The record-union., 1896-02-05
ADJUSTMENTS.

Thomas w. Keene appeared at the
Metropolitan Theater last evening to a
house that was a half too small to meet
by fair reward the merit of the perform
ance, in the great historical play of
Louis XII, a drama having especial at
tractiveness for all who have read the
history of France or Sir Walter Scotts
Quentin Durward," Victor Hugos
"Notre Dame de Paris" or 1.-THE Me-
moirs of Confines Having seen Charles
Keane, Sheridan and a number Of other
great artists in this character, we are
prepared to say that Mr.. Keene's con-
ception and presentation of the char
acter of the cruel, wise, far-seeing,
crafty, warlike cowardly, heartless and
yet wonderfully progressive Prince of
France, will stand well beside the best
The play itself is rich in dramatic sug-
gestion, strong, compact and artistical-
ly constructed, and Mr.. Keene's Louis
is in keeping with these characteristics.
Mr.. Keenes method is original He
seems to have paid little attention to
the conventional but to have built up
out of his own interpretations of the
record of the life of the passionate, de-
crepit Louis, the butcher, a character
ludI CO1upOILS Will the DESL duluOll-
ties concerning the vices and the few
virtues of the cruel but remarkably
shrewd son of Charles VII. Thus he
does not give such emphasis to the cruel
traits of Louis character as to wholly
obscure the fact that he was not all in
human Mr. Keene is strong without
exaggeration, dramatic without extrav-
agance as Louis. His comprehension
of the character is broad, subtle and hui
man. He does not give it undue color
nor fall below the tone of the text he
interprets. When incident begins to
affect feeling, and feeling to
act upon character, his skill as
an artist most unfolds itself
and his power moves on to victory. This
was three times made conspicuous in
the second act, when the King received
the Burgundian envoy and refused the
gage to personal combat, when he
checked while approving the Dauphin,
and when he plotted the assassination
of the ambassador in violation of his
safe conduct. That is to say, Mr.. Keene
leads up to his triumphs by the natu-
raj steps the character assumed would
take. If the success of a performance
is TO be judged by the satisfaction it
gives an audience, then assurediy Mr.
Keene's Louis XI. was a complete and
rounded success. That he is an artist
of high merit. of studious habit, of hon
est endeavor, of notable success, will not
be questioned by any who study his
method and judicially weigh his work
or are familiar with his progress in
dramatic art during a period which has
much related him to California.
Mr.. Keene presented Louis XI. last
night with accuracy of detail as to cos
tumery and the simplicity of the parsi-
monious court Louis maintained at
Plessis, where, it is said, there was
studious avoidance of pageantry, rich
trappings and the pomp of royalty.
Louis at the period of the play was en-
gagged in the task of crushing the mobiles
and leyeling the aristocrats. upon whose
necks it was his highest ambition to
tread. There was. therefore. very lit
tie of scenic display last night IN stag
ing Mr.. Keene's conception of the place
and action of the play. His support
was exceedingly good. Miss Belgarde
was a charming Marie, dignifed.