Forbes Robertson was born to play Hamlet and no Hamlet since Irving has ever approached his portrayal. He brought to his task every equipment necessary to the actor who would play the Prince First his noble voice, capable of every tone and modulation, was priceless. It was deep and tender. It reminded one of the moan and wail of the cello.
The two things that stood out against the background of other Hamlets were first his consummate good breeding, united with frankness of nature and lovableness of disposition; and secondly a mind deeply sensitive to religious impression. One can imagine such a Hamlet to have been the idol of his fellow students—to have been their chum and a model of a downright good chap.
With Polonius ed. and Rosencrantz and Guildenstern he was ever courteous, and rather smiled at them as fearful bores than stormed at them for the conspirators that they were.
It was his vein of cheerfulness, charm and humour that was the chief characteristic of Forbes Robertson's Hamlet, and made one feel at the conclusion of the _performance quietly satisfied with an intellectual treat than what was so often the case, a feeling of depres sion and despair for the many tertors that human nature was heir to.
Mr. Graham Barrow's address, interspersed with some excellent stories, was listened to with great interest, particularly the Irving sketch, the best of the three probably for the reason of its being the one with which Mr. Graham Barrow had greatest sympathy.
As was explained, Captain and Mrs. Morley Peel, who assisted the lecturer, did not attempt to imitate the famous interpretations spoken of in the lecture. They gave dramatic expression to some of the more striking passages in the play, and were most successful in this, various scenes being rendered with excellent effect. The local amateurs are fortunate in having two such clever additions to their ranks.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.