DOI Heft:
April 16, 1892
DOI Seite / Zitierlink:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.17693#0194
April 16, 1892.]
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
185
TRIALS AT THE LAW COURTS.
A Timid but Erudite "Leader" is urged to take a "Bad
Objection."
OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
Ale who are interested in the theatrical celebrities of past times
will do well to read a brief, indeed, a too brief paper, about
Dorothy Jordan, written by Fitzgerald Molloy, for The
English Illustrated Magazine of this month. The Baron does not
remember if Thackeray touched on the story of this talented
Actress in his Lectures on " The Four Georges ; " but the sad finish
to tbe brilliant career of Mrs. Jordan could hardly have escaped
the great Satirist as being one instance, among many; illustrating
the wise King's advice as to " not putting your trust in Princes ; "
"or," for the matter of that, and in fairness, it must be added, " in
any child of man." Poor Dorothy, or Dolly Jordan! but now a
Queen of "Puppets," and now—thus, a mere rag-dolly. Ah,
Clarence!—"False, fleeting, perjured Clarence!" as Shak-
speare wrote of that other Duke in Crookback'd Richard's time,
for whom the " ifs" and " ands" of life were resolved for ever in a
final "butt."
In the issue for 1891 of that most interesting yearly Annual, The
Book- Worm, for which the Baron, taking it up now and again,
blesses Elliot Stock, of Paternoster How, there is a brief but
interesting account of The Annexed Prayer-Book, which, after
some curious chances and changes, was at last ordered to be photo-
graphed page by page, without being removed from the custody of
Black Bod. "By means of an elaborate system of reflecting," the
process of photographing was carried on in the House of Lords,
It is satisfactory to all Book-worms to know that so important a
work was not undertaken without even more than the usual amount
of reflection. TnE Baron de Book-Worms.
THE HAIY1LET IN THE HAYIV1ARKET.
"With Mr. Tree's impersonation of Hamlet most London play-
goers are by this time acquainted, though not yet familiar. It is a
most interesting performance, especially to those who remember the
inauguration of startling new departures by Charles Fechter.
The question for every fresh Hamlet must always be, "How can I
differentiate my Hamlet from all previous Hamlets f "What can I
do that nobody has as yet thought of doing ? " " To be or not to be "
Hamlet, "that is the question" ; whether 'tis better continuously to
suffer the tortures of uncertainty as to what you might have achieved
had you essayed the part, or to take up the study of it, and ceasing
to shiver on the bank, leave off your damnable faces, and plunge in ?
Mr. Tree has plunged, and is going on swimmingly.
Mrs. Tree's Ophelia sane, is charming. Her distraught Ophelia
is very mad indeed, and her method in her madness is excellent.
There is a curious monotony in some of the stage-business. Thus,
Ophelia pauses in her exit and comes up quietly behind the absent-
minded Prince as if to play bo-peep with him: then, later on, after
his apparently brutal treatment of her, Hamlet returns, and, while
she is stooping and in tears, lie kisses her hair and runs away noise-
lessly as if this also were another part of the same game. Then
again, in the Churchyard, after the scandalous brawling (brought
about by the stupid ignorance of a dunderheaded ecclesiastic, to whose
Bishop Laertes ought to have immediately reported him), Hamlet
returns to weep and throw flowers into the grave. Now excellent
"returns" are dear to the managerial heart, and consoling to his
pocket, when they attest the overflowing attendance of " friends in
front;" but when "returns" are on the stage, their excellence may
be questioned on the score of monotony. Now, as to the Church-
yard Scene, permit me to make a suggestion:—the Second Grave-
digger has been commissioned by the First Gravedigger, with money
down, to go to a neighbouring publican of the name of Yaughan,
pronounced Yogan or Yawn,—probably the latter, on account
either of his opening his mouth wide, or of his being a sleepy-headed
fellow,—and fetch a stoop of liquor. Now, when all the turmoil is
over, the remaining gravedigger would at once set to work, as in
fact he does in this scene at the Haymarkef ; but here he just shovels
a handful of mould into the grave, and then, without rhyme or
reason (with both of which he has been plentifully supplied by
Shakspeare), suddenly away he goes, merely to allow for the
" business " of Hamlet's re-entrance. But why shouldn't there be
here, prior to the return of Hamlet, a re-entrance of the Second
Gravedigger, as if coming back from friend Yaughan's with the pot
of ale ? The sight of this would attract First Gravedigger, and take
the thirsty soul most readily from his work to discuss the refreshment
in some shady nook. Then by all means let Hamlet return to pour out
his grief; and on this picture ought the Curtain effectively descend.
A novel point introduced by Mr. Tree is that his Hamlet, enter
taining an affectionate remembrance of the late Yorick, assumes a
friendly and patronising air towards Yd rick's successor, a' Court
Fool, apparently so youthful that he may still be supposed to be
learning his business. So when His Boyal Highness Hamlet has
what he considers " a good thing " to say, Mr. Tree places the novice
in jesting near himself, and pointedly speaks at him ; as e.g., when,
in reply to the King's inquiry after his health, he tells him that he
"eats air promise-crammed," adding, with a sly look at the Court
Fool, " you cannot feed capons so." "Whereat the Fool, put into a
difficult position, through his fear of offending the Prince by not
laughing, or angering the King (his employer) by laughing, has to
acknowledge the Prince's witticism with a deferential, but some-
what deprecatory, snigger.
Again, when Hamlet is "going to have a lark" with old
Polonius—a. proceeding in exquisitely bad taste by the way—Mr.
Tree's Hamlet attracts the young Court
Jester's attention to his forthcoming
novelty. Now this time, as the repartee
is about as rude a thing as any vulgar
cad of an 'Arry might have uttered,
the professional Jester, who evidently
does not owe his appointment to the Lord
Chamberlain's favour, and is exempt
from his jurisdiction, grins all over his
countenance, and hops away to exiflain
the jest to some of the courtiers, while
Hamlet himself, to judge by his smiling
countenance, is clearly very much pleased
with his own performance in showing
a Jester how the fool should be played.
And this notion is consistent with the
character of a PrinGe wdio takes upon
himself to.lecture the Actors on their own
art. There is no subtler touch in Shak-
speare's irony than his putting these " I am tliy Father's Ghost! "
instructions to players in the mouth of a
noble amateur. Of the revival, as a whole, one may truthfully say,
Ca donne dpenser, and, indeed, the study of Hamlet is inexhaustible.
WITH THEIR EASTER EGGS.
The Emp-r-r of G-rm-ny.—Presentation copy of the light and
leading satirical English Paper.
The Cz-r of R-ss-a.—Letter of regret from President C-RN-t.
The Pr-s-d-nt of the Fr-nch R-p-bl-c.— Secretly-obtained copy
of proposed treaty for a Quadruple Alliance.
The K-ng of It-ly.—Scheme for a modus Vivendi,
The P-pe.—Duplicate copy of ditto,
Ch-nc-ll-r vr-vi.—Permit for leave of absence.
Pr-nce V-n B-sm-rch.—A song, " The Return of the Ptiot"
The M-rq-s of S-l-sb-ry.—Date of the General Election.
The Ch-nc-ll-r of the Exch-q-r.—Comments on the Budget.
F-rst L-rd of the Tr-s-ry,—New rules for the game of Golf.
Rt.Hon. W.E. Gl-dst-ne.—Set of Diaries for the next twenty years.
The P-t L-r-te— The Order of " The Foresters."
The Oxf-rd E-ght—-The Blue Riband of the Thames.
S-r A-g-st-s Dr-r-l-n-s.—A month's well-deserved rest.
N-b-dy in P-rt-c-l-r.—A legacy of £100,000
Ev-ryb-dy in G-n-r-l.—Rates and taxes.
PUNCH, OR THE LONDON CHARIVARI.
185
TRIALS AT THE LAW COURTS.
A Timid but Erudite "Leader" is urged to take a "Bad
Objection."
OUR BOOKING-OFFICE.
Ale who are interested in the theatrical celebrities of past times
will do well to read a brief, indeed, a too brief paper, about
Dorothy Jordan, written by Fitzgerald Molloy, for The
English Illustrated Magazine of this month. The Baron does not
remember if Thackeray touched on the story of this talented
Actress in his Lectures on " The Four Georges ; " but the sad finish
to tbe brilliant career of Mrs. Jordan could hardly have escaped
the great Satirist as being one instance, among many; illustrating
the wise King's advice as to " not putting your trust in Princes ; "
"or," for the matter of that, and in fairness, it must be added, " in
any child of man." Poor Dorothy, or Dolly Jordan! but now a
Queen of "Puppets," and now—thus, a mere rag-dolly. Ah,
Clarence!—"False, fleeting, perjured Clarence!" as Shak-
speare wrote of that other Duke in Crookback'd Richard's time,
for whom the " ifs" and " ands" of life were resolved for ever in a
final "butt."
In the issue for 1891 of that most interesting yearly Annual, The
Book- Worm, for which the Baron, taking it up now and again,
blesses Elliot Stock, of Paternoster How, there is a brief but
interesting account of The Annexed Prayer-Book, which, after
some curious chances and changes, was at last ordered to be photo-
graphed page by page, without being removed from the custody of
Black Bod. "By means of an elaborate system of reflecting," the
process of photographing was carried on in the House of Lords,
It is satisfactory to all Book-worms to know that so important a
work was not undertaken without even more than the usual amount
of reflection. TnE Baron de Book-Worms.
THE HAIY1LET IN THE HAYIV1ARKET.
"With Mr. Tree's impersonation of Hamlet most London play-
goers are by this time acquainted, though not yet familiar. It is a
most interesting performance, especially to those who remember the
inauguration of startling new departures by Charles Fechter.
The question for every fresh Hamlet must always be, "How can I
differentiate my Hamlet from all previous Hamlets f "What can I
do that nobody has as yet thought of doing ? " " To be or not to be "
Hamlet, "that is the question" ; whether 'tis better continuously to
suffer the tortures of uncertainty as to what you might have achieved
had you essayed the part, or to take up the study of it, and ceasing
to shiver on the bank, leave off your damnable faces, and plunge in ?
Mr. Tree has plunged, and is going on swimmingly.
Mrs. Tree's Ophelia sane, is charming. Her distraught Ophelia
is very mad indeed, and her method in her madness is excellent.
There is a curious monotony in some of the stage-business. Thus,
Ophelia pauses in her exit and comes up quietly behind the absent-
minded Prince as if to play bo-peep with him: then, later on, after
his apparently brutal treatment of her, Hamlet returns, and, while
she is stooping and in tears, lie kisses her hair and runs away noise-
lessly as if this also were another part of the same game. Then
again, in the Churchyard, after the scandalous brawling (brought
about by the stupid ignorance of a dunderheaded ecclesiastic, to whose
Bishop Laertes ought to have immediately reported him), Hamlet
returns to weep and throw flowers into the grave. Now excellent
"returns" are dear to the managerial heart, and consoling to his
pocket, when they attest the overflowing attendance of " friends in
front;" but when "returns" are on the stage, their excellence may
be questioned on the score of monotony. Now, as to the Church-
yard Scene, permit me to make a suggestion:—the Second Grave-
digger has been commissioned by the First Gravedigger, with money
down, to go to a neighbouring publican of the name of Yaughan,
pronounced Yogan or Yawn,—probably the latter, on account
either of his opening his mouth wide, or of his being a sleepy-headed
fellow,—and fetch a stoop of liquor. Now, when all the turmoil is
over, the remaining gravedigger would at once set to work, as in
fact he does in this scene at the Haymarkef ; but here he just shovels
a handful of mould into the grave, and then, without rhyme or
reason (with both of which he has been plentifully supplied by
Shakspeare), suddenly away he goes, merely to allow for the
" business " of Hamlet's re-entrance. But why shouldn't there be
here, prior to the return of Hamlet, a re-entrance of the Second
Gravedigger, as if coming back from friend Yaughan's with the pot
of ale ? The sight of this would attract First Gravedigger, and take
the thirsty soul most readily from his work to discuss the refreshment
in some shady nook. Then by all means let Hamlet return to pour out
his grief; and on this picture ought the Curtain effectively descend.
A novel point introduced by Mr. Tree is that his Hamlet, enter
taining an affectionate remembrance of the late Yorick, assumes a
friendly and patronising air towards Yd rick's successor, a' Court
Fool, apparently so youthful that he may still be supposed to be
learning his business. So when His Boyal Highness Hamlet has
what he considers " a good thing " to say, Mr. Tree places the novice
in jesting near himself, and pointedly speaks at him ; as e.g., when,
in reply to the King's inquiry after his health, he tells him that he
"eats air promise-crammed," adding, with a sly look at the Court
Fool, " you cannot feed capons so." "Whereat the Fool, put into a
difficult position, through his fear of offending the Prince by not
laughing, or angering the King (his employer) by laughing, has to
acknowledge the Prince's witticism with a deferential, but some-
what deprecatory, snigger.
Again, when Hamlet is "going to have a lark" with old
Polonius—a. proceeding in exquisitely bad taste by the way—Mr.
Tree's Hamlet attracts the young Court
Jester's attention to his forthcoming
novelty. Now this time, as the repartee
is about as rude a thing as any vulgar
cad of an 'Arry might have uttered,
the professional Jester, who evidently
does not owe his appointment to the Lord
Chamberlain's favour, and is exempt
from his jurisdiction, grins all over his
countenance, and hops away to exiflain
the jest to some of the courtiers, while
Hamlet himself, to judge by his smiling
countenance, is clearly very much pleased
with his own performance in showing
a Jester how the fool should be played.
And this notion is consistent with the
character of a PrinGe wdio takes upon
himself to.lecture the Actors on their own
art. There is no subtler touch in Shak-
speare's irony than his putting these " I am tliy Father's Ghost! "
instructions to players in the mouth of a
noble amateur. Of the revival, as a whole, one may truthfully say,
Ca donne dpenser, and, indeed, the study of Hamlet is inexhaustible.
WITH THEIR EASTER EGGS.
The Emp-r-r of G-rm-ny.—Presentation copy of the light and
leading satirical English Paper.
The Cz-r of R-ss-a.—Letter of regret from President C-RN-t.
The Pr-s-d-nt of the Fr-nch R-p-bl-c.— Secretly-obtained copy
of proposed treaty for a Quadruple Alliance.
The K-ng of It-ly.—Scheme for a modus Vivendi,
The P-pe.—Duplicate copy of ditto,
Ch-nc-ll-r vr-vi.—Permit for leave of absence.
Pr-nce V-n B-sm-rch.—A song, " The Return of the Ptiot"
The M-rq-s of S-l-sb-ry.—Date of the General Election.
The Ch-nc-ll-r of the Exch-q-r.—Comments on the Budget.
F-rst L-rd of the Tr-s-ry,—New rules for the game of Golf.
Rt.Hon. W.E. Gl-dst-ne.—Set of Diaries for the next twenty years.
The P-t L-r-te— The Order of " The Foresters."
The Oxf-rd E-ght—-The Blue Riband of the Thames.
S-r A-g-st-s Dr-r-l-n-s.—A month's well-deserved rest.
N-b-dy in P-rt-c-l-r.—A legacy of £100,000
Ev-ryb-dy in G-n-r-l.—Rates and taxes.