The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-06-03
A PARTISAN ROMANCE.
Mansfield's Subtle Rendering Of
an Old Libertine.
MOST POWERFUL At THE CLIMAX
A Strong Drama Spoiled by an Anti
CIimax-An Able Company-"Beau
Brummell" Tonight.

Seattle's most representative audience
gathered at the Armory last night to see
and hear Richard Mansfield and his COM
pany present "A Partisan Romance" The
presentation was an artistic one in every
respect, the people were well pleased and
the star was given an ovation at the end
OF the fourth act
"A Partisan Romance" is a peculiar and
not altogether attractive play. 1t tells the
story of rich libertine, who has no faith
in human virtue, who covets every pretty
woman and who regards gold as the god
OF the modern world. He accepts with
brutal business instinct a noble sacrifice,
hoping the fall in the fortunes of
his friends will aid in ministering to
his passions and is stricken with death
at the festive board. where but moment
before sparkling champagne moistened
his dry and crusty lips. The first act
drags, the second, third and fourth are
full of wit, humor, dramatic situations,
ending in magnificent climax with the
death Of Baron Chevrial. the central char
acter. There the play should have ended,
butt the author must needs pile on another
twenty minutes of sentiment, must give
the audience another death, removing in
the true style of romance all obstacles to
the happiness of the excessively good peo-
pie of the play.
Mansfield was himself the central char
acter of the pay as Baron Chcvrial. He
looked the broken roue who bargained
with his physician for temporary relief
from the effects of indulgence. His hands
trembled. his eye quivered. his feet tot
tered and his voice was hard and crusty
when not weak from gradua. collapse Of
the system. His acting In the banquet
scene was the perfection of art. He
did not drop dead as if struck by thun-
derbolt from heaven. Even before his
guests arrived he began to show signs of
serious illness. but he recovered. All
through the gay scene, however, there
was something in the air, some unseen in
fuence that told Of the proximity of
death. The mind, though prepared in adj
vance for some unusual occurrence, is not
yet wrought up to the awfulness Of the
death Mansfield makes the baron
die. The face is white, the eyes bursting
from their sockets, the lines in
the cheeks deepened, the whispers
hoarse. the arms widely extended. lead
like fall and all is over. The banquet hall
that had echoed to the merry jest is still
as a churchyard. While other members
of the company are distinguished people,
there was but one character In the play,
and that the Baron.
Miss Cameron as Rose Guerin, the pre-
miere danseuse, was clever. 1t was part
that hung lightly on her, and to some ex-
tent was beneath her abilities. AS Mar
celle, the wife of Henry de Targy, Adele
Measor was excellent in the re-
ception-room scene, but entirely too
hysterical in part that required
the portrayal of deep emotion.
AS DR.. Chesnel, Mr.. Harkins was truly
excellent. He is an actor of fine presence.
and reads his lines with great dignity and
force. Mrs. Julia Brultone, as Madame de
Targy, was all that could have been de-
sired. She is an actress of the old school.
that had for its motto, modesty and con-
scientious work. w. ]. Ferguson, who
has been star himself, as Tirandel had
very little to do, nor did he do that re-
markably we'll. The other members of the
company fitted we'll in a very harmonious
whole. The scenery and costumes both
were excellent.
Tonight "Beau Brummell" will be
given. This is one of the best, if not dis
tinctively the best, of Mr.. Manstields
performances. The part suits HIM COM
pletely. for the Beau he presents is not
the dandy of history, but the Beau into
whom Mansfield has breathed his own
vital energy and genius. Following will
be the cast:
Prince OF Wales..........- Mr. D. Fl. Harkins
Mav,tr Ei,,nh