The record-union., 1891-11-26
ADJUSTMENTS.

/. w. Keene, the distinguished Ameri-
can tragedian, appeared at the Metro
politan Theater last night as Louis NJ.
He was supported by an excellent COM
pany. Indeed, it would be difficult to
command one of more even excellence,
and did time permit it would be pleas
ure to specifically point out merits in
acting of Misses Gallatin and Vaders,
and Messrs. Henning, Mathews, Scott,
Ahrendt, Lowell and EagleSon, who had
the more prominent parts. The audience,
while not small, was by no means as
large as the high character and sterling
merit OF the performance warranted.
MIR. keene uses a version OF Louis XI.
adapted from the French original by Ar
den and Smith. 1t follows more closely
the story Of the treaty with Burgundy
than do some Of the others. In the last
act it is especially preferable to the
version used by Charles Kean, or that
adopted by w. e. Sheridan, both of
Louis. Notably was this better read
ing apparent in the business with
the crown and Dauphin in the
death scene. Mr.. Keene improves each
year. Age does not stale his merit or
narrow his capacity, but broadens his
method and strengthens his art. No man
can give such mastery performance AS
that of last night and be denied the right
to rank with the first in his art. Whoever
suggested that Mr.. Keene should be
chosen, next to Mr.. Booth, to be sent TO
the Vienna dramatic exhibition as the
leading American tragedian best fitted
by the breadth of his capacity and the
versatility of his genius, to represent the
American stage, was not unwise in his
forethought. When Mr.. keene gave us
an example of his quality as Richelieu
something over year ago, the RECORD
UNION pronounced his stimulation of old
age and decrepitude IN that part to sur
pass that of either Booth or Barrett. We
added that his work was refined,
and with fewer flaws than are to be
found in the methods of most other
leading artists. These expressions can
be emphasized greatly more now, for
keene is a constant dramatic student, and
hence advances steadily in his art. He has
made his characters more symmetrical,
and his art throughout has been a closer
and more effective approach to the high
est forms of dramatic excellence. Who
ever has read Scotps Quentin Durward,n
or Victor Hugo'S 'Notre Dame de Paris"
or whoever examines any one OF the sew
eral histories of Louis Xl. and the me-
moirs of his time, of which there are a
number of volumes, will understand
how exceedingly difficult it is to inter-
pret tragic text dealing with such a
tempestuous, crafty, passionate, vindict-
will, after seeing Mr.. keene in the char
acter, be disposed to find in him the
ideal of what one would suppose the
French King to have been. Mr.. Keene
gives his auditors, then, a true idea of the
character of the cruel and far-seeing
prince, of his repeliant moods and policy;
OF Soullessness, as the King Is drawn by
the dramatists after the historic model,
and probably with not much over-color on
the work. There is scarcely any physical
manifestation of unreasonable temper, of
cruelty and of unfeehng and unscrupul-
GUS old age, that would be excessive in de-
plctlng the passionate SuperStlUlouS and
aristocracy- hating King. Certainly, with
the romantic idea of Louis before us,
keene neither rants, raves nor physically
exaggerates in his assumption of the
character. His reading of the ex-
clamation, 81 am France and the
suiting of the action to the words,
gives to the personation one of the most
illuminative touches that genius has pre-
sented. 1t is one of the most tragically
true elements that make up the splendid
work. Indeed, he depicts in his Louis
the attrition of conflicting passions and
fears with singular skill. 1t is q
task that only serious reflection will dis
close in its full magnitude, TO so read
lines and so act as to lose ones self in
character that must, by infinite shad-
ings and startling contrasts and passion
ate changes of moods, give to the
loOker-On clear idea Of the strange COM
pound of ambition, cruelty, courage,
cowardice, superstition, vanity, weak
ness, strength, craft, craftsmanship and
perhdy that entered into the character
of Louis XI. TO say that Mr. keene ac-
complishes this level with the ablest who
have attempted II, and IN manner Su-
perior to most, is to write him down a
true and splendid artist. At o'clock
to-day Mr.. Keene and his splendid troupe
will present 1.-The Merchant of Venice
and tonight "Richard Ill" For the
matinee the prices are 80 and IS cents, and
for children % cents.
By one of those inadvertences to which
newspaper writers are liable it was
yesterday stated that the Yon Yonson
engagement was for Saturday night at
the Metropolitan Theater. The fact is
that the play will be presented to-mOr-
row, Friday night, and that the box Office
will open at $3.50 this morning. MIR.
Heege, who is the author of the play
and assumes the title role, is a Swede
and has chosen the novelty of making
the English tongue when attempted by
one of his countrymen after few years
residence here the subject a sparkling
comedy. But Mr.. Heege has wisely
avoided making dialect obscure, as was
done in the Ole Olsen. The dialect of
Seandinavians when wrestling with the
English is wholly dissimilar from that of
any other foreigners without intending
offense. 1t is to be said that it is anus
ing. Yon Yonson is a light comedy,
bristling with fun, clean and clever. No
claims are made for literary brillancy or
for striking novelty of plot: but what is
done in it is well done and gives Mr..
Heege, Miss Louis, a sparkling SOU
brette, and Miss Conneley, the lightest
heavyweight of record and capital char
acter actress, full opportunity for some
admirable comedy work. The scene of the
breaking up of the log jam in the north
west is wholly new and one OF the most
effective pieces of scenic illusion imagin-
able. There are several other situations
in the play also. The piece has had great
success wherever presented.
In the mile skating race last night there
were three contestants in national cos
tumes-an American, a German and an
Irishman-and two clowns. Uncle
SAM was the winner. There was good
sized audience, and the race created much
merriment.
SOCIAL AND PERSONAL.
Warden Aull and wife are visiting in
San Francisco.