POLICE CRITIQUE BARRYMORE'S 'HAMLET' AS 'O.K.'
New York City (JFK+50) On December 14, 1923, the Associated Press reports Police Sergt. Stewart Dewitt "went (last evening) to investigate a complaint that the play 'Hamlet' as acted by John Barrymore* contains naughty lines and that it idealized murder."
Sgt. Dewitt observed the entire performance from a box seat and afterwards gave this report to his superiors...
"Hamlet o.k. Used to recite it myself when I was a kid and it wasn't any worse tonight than it was then."
*John Sidney Barrymore (1882-1942) was born in Philadelphia, PA, part of the Drew & Barrymore theatrical family. Known to his friends as 'Jack,' he appeared on Broadway in 1904 & in films in 1912.
JSB starred in dual roles in 'Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde' , 1919. His performance in Hamlet began on Nov 16 1922. More than 40 years later, Orson Welles said Barrymore's Hamlet was the best he had ever seen.
SOURCE
"Morals in Hamlet Good, Policeman, As Critic, Reports," The Evening Star, Washington, D.C., December 14, 1923, Chronicling America, Library of Congress, www.loc.gov/
