The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-03
KEENE AS LOUIS ri.
The Great Actor Outdoes Him.
self Is the Royal Villain.
RE-ENAcTs TIVE TYRAhr.s LIFE.
His c1aia % nss4n's us.tas II sss-
taiasd-ass Masssrpsses. ssKaeA-
era III..s fssaghs.

audisncc at the Seattle Theater last
evening. gathered TO Witness his portray
Al OF Louis XII Rarely. X ever, has there
Dem seen On the stage In this city such
representation OF blended wsckedness.
superstition ard diaboliczl Intelligence.
given with such transeendanx art as Mt
terry To eclipse the nan In the actor
In eccentrictty OF speech. manner and
facial expression Keene appears the frasI
old monarch. combining craftiness. de-
ceit and hypocrisy. and az rare Intervals
remote suggestion Of q nature not
wholly abandcned. There was no defect
In any feature OF the performance. and
the king, trembling under the weight OF
years and rernorse for accumulated
crimes. was given recall after recall. and
when Mr. Keene bowed his acknowledg-
ments to the audience, he was still Louis
III. with lettering limbs and quiyertng
lips. Never for an instant was the char
acter OF the decrepit monarch lost. and
IT was Louis XII. and not Keene. that
each time responded
The only place In the play where there
appears the slightest trace of the milk Of
human kindness in the breast Of the PAL
sled monster, ID where, after ensrapping
identity OF Nemours. the old king seems
Tor the instant 10 relent, In the words
Pity her heart must break" but instant
~ he Is swallowed up In his old nature as
he thinks OF his crown and he bursts
forth with what snpetuosity his old age
can command. with Hearts must bleed
and break that thrones may stand" The
cunning of the king appears at every
stage OF the play, in every feature, word
and gesture: his supersti.ious nature man.
TESTS itself at the suggestion OF the
church or its ministers, and his inteiii-
gence overru!ed By craft Is predominant
where, after hearing Of the death Of the
Duke OF Burgundy. he orders the envoy
to be seized and makes preparation to
visit upon him the penalty of defying the
king OF France. Remorse made Infinitely
terrible by superstition and fear OF death
Is the keynote OF the fourth act, placed
In the royal bedrhamber. where the king
confessss his crimes TO the holy father AMI
afterward In the presence OF Nemours
throws himself In an agony OF fear on the
floor and pleads for his worthless life The
death scanef has been called a marvel OF
reality.
The Duke OF Nemours of Mr.. Hennig
was In splendid contrast to the character
of the aged king. combining ali-the vigor
and fmpetuous fire of youth with a set
determination to be revenged for the
merciless execution of his father Mr..
Hennig was in faultless voice. and was a
brave and handsome envoy without the
bravado that sometimes is forced into the
character The true ring ana scholarly
Interpretation was most noticeable where
Nemours huris Burgundy's defiance at
the foot of the throne OF France. Mr..
Hennig was given a double recall at the
close OF the third act.
Miss Lawrence was beautiful Marie
OF Commines. and enacted well the part,
especially when she faces the king ana
death itself to tell HIM that she does not
fear his power. Like all the other cli-
makes in the great play. this one was
worked up to height approaching the
sublime.
The dauphin was taken by Mr. Lowell,
S!eur de commires by Mr.. Buckler,
jacques Collier by Mr.. Eagleson. Iris
tan T Ermite by Mr.. Milton. Francis de
Paulo by Mr.. Ahrendt. Count de Dreux
by asr. Garth. Oliver Sc Dain by ar.
Baker, and Martha, Jeanne and Suzanne.
peasants. respectively by Miss Beam1l,
Miss Downs and Miss Black. Miss Bea-
man. though in a subordinate character,
was especially attractive
The presentation altogether was one OF
highest merit. and made undoubtedly the
best performance that has been given in
this city for many a long day Admirers
OF Nr. Keene unhesltatingIy say that tbs
mantle of the great Booth has fallen or
his shoulders. Certainly iask nights per-
Torrance. judged from whatever point OF
view. entities him to the highest favors
from theater-ioviEg people. This version
OF Louis XII has been adapted by Ell
win Arden and Arden Smith from the
drama OK Casimsr Deiavigne.
Tonight Mr. Keene and his excellent
company will present cIbher's version OF
Richard Ill.," In which II is claimed Mr.
Keene finds his greatest irnpersonation.
1t formed the Keystone OF the actors sue
cess. and has always been his fayorite.
The cast has been arranged as follows.
with Mr.. keene in the title role:
King Henry yf......a....Nr Eagieson
Edward. Prince of Wales. afterward
King Edward S......... Miss Lawrence
Richard. Duke az York;. Miss Black
Richard, Duke Of Chester. aftarward
King Richard fH.............Mr. keene
Henry. Earl or Richmond ....M Mr.. HennIg
john Morton. Bishop Of Ely,...ar. Garth
Duke of Buckingham. ..........I~ Arden
Duke OF Norfolk. --..............Mr. Baker
Earl Of Oxford. MiItSn
Lord Ssansey..-..........-.... Mr.. Ahrentft
SIR Richary. RatciIwe. Lowell
Sir William Csfssby. Mr.. Roberts
Sir James Tyreai. -.....-.....,Mr. Crawford
Sir James Blouuf ..............M Mr.. Jose9hs
SIR Waiter Herbert. Waapoae
Captain OF the guard Dir. Sands
Sir Robert BrakeshaTS, lieutenant OF
tire tcTeT.-.....-.-....s.. Milton
Tressei. a ssgire. Mr. Bu@kie-
DR.. Shaw. priest. Mr. Stone
Frlsr Penker. priest. MIR Bennett
I.ori Mayor Of Isondon.........M Mr. kellogg
Elisabeth. Queen TO King Edward "
....................* Miss Bea ma II
Duchess c< York, mother 10 King Ed