THE LEGITIMATE DRAMA.

Thames Star, Volume VII, Issue 2061, 12 August 1875, Page 3

THE LEGITIMATE DRAMA.

] The Tasmanian Tribune says: —Among the lovers of the legitimate drama in this city, is a young man who desires tri^fte the works of the great bard represented to the' very letter, and as he is the "property man" of an association established for the very laudable purpose of improving the intellect by . giving select. readings from the works of the great dramatists, ho is sometimes greally puzzled as to how np r shall be able to provide the "prb-,-perty," in order ihat the representation .hall, as far as possible, partake of a living reality. A few evenings ago, jtt- was resolved to rehearse the fifth "scene from " Hamlet.' 1 The characters -were accordingly cast, and the " property man," at the last moment, was sorely exercised as,to where he should obtain a , skull. * Tue Museum was closed; ~ and even if Mr Eoblin were knocked up, he would be tod careful a custodian to lend such a rarity. The " property man " had almostgivenup in despair when—happy thought—in the absence of a real skull, Would not a sheeps head do ? He appealed, to the " first gTave digger," and that functionary agreed with his coadjutor that the suggestion was -one that did credit to the inventive genius of the " property man." Away bounded the latter, and before many minutes had elapsed returned .with ,-the sheep's head neatly tied up fr,om the gaze of vujgar eyes. was %anded"otf«f tft£ rmaT%W^;* r» the representation proceeded. The dialogue between the youthful Hamlet and the grave-digger had passed oil sue* cessfully, but at the part where the Prince takes up the skull (sheep's head) there was a slight sensation among the small audience. The players,,however, were firm, and Hamlet, addressing the skull, proceeded: " Alas, poor Yorick ! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a thousand times; and now how abhorred in my imagination it is! v Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know not how oft." ; . At the recital of this last sentence the first grave-digger could no longer contain himself, and roared with laughterjin the Prince's face. The latter, indignant, and in the very whirlwind of his passion, dashed the skull down at the former's feet: At this moment, a large Newfoundland dog, which may often be seen in the vicinity of the Commercial Bank, and who had been a silent spectator of the execution of the tragedy rushed in and seized the skull, then exit dog, poor Yorick's skull, and the " property man" in close persuit.