The herald., 1897-11-04
AT THE THEATERS
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The company presenting the play here
last night had been sent on it's travels
before the sensational edict of the
Frohman syndicate had been promul
gated, depriving the Pacific coast Of
the joy and pleasure Of in future wit
Messing any more of the productions
which the syndicate aforesaid might in
future control. AS it is supposed to con-
troll nine-tenths Of the alleged first-class
attractions it Is easy to be seen that the
deprivation was one that would be Sc
verely felt ''Under the Red Robe"
was So far along the road that it has
been allowed to fill dates out here and
the public is consequently permitted to
witness the last brilliant coruscation,
the final set piece. Of the dramatic fire
work show, that will ever be seen here
under the syndicate's control. We hope
not.
The play comes heralded as the New
York success, but the company present
ing it on this coast is not by any means
the same that helped to make it sue
cess in New York. 1t may be a bet
ter one.
The present is a road company, chosen
evidently under economical considera-
tions SO far as the support of the two
leading people is concerned. Even the
actors who "double-up'' are not allowed
credit for their work but appear under
different names in the program so as to
give the false impression of larger
company, device that is unworthy OF
a first.class organization,
The standard of judgment must nec-
essarily vary according to the preten-
sions put forth by the management. In
the present instance the verdict could
be much more favorable If the claim of
merit had not been SO great.
Romantic plays require strongly
marked romantic elevation in the style
of their being acted. Realism kills the
interest that is reused by the poetry of
love, daring deeds, exciting incidents,
all transpiring under the glamour of ro-
nance, giving to every action a senti.
mental value in which the cold calcula-
tions of realism can have no possible
place.
1t is the atmosphere of romanticism
that is wanting in this performance
with the few exceptions hereafter noted.
The players are not to be blamed, per-
haps. They have, for the most part,
no training that really fits them for
their profession; they get experience by
hard work, but instruction very little.
They fail to realize a most important
point, which is observable to an audience
after few minutes, which is that the
atmosphere of a modern society play,
for instance, Is absolutely different to
that of romantic drama. With the
death Of young Salvini one Of the most
promising of the romantic school of
actors passed away. William Morris is
an iceberg in comparison to the rich,
warm, impetuous feeling with which the
actor of romantic parts should be en-
dowed. AS the factory superintendent
in "The Lost Paradise" Mr.. Morris was
at home, but he carries his phlegmatic
manner with him into the part of a
mercurial Frenchman, while for senti-
mental passages and sentences intended
to be impressive he still preserves that
little drawl or slur on certain final syl-
lables, which has become with him a set
tied mannerism. The character of Gil
de Berault is, it must be admitted, a
thoroughly ungrateful one to play. He
has to pose as the hero, and yet he is a
card sharper, liar, trickster, a bully
and q general all round blackguard who
claims as his chief merit that he stands
by those that pay him the best. His
remorse of conscience when he is over
taken by an animal passion for a
beautiful woman is SO transparent that
he has to take infinite pains to believe
his own self delusion, and as hero he
IN. Ho of {v1ko
gent audience. Mr.. Morris takes him
self rather seriously but is so lacking
in enthusiasm that he could not inspire
It In others.
The only person in the cast who was
really attuned to the requirements of
such play was Mary Hampton. who
acts with much Of the same sincerity as
characterizes Georgia Cayvan, and
who has a personality just as agree
able. If Miss Hampton could infuse in
to the others some Of her own delightful
and poetic methods Of Interpretation the
complexion Of the piece would be great
ly changed for the better.
AS for the gentleman who enacts the
part Of Cardinal Richelieu, he just over
steps the division line that proverbially
separates the sublime from the gro
tesQue and ridiculous, and great is his
fall.
William Farnum as the Lieutenant
has good scene in the third act which
he does with q very clever appreciation
of the requirements Of the part and the
enactor Of Clon the dumb servitor gave
clever, albeit painful to witness per-
sonation.
There Is little space to say much about
the play. It Is not as interesting az
1.-THE Prisoner Of Zenda," neither is II
on the other hand at all dull. On the
contrary 1t is full Of action. the dia-
logue has been pruned into proper lim-
its and the lovers of the Stanley Wey-
man literature. who are numerous, Will
find q good deal Of pleasure In witness
Ing the performance OF Under the Red
Robe" There is enough OF exciting In
terest in the action to entertain. while
The costumes Az rich ana efIeotive,