The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-01


For the coming week, commencing to-
night, the Neil company Will be the at
traction at the Metropolitan, presenting
the medieval romantic drama, AN En-
emy to the King" by r. n. Stephens
The production of the play is the most
Ambitious undertaking the Neills have
attempted in the city and will excel THE
Social Hi2hWayman" and "A Partisan
Romance each of which was given an
exceptionally elaborate presentation. An
Enemy 10 the King makes far greater
demands on the resources of the compa-
ny in every respect than Go either OF
the two plays mentioned. The time Of
The play is the sixteenth century per
uniting The use of the mCst picturesque
and gorgeous costumes and the costum-
ing viii form one of the noticeable 1ea-
lures Of this production. From a scenic
standpoint An Enemy to the King
VII excel all previous efforts of the Neili
company. and it Is Nlr. Neills intention
TO demonstrate with this drama the abii-
ity of frst-class stock company to
Give performances equal to those of the
best travelling companies.
AN Enemy TO the King Is one of the
best and most successful romantic
dramas OF the PAST decade. 1t was orig
inMy produced by h. II. Sothern and
had q phenomenal run in New York city
afterwards making 4 big hit on the road
Even today it remains ir Mir. SOthern
repertory as one OF his standard plays
and il i an exceedingly difficult mat
ter to secure il for production by stock
company 1t is compliment to the rep
u.a son and merit of the Neill company
TO have secured Sothern's consent TO the
presentation Of his taNOli.9 rama.
The scene OF the play is laid in the
province Of Berri in France, in the year
1855. shortly after tla massacre of st.
bartholomew. when Henry Ill attempted
eXterminate all his Hueuenot subjects.
Ms massacre plunged France into civil
II. which led to the assassination OF
Seury Ill by the Duke de Guise, who
zen seized the throne. Henry Of Navarro
raged war on the usurper defeated him
after some months Of Warfare, ard as
cended the throne Of France az Henry
Nv. and it is during the period of this
struggle that the incidents Of the play
occur Julie de Narlon. whose father is
held captive b. la Ch9stre, the governor
Of Berri and Il partisan of the Duke ne
';uise starts on journey to Clochenne
TO plead with the governor for her Ia
Tiers liberty and life MOutigrac the
governors secretary, = q rejected sultor
Tor jules hand. Learning Of her journey
and It's object, be sends the Nicomte Gle
Berquin. che of his tools, 10 Waylay her,
intending TO get her ir bis power and
force her to give him her hand. De Ber-
qufu and his party of adventuIers at
tempt to carry out the plot, but Julie Is
saved by Ernauton de LauraY, Hugue-
not captain, Who falls IN love with her.
De Launay is the sworn enemy of De
aaise the pretender who is hunting him
own and whose agents have tracked him
Clochonne. Julie reaches the castle OF
Yochonre and pleads With the governor,
ljut is unsuccessful and is held as a pris-
cner. De Launay learns OF this, and de-
tormines to rescue her. The governor is
informed that on a certain night De Lau-
nay Will be at his mothers home, the
Chateau de AIaury, and sends nearly all
the soldiers of the castle to capture him.
On this night De Launay has resolved 10
attempt the rescue of Julie and her IA
thor, and, alone, gains entrance to the
Governors castle, the removal of the sol
diers leaving the coast clear He over
movers La ChQstre and forces him 10
sign an order for the pardon of Julie
ana her father. MontgnaC enters uneN-
pectedly and in an exciting sword duei
is killed by De Laumay. The castle IS
stormed by soldiers, who turn cut to pc
the VICTORIOUS army Oh 1lc-iiS u -NSif''' ~
and the play ends with Henry " on me
throne of France and De L2unay IL
possession of his sweetheart.
The two great scenes of the play are
the famous Dial scene, In the third act,
and the duel scene, in the fourth act
The first one is one of the prettiest love
passages ever written, a dainty bit Of
sentiment In the midst of the dramatic
events of this romance of love and chiv-
a'ry The duel scene IN AN Enemy TO the
King" Is described as one of the most
intensely exciting sword combats ever
presented on the American stage. The
cast which VIII present the play is as fol-
lows:
Ernanton De Launay (sieur de la
Of Ber7i. Fl Frank McVicars; Guillaune
Montignac. secretary to The governor,
Benjamin Howard; Vicomte de Berqui3.
Edgar Baume; Blaise TripaTt a fol.
lower of De Launay, John W. Burton;
Brojec MaugeTt. followers of De Dau-
ncy, Frank Wallis, Charles W. WuerZ;
Giles BarbemOuche, q soldier of fortune
Emmett ShacklefoTd; Antoine, Jacques,
Francois, adventurers. Robert Morris,
NJ Emery Alonzo Higbee; Pierre. Hugo,
attendants of Mile. de Varion, George
Bloomquest. John Armstrong; Rougin,
keeper of the inn near Fleurier, Ernest
Joy; Godeau, keeper of the. inn near
dering musician George BloomGuest;
Julie de Narion. Edythe Chapman
Jeanette her maid. Franklin Lynch;
Marianne. wife of Godeau, Lillian An
dTcWs; Bribri, daughter OF Rougih,
Grayce Scott Giraldi, a gypsy, Mabel
Scene the Province of Berri. France.
Time. autumn, 1885.