, and who could retort upon Laertes, " Nay, an thou'lt mouth, I'll rant as well as thou." In Miss Beaudet's rendering of the character of Ophelia there is undeniable power, although much of the attitudinizing in the mad scene was lacking in grace. There was, however, throughout her performance an evidence of dramatic force which made us desire to see her in other characters before giving an opinion upon Miss Beaudet as a tragedienne. Mr Cathcart, as the King and Ghost, was excellent, but to-night as lago we shall have a better opportunity of seeing the quality of this sterling actor. The other characters were all well taken, notably Horatio by Mr Nunn. In his short speech, after the second act, Mr Bandmann stated that during the week the company would produce Othello, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Narcisse, and Much Ado about Nothing.