The times., 1898-02-15
AT THE rHElTERS.
Lafayette-.under athe Red Rohs

Lafayette-"Under' the Red Robe. y
VIXEN the long run OF the piece in
New York, the comment excited by the
| book and the small competition reck-
| oned on this week are considered, there
| was only fair audience present last
night at the Lafayetteato give atten-
ton to Edward ROSES edramatization
of Stanley Weyman,s singenous novel,
Under the Red Robe, ',y Leaving these
details out. however, 1t must be con-
fessed that the house was both large
and fashionable, while plentiful
sprinkiing of applause gave great
promise of things to come.
Had one asked a witness of the play
his opinion last night that critic would
probably have called Under the Red
Robe" a great production-one of an
age. The same question this morning
would doubtless bring far less enthu-
siastic praise. AS seen here, the piece
is essentially one of the senses. The
combination of fine speeches and pad
ded calves. of valor and of sentiment
are apt to get into ones brain and be-
fog it to the true merit of the play.
But after 1t is over and one has gotten
out into the air he sees things in n
different light and views the produc
ton as excellent, possibly, but certain
1y not great
+. Were there any enthusiastic praise
to go with the piece, it would belong
to Mr.. Weyman, and not to Mr.. Rose,
for, beyond keeping sufficiently in
check to hold the interest well, the lag
ter has done little. The stirring
scenes. the powerful suggestion, tno
preaominance of all we admire most in
man and woman belong to the novel
ana. when not of a nature to be easily
transpianted they We're left out of the
play altogether. Thus in the book ws
had learned to sympathize with and
admire DE Berault even before we knew
of the great sacrifice he was TO make
Ior the simple reason that even the
most craven must admire the brave.
WIN Few master touches, with a GER.
tiefnanly act here and heroic ope
there, Mr.. Weyman showed us thar !.
was possible for a gambler and bul;v
10 nave left his honor-or the draps of
IL. These little side lights were NOT
easily put into the piece, and. therefor.
uhtli the close Of the third acr thare
Is nothing To make one feel for Gil do
- slt beyond the fact that his mama
"'et On the program and the hear
say evidence gotten from other ,oa,,
pers of the fact to prove that he -
gentleman. ''o' ne is a
Up to that time in the pIav tho haro
ha ae uohe nothing to establish his claim
/ oeyohd having few periodical attacl,s
VI feihofse. attended by an evident de.
sire TO pull his sword out three incba.,
and then put it back again
stiil-belong the credit To whom, =
hiay-the play is an interesting and
aniusihg one. If Mr. Rose has cram
med the novelisfs ideas INTO four acts
win Win the haste and indifference to con-
sequences OF a girl putting two ward
robes into Saratoga trunk. that vary
error has had the effect of nrIickanino
the action and thfbwing one strong
scene against another without a .sec7
oiu loss OF Interest or jot of mad
uing- Around the hestaacient theme of
loFe versus duty has been woven a tsIa
that absorbs marvel0usiy, even wbiIe
one wonders about the reason. IT lacks
ilucn OF the supericiality and arti-
ncialty of the average costume play
ana gives us an earnest drama with an
earnest purpose. srtz
AS has been intima ted. beyond the
Iactr ihat the lncidept regarding the
mistake in sisters has been left ont
: the play differs little from the book,
me entire essence of the plot is there.
pii ue BerauIt, a ruined gambler
caught III a duel, is given his life, by
Richelieu, on condition that he catch
notorious rebel. Henri de gochfoart
This he proceeds to do, but. in his ef
Tort, falls in love with the mans sis
ter and, ,rescuing CoChforet from Richie
heus soldiers by arresting him, gives
MIN his liberty, and returns to the
cardinal TO sacrifice his own life. This
Is happily prevented, and all ends in
the time-honored way
The east is, unluckily. very different
from the original in New York. Will
liam Morris is a gallant De Berault.
but he plays the part with more ro-
nance than reason. His sWagger and
rich voice looks and sounds well. but
hardly aid in making the part natural.
There was little meaning in his words.
and much that could have been sug-
gested by an act or a sentence was
left completely out. Milton Lipman and
George Taylor had comparatively lit
tie TO say in the roles of De Cochforet
and De Pombal, but benefited some
what by their limited chances. Capt.
Larolle, comedy role, not unlike that
of the gallant in "A Marriage of Con-
venience," was done by Edwin Tan
houser, but only fairly done. DIT lack
ed the dignity given the first named
part and, through exaggeration. be-
came merely clOWnlSn instead OF real.
In strong contrast was the work of
William Farnum as the Lieutenant
Mr.. Farnum presented rare char
acter study, as clearly cut as a dia-
mond, and quite as prominent. He is
one of the few actors of whom the
company can boast,
Two others of that select few are
Giles Shine, a Washington boy. by the
way, and Frank McGIynn. The former
brought Richelieu into repute the part
itself could not have attained, by sheer
strength of purpose and finish in work
His cardinal was willy. crafty. hard
and kindly-a fox in demeanor lien in
strength and rabbit in heart Differ
ent from most other characterizations
of Richelieu, it was still primarily the
same, and, as such. brought double adj
miration. Mr.. McGlynn made Clon so
grewsome as to be attractive. The
cries of the tortured man compared
fully with those of the boy in The
Sign of the Cross"
Mary Hampton was a lovable Renee.
Her acting was smooth and natural
Marie Anderson, as the sister, on the
other hand, seemed determined to sing
all her sentences in a faint treble with
high note at the end of each line.
The scenery was adequate but not ex-
ceptional
Nationai-"The Circus Girl"