The record-union., 1897-11-26
A ADJUSTMENTS.

Louis James and his company
with Miss Mary Emerson as the un-
happy Juliet, played Romeo and Jul
liet'' at the Metropolitan Theater yes
terday afternoon, and at night Mr.
James presented the new romantic
drama by Espy Williams entitled "A
Cavalier of France 1t is a tale of in
tricate and romantic royal plots and
counter plots, in which the Infamous
Catherine de Medici was involved, and
which she diligently and INSCRIPTIONS
ly promoted during her life, and es-
peciaIiy in the reign of her son, the
weak Henry III. of France. Her
daughter married Henry of Navarro,
and this woman, Marguerite, as cold
blooded and scheming as her mother,
but lacking her genius, is a prominent
figure in the story of the play, which
turns about the love of Henri for one
of the wards of his court and the
scheming of his mother and sister
against him in the interest Of Navarro
and Of GATHERINGS ambitions. This
ward of the court of France is beloved
by a 6ashing soldier of France, who
saves her from the Kings dishonorable
approaches, vindicates himself from
=
and Marguerite, and finally saves the
King from assassination, plotted by his
mother, and is united with Gabrielle,
the sweet cause of all his troubles, and
finally is thanked and titled by the
King. The play was very handsomely
mounted. and was we'll played. Really,
while Miss Emerson, as the unhappy
and prosecuted sweetheart of the Cava-
tI< Il;
man of the play, the character of Cath
arine, by Mrs. Wells, is the most i'm
portant and impressive, and calls for
the best reading and the most vigor;
it is the real pivot of the drama. Mrs.
Wells Interpretation of the character
is artistic, strong and in every way
commeLdable. Miss Emerson is
handsome, graceful and competent ac
tress, of good voice and intelligent con-
ception OF the demands of the role of
Gabrielle the prosecuted ward. Mr..
James was at his best as Rene de Froi-
sac, dashing, gallant courageous, hon
est, and manly in the highest degree
of admiration. The play itself at
tractiyely mounted as it is, loses some.
thing by failure to make perfectly clear
to The average intelligence the plots
involved as they proceed. There is an
immense amount of talk in it, too
much for the action of the piece. But
it's romantic episodes, fierce encounters,
charming love passages, striking situa-
tions and effective tableau, save it
from what would else be weariSome.
The support of Mr.. James was good,
save, perhaps, one or two instances.
One of these is important, the others
are minor Really, and with due con-
sideration of the serviceableneSS and
STAGE knowledge of the actress aSsum-
ing the character of Marguerite she
lacks the essential to present that per-
sonage as queenly in bearing and char
acter. 1t needs also more OF cunning
and the devilshness and abandon of a
designing woman, equipped as the wife
of Navarro must have been. With this
character strengthened, much of the
spirit of the story would be improved.
But the romantic piece took well, and
Mr. James was complimented by triple
recall, testifying to the appreciation of
the skill that places him IN the front
rank of American dramatic artists. To-
night Mr. James will appear in one of
the greatest parts he assumes, Dy
I.many conceded to be his best, and
role that has won him high honors.
He Will be the hero in DIR. Birds IA
nous drama, "Spartacus. the Gladia-
tor Ii is promised that the tragedy
of gladiatorial life will be mounted
with special scenery and wealth of
military trappings and costumery. Mr..
James company is fully competent to
support him well in the tragedy, as it
gives them far broader opportunity
than the play of last night, in which
few Individual members, no more than
four, had lines or action to develop
their abilities