New-York tribune., 1885-02-10
THE DRAMA-MUsIo.
LAWRENCE BARRETTs NEW CHARACTERA

/
CURED last night at the Star Theatre whore for tho %
time in New-York Lawrence Barrett presented Robert
Brownings tragedy OF "a Blot in the Scutcheonr and
where piece, entitled The Kings Pleasure" was
acted for tho first time in America The theatre o.
cuped bv audience representative Of the highest cut
ture and refinement Of the city Such an assemblage q
seldom drawn together at theatre but, the Other
hand event interesting important and memorable
has seldom occurred In the history OF the American
STAGE Deeds of noble enterprise ought always to win
whole hearted response Of public sympathy and admra.
tion Mr. Barrett foremost In the good work Of adyano-
ing all that 10 best and worthes In his profession made
| noble effort, and obtained magnificent success d
not to be doubted that the intellect and taste Of hi
capital would recognize and appreciate his high ambt
tion and his worthy and splendid labor They did thi
with emphatic goodwill and obvious pleasure. more
delightful occasion has not Of late years. been recorded
Upon "A Blot in the scutcheon," and upon Mr. Bar
rets mpersonaton Of IRE ham, this journal has already
given studious Judgment That when Mr.. Barrett
first gave the piece, Washington last December In
offering Brownings tragedy here. Mt Barrett has
still further changed it. The preliminary scene in which
the and retaners gossip is omitted that tho
action proceeds to Mertouns proposal for the
hand of Mildred. The long speeches later have been
differently distributed. MertoHns song Is discarded
The piece given in three acts The tragic end Is made
in the Avenue of Yew Trees where AeouS has
suffered death The cast is the same as before but thas
Miss Viola Allen appearsl as Mildred. She was
form of delicate 0veliness last night and her tempef
ment-whch is of gentle ssnsibilty innocence. and
romantic arormade her very suitable to this part Mr.
Barretts acting of esha followed tho lines laid down
for 1t at the first Outwardy austore he Is inward
| ly o fame Of towering and terrific pride and
passion Tho actor shows himself very clearly, who
stands on such bleak einence Of misery Browning
has conceived his hero in the closing Of this
tragedy. In the killing Of AerouN Mr. Barrett COM
pletely thrilled his auditors and In the subsequent
ma nd HE
grandeur in the final of sacrifice, he reached a
ude of simple majesty not easily to be suggested Marie
Wainwright repeated and indeed surpassed, her prev
GUS success as G,cendons There is to be said
this subject but the absolutely feature OF the nighs
should first be considered.
After the tragedy came little drama. The Kings
Pleasure which Is of the most ariIy fancifu dell
cate and sweety pathetic plays that the stage has
discosedone those and precious works Of art
which, with a few words, q few dcft touches,
through the excellent medium of suggestion, dis
| close a world Of feeling, and tell. in ons
golden hour, the story Of whole life. Lawrence
Barrett done many services to the stage. but no
service greater than this In bringing forward such
dramatic GEM "The Kings Pleasure" is an adaptation
by Mr. Alfred Thompson from the French play of "Grn.
gore" by Theodore de Banyie, and at the Theatre
Francais its chief part acted by Coquelin There
only way in which adequate idea can be conveyed
here OF the exquisite and grace Of this little
story. 1t is DRAMA not OF plot but OF character and
feeling.
At the beginning Of the play King Louis XII Q469) s
feasting the Of Simon Foynes rich bureher
of Tours This and favored zen, appears
has done great service - King who is therefore his
personal friend and godfather to his daughter, Loyss
Fo,rnie- At this feast Nicos Andry sister to Simon
Fou7ez, Is present-a handsome widow, upon whom hi
Majesty disposed bestow the attention Of gal
lantry The Kings barber minister, Otirsr. is in
attendance upon him. The talk at first is OF NIeots
Andrgand OF surname" the Fair Draper OF Tourane"
which, it is said, was bestowed upon her. In a song
by Gringoire player and merry knaye," says Simon,
the most AFTER aud the least fed OF all the starve
4 ngs II the city," Soon the King adverts TO sateaf
tars that he Is engaged in circumyenng
Charles the Bold Duke OF Burgundy, and that he pur
poses to dispatch S.mon Fourniez embassy into
Flanders The good citizen is pleased but he makes 1t
known that would prefer not to depart from homo
leaving daughter unmarried The King declares that
he will himself find husband for Loyse and, upon her
coming in he breaches this delicate subject only to hear
her refusal to marry, and that her heart is vacant
" think my heart would love-" she says II any such
| there be- a man who could be valiant as cap
| tain, yet without the roughness of the camp,
o hero in the cause OF others, yet as
gentle as a 1 dream Of such q one" The talk
nothing, and Loye coyly and sweety retires
from the presence "she refuses to We'd" says the King
because her heart has found no master we must find
| one"
| At
heard and Simon, looking forth at the window, perceves
and names the t strohg ] poet % So AND TINS Person
says 0itrer " he has written unmannerly catches
6r,syors is as giddy % az boy" says says Simon :" The
three years gone it the churlish wntertime your
Majesty wots Of when the wine froze in the soldiers
Gingore sitting under porch. nursing In his
arms two babes who had wandered out into the cold
crying to find their mother lie had taken Cd bis sorry
and nFs S the he singing es s Is e sssp Ta oa
1 "A mn M
goire" An objection made by Oiier is oyerruled and
hungry weak pale and startled he does not recognize
either the King or the minister. Then follows scene OF
the starving minstrel by the otter Of food and wine to
recte a certain Gbbet song" that he has written in
the crafty coarter names both himself and the
that the poet may now know In what peril he stands
situation OF great strength and beauty Is thus provided
The King e9neealing bis purpose gives permission nas
the vagabond shall eat There's no time 70 lose es
encounter .; and he stragatway attacks the food
ss s Rs
| failure The worlds no place for me-" he says; II
have lived with the roses aud the lilies have sung
curse their inheritance OF cold and hunger There's
SR % IN. to view eS OF of an ang
whom he saw at the window and ever since has wor-
The King, who has all the who been watching him.
now that all shall withdraw except the poet,
suggests that he shall marry and that bis bride shall be-
this same angel Loyse Fonie., whom he has seen ut
her easement The company Is recalled Olirer imparts
bad tidngs To the King. and thus throws him into
transport OF rage and cruelty. There is strange ard
conflict in the royal mind between Kindness and
malignty lie will leave Grngoire for hour alone
| with Loyse, and II at the end Of that time sho
| has not accepted him for husband he
will have the audaoous rhymer hanged The maiden
and the poet thus confronted. The yagabond has
long loved her. but his love pure and unselsh he
will do nothing To make her unhappy He talks 10 her
of the between herself and destitute poet
| "You are sweet and comely as rose; he wan
and suffering You. rich and richly clad: he poer hungry
| ami ragged YOU full OF gladness: he when not
forced to make Others laugh all sorrowful such sad
suitor a youP would be like coupling the nghtowl
10 the sky lark" He speaks to her then OF the poet as
the friend and champion OF the poor and he wretohed