New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-10-31
THE DRAMA.
REVIVAL OF MORE THAN QUEEN"
MISS WALSH AS JOSEPHINE.

The spectacle play of More Than Queen from
the French OF NJ. Emile Bergerat. first represented
in New-York on October "a. 1899, at the Broadway
Theatre, by Miss Julia Arthur and her company.
was revived last night. at the theatre by Miss
Blanche Walsh. and Miss Walsh impersonated the
Empress Josephine. The play consists OF series
OF tableaus illustrative of the amatory experience
of Josephine and Napoleon The Emperor Is an
heroic parsonage; the Empress Is saint; and from
first to last the view taken Of their relations Is the
popular view. Josephine fascinates Napoleon, In
the hrst picture. subdues him in the second.
controls him in the third. consorts with
his triumph IN the fourth, and remains
the ruler Of his heart, although alienated from his
person, in the cast. Josephine thus pervades the
pageant. and It is intimated that she was always
his good genius who strcve to prevent him from
selling the imperial crown of France. and who. If
her advice had been followed. would have averted
his ruin and maintained him in honorable domina-
tion-a very Washington OF the French people-to
the end OF his days. It is the personality OF Jo-
sephine that is the spine OF the drama in so far
it has any spine: her presence holds its frame to
gether, and her beauty illumines 1t. Miss Julia
Arthur was fortunate in this play. because of her
rich tropical physical loveliness, and because.
likewise OF her capacity of eloquence her wiles OF
bewitchment. and her intmations OF tenderness.
Miss Walsh, though, physically, less sumptuous
and less enchanting to the eye is not less forci-
BILE. less imperial less formidable. less respen-
dent; II she does not rival her predecessor In
the piquancy of enticing grace she excels
her In womanlike sincerity. It was not
till the arrival OF the crisis Of the d.
vorce however that Miss Walsh made any
deep impression upon her audience-for the reason
perhaps. that 1t is not till then that this spectacle
assumes a dramatic form. In Josephine's scene
OF intercession with Napoleon. when gradually she
rises to the simple majesty Of self-assertion as
true and honorable wife, the actress sounded the
authentic notes OF truth. passion. and pathos Her
performance was never intrinsically aristocratfc:
the public seldom a Queen upon the
stage, unless II be Ellen Terry Helena Modjeska:
and har orf Ia AraIIvy Nth
tudes superintendent gesture. and articula-
tion but there WERE IN this passage together with
that of the water test, denotements Of deep heart
and strong character The drama mounted
and dressed with the scenes and garments apper-
tanning Miss Julia Arthur's original production
Mr.. William Humphrey, made up according to sew
eral accepted portraits Of the Emperor presented
Napoleon in his several phases OF schemer lover
domestic bully. and imperial tyrant; but not till
the strong scene with Lucien did he create any
Illusion or impart any OF authority or diffuse
any atmosphere Of danger or seem 10 be animated
by any Intellectual purpose or swayed by any con-
fct Of genuine feelings. In that scene he was
goring OF subsidiary historical persons in the piece
and the observer finds 1t difficult to avoid general
impression of miscellaneous foolery. But in this as
in other cases. idolatry OF the NapoIeonIc
legend is essential preliminary 10 enjoyment Of
the play. w w