The evening light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1881-1883, 1883-02-10
THE SUBLIME CARDINAL.
Words Inadequate to Describe the Grand
Impersonation of RicheIieu by Barrett.

| mpersonation of RicheIieu by Barrett.
| OF modern dramatic authors Lord Lytton,
more widely known as Buwer stands pre-eml-
nent, and of all his plays Richelieu is the most
popular. Since its publication in 1889 it has
stood high in public favor not only on account
| of the interest attached to it by reason OF us
poetic beauty but because it presents falthful
| portrait of the cardinal statesman. IL has been
| the ambition of most eminent actors todpPear
| i'm that character, and they have one and all
made it an especial study, attaining IN tae end
various degrees of excellence. Among the
many Richeieus of the present day Mr.. Law
renee Barrett's impersonation stands pre.eml-
nent. 1t has been pronounced the pest Iicne-
lieu of his day, and this was decidedly the
opinion of the majority who attended turner
hall last night. Never did an actor approach
realism so closely, the man being lost COM
pletely in the character, and never had ne won
more genuine or better deserved applause
In the first act the picture presented Is that OF
Count de Baradss (Mr. +. c. Mosley), plotting
to destroy the Cardinal and tempting ADRIAN
de Mauprat (Mr. Louis James, to JON IN the
plot, when the latter, who has incurred the dis
pleasure of the Cardinal, is arrested upon an
old charge of supposed treason the second
caught the first sight of the Cardinal, attired in
his dressing gown, craftily arranging TO defeat
his enemies, His pathetic, yet grand, descrlp-
Juiie de Mortimer Miss Marie Wainright. In
Rchelieu's ward, the daughter of his dead
friend, who loves Adrian de Mauprit, ana Is
beloved by the pr9tggate, a0m,S MAI Rar, ias
Knowing the illicit love of the King, the Car,
dinal is anxious that she should De proIecteu
by husband, and he tenderly anu skiiiiuly
questions her, ascertaining that she loves
Adrian de Mauprat. He sends June 10
the tapestry chamber and interviews ADRIAN,
who is brought in under arrest. Ihen ne
reminds Adrian of the clemency, or his prof.
legacy and proposes that he shall marry Tor
money. Finding him true to Julie, manly ana
brave, he has De Mauprat conducted 10 the
.lttN.r
he is about to die when i'm reality there Is TO DE
an immediate union between the lovers.
Adrian leaves dejectedly, and us he does the
Cardinal INDUCES in tit of genuine laugner.
The happy couple return, the Cardinal bleSSes
them, the marriage is arranged and the curtain
falls. ,,,.
husband Adrian, who complains to Baradas
that he is ordered by the King on immediate
foreign service even on his wedding day. ana
his bride is ordered to court. Baradas then
makes Adrian believe that Richelieu, in his
ambition, has sold his ward to the lust Oh the
King, and to revenge himself upon Adrian mas
dishonored him by making his title CLOAK fo iOr
Baradas' conspiracy and claims his right To XIII
the Cardinal. A change of scene brings lor.
ward Marion de Lorme's revelation OF
Blradas' plot, and the energetic means
taken by the Cardinal to circumyent III
Here occurs the grand scene. The Cardinal, in
spired by memory of the chiyalric deeds of his
early days, tells the story of the battle of Ro-
chelle, and attempts to raise his sword, but
falls back exhausted. 1t is then he declares
that '"The pen is mightier than the sword"
rhe enactiOn here was grand and drew forth Il
spontaneous round of applause. Some one is
required to act the spy and receive from the
cOnspiratOrs "a dispatch For this Richelieu Sc
Ircts one of his secretaries, Francois (Mr. A. II.
Riddle) and charges him on his honor to get 1t.
Francois asks should he fail, whercupOn the
Cardinal bursts forth with the dignitied, but
grand exclamation. I'm the bright lexicon of
youth there is no such word as failed" The
plot develOpes in the next scene to the eXecII-
ton of the conspiracy. Huguet the captain
of RicheiieuS guard, is traitor to his trust and
is all apparently lost. To add to the Cardinals
grief Julia returns and declares that Adrian is
false and that the King has attempted her dis
honor, ON which she returns to his protection
In this scene Wainrghts declaration of the
Kings discontinue was excellent. Julie re-
tires and Adrian comes to avenge his supposed
wrongs by killing the Cardinal. Here the cool
in view of the murdercr's sword,
he commands Andrian to his knees,
was of Il most impressive character and pre-
$ 'nted a striking stage picture, Baradas' du-
pIicity is here explained, the bride united to
her husband and Adrian saves the Cardinals
life by a stIatagem. In this scene too Cardinal
his mission to obtain the dispatch, and is an,
gcred by the result. Rlchelleu encourages
to further effort, and here the exclamation
Hell do it, provoked hearty applause.
In the last act was some of the finest character
acting, ever presented in this city. BaradaS'
plot has succeeded, Orleans has the marshaPs
baton and BaradaS is MINISTER Of France, when
| the Cardinal, supposed to have been strangled
appears, The influence of the COnspiratOFs
over the King is great, the Cardinals power
temporarily declines, and the old man, proud
| yet feeling his humiliation, is superb. The APP
peal he makes for the life of Adrian Is most
affecting, but all in vain. When he hears of the
| mniOns of the King seeking 10 take Julie from
| him, the old fire of his character returns. and
| drawing the holy circle round her, he defies all
| to take her. The eloquent denunCiatiOn in this.
| part sublime. Again, when .retirn z
| shattered in spirit, he turns and faces
| Baradars, "waging his Office against
| his head" the change as played by
| Barrett, is admirable. AT last Francois secures
| the dispatch while the Cardinal Is lying weak
ened and dying, the cOnspiratOrs are exposed,
the lovers made happy, and Richcleu rejuven-
ated comes forward 10 serve his beloved
| France.
| A dramatic critic recently with the London
| Daily Telegraph, who was present in Turner
| hull last night, declared that Mr.. Lawrence
| iIarrett'S representation of RiChcleu was far
| superior TO that of Mr.. Henry Irving, the cele-
| brated London trugedian. The conception and
the performance were original and the clerical
dress was never more accurately made.
Mr., LOuiS James Adrian de Mauprat is an eX-
| ccent support, his manly figure, voice and
| el0cutiOn adding much to the lustre of the
part; Mr.. +. c. MOseys Baradas was Credtable
and Miss wainwright presented II fair imper-
sOnatiOn of the beautiful Julie,
British Association.
Notwithstanding the incemency of the
weather the British association sOciable was
well attended. The President Mr.. w. HOl-
nraSidnd and IN, following