The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1895-11-21
ADJUSTMENTS.
Keene and Company In Two Perform
ances Yesterday.

Thos. w. Keene and company appear
ed at the opera house yesterday in a
matinee production of Richelieu and a
night performance of Louis XI to audi
ences large in proportion and represent
alive socially. Keene's Richelieu is well
and in most instances, favorably known.
AS interpreted by him last afternoon
at first glance it would have been pro-
nounced model rendition and such, in
truth, 1t was as to conception and histor-
ical accuracy of makeup. There is one
peculiar trait about Keene, however that
follows his footsteps with the persistency
of fate and which will ever serve to
mar his finest work, and that is his in
clination to rant. Mr.. Keene does not
seem to draw that fine distinction be-
tween feeling and it's expressions and
bowling and fierce gesticuations, that is
absolutely necessary, and therein he is
found wanting. Again, when he sinks
into soliloquy he shows tendency to-
wards mounting his words and thereby
falls into the rut that seems to be the
common lot" of all our nineteenth CEN
fury tragedians of the last few years
especially. There were several scenes
last afternoon, however, wherein he rose
to the highest rounds of success and
saved from total humiliation the pin
nacle of greatness on which his Austin
admirers have placed him. The support
ing cast can not truthfully be accorded
much praise, and in the parsonage of
Mr.. Towel, who impersonated Francois
especially is censure deserving for the
way he tore his lines to tatters and
came near tearing the scenery in a
like manner
Last night the great historical produc-
ton of Louis NJ was presented. AS a
matter of course Mr.. Keene essayed the
title role of the scheming and murderous
king and in presenting il he developed
character that, while historically correct,
was so warped at times that really,
when the performance was over the
careful follower was lead to think that
three characters instead of one had trod
the board, and yet this was resultant
solely from Mr.. Keene's apparent ina
bility to preserve and faithfully portray
feeling without tearing himself asunder.
In passive moments he was superb, in
moments when passion swayed his in
ordinate desire to rant merged all else
into nothing and the audience beheld in
the one instance figure of grotesque
ness and in the next a veritable clown.
Even in the fourth act, where he makes
confession before a monk in his bed
chamber, ne marred TO some extent TINS
famous scene by raving and bowling
like an idiot rather than expressing that
sickening fear and despair of a man
cowed by the impending shadows of an
awful calamity that means his political an
initiation and death. His work as col
lectiEe whole, however, pleased to "a
degree of marked intensity the theater
goer who was content to receive the
rendition as it was uDfolded, applauding
that which pleased and solemnly shak-
ing the head where eardrums were
placed in danger By Mr.. Keene's rant
ing.
Candor frankly dictates the assertion
that had Mr.. Keene contented himself
to do away with his ''ranting inelina-
ton" his two characters as presented
Yesterday would have been excellent, but
that they were not goes without saying.
The support company was only average.
The next attraction is the Land of the
Midnight Sum-" Saturday in a matinee
and night production.
Last night Mr.. Keene was honored
nv the presence Of full dress theater
party comprising IA couples of our rep
resentativc society people. Upon the
of the performance an ele.
CANT banquet was enjoyed at Clay Jones
cafe,