The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-25
AT THE THEATRES.
The NntionnI-.In the Palace of the
King"

AT THE THEATRES.
The NntionaI-s.In the Palace of the
King"
| Pmhp the Second ..-......-...... .CharieS heht
| Don John of Austria. Robert T. Haines
| Cardinal Luis de Torres. .... Edgar l.. Davenport
An'oho ferez nesle N'L,n
| Miguel de Antonn. William Norris
| Captain de Mendoza. Clarence Handy1ue
Don Lope Zapata .......-....-.--John y. Holland
Don Manuel .......................Fr Frank Che n
| Don Jamie Eugene Swgetiand
| Don Giovanni ................-...John p. Jordan
Anne. Queen Of spain .........-. Catherine Curtis
Ana de Ia Cerda .............. Marcia Van Dresser
| The Duches cf Alva................S Sue Van Duzer
The Duchess of Medina Sidonia. Blanche Mouton
| Nine. la Comtosse de Baume. Jessie Bradford
Dona Mencia ....................Isab Isabelle Parker
Dona lHez Gertrude Norman
| Dona Maria Dolores de Mendoza. Miss Allen
Viola Allen scored popular success in
her new play. I'm the Palace of the King
at the National last night, and an audience
that occupied the entire capacity of the
| theatre was very demonstrative in its evil
dences of approval of the work of Dramat-
list Lorimer Stoddard of the splendid act
| ing of Miss Alien and her associates, and
of the sumptuous stage pictures that we're
presented. 1t was what might be termed
! a friendly audience, perhaps, but no gath
ering could evince such unmistakable en-
thusiasm over a stage performance were it
not of considerable worth.
Two years ago Washington set its stamp
of approval upon Viola Allen as a lumi-
nant star in the theatrical armament when
/ she exhibited her delightful womanliness
and admirable art in THE Christian, and
again last night the Capitals commenda-
tion, although to a somewhat less degree.
was granted Miss Aliens Dona Dolores de
Mendoza. the heroine of F. Marion Craw-
| ford's story. The Hall Game play was one
| of the greatest dramatic successes that the
| native stage has seen in recent years, aud
while IL did not receive the same generous
share of applause that greeted In the Pal
ace of the King last night. it is impossible
| to prophesy the same measure of success
| for the new piece. THE Christian was
| known to thousands of readers of fiction
| before it was utilized for stage purposes.
| whereas I'm the Palace of the King is in
an unfinished magazine form, and instead
| OF the story achieving some degree of sue
cess for the play, the dramatic version will
gain readers for the story. 1t may be that
In the Palace of the King does not con-
tain scene of the same strength as that
| in The Christian where Glory Quale
prevents John Storm from killing her; but
whatever success the Stoddard dramatiza-
| ton may attain will be found to lie in its
| intense interest. its rapid action. its
1 thrilling story so cleverly unfolded during
the six scenes. There have been few plays
| of recent origin that surpsss ii in its many
def intricacies of mechanism in its nu-
merous fit adornments. in its nicely OF
craft. and in the correlation of all its parts.
IL is a remarkable exhibition of modern
stage production and the spectator cannot
but marvel at the many tricks of speech
wherewith natUralism is counterfeited
the feeting but significant episodes that
crowd on each others heels in scenic eli
max, and the shades and lights of bust
ness to keep the action a-quiver.
In the Palace of the King is essential
ly romantic play of love and court in
trigue. although some portions of the piece
are really melodramatic in the intensity
of their situations. The play was viewed
by audiences in several New England cities
last week. but last nights performance
was announced by the management as the
formal opening.
Of Miss Allen and her Interpretation of
the role of Dona Dolores de Mendoza, only
words of praise are due. and the major |
portion of the applause was a distinct tri- !
butte to her splendid genius. the beautiful |
coioring she has given to her york, and |
the charm OF her personality. In her |
lighter scenes she is refreshingly delight /
very effective and convincing. Robert |
Haines' Don John is rather Disappointing
although in his love passages with Miss |
Allen he is better than when called upon |
to depict the more virile emotions. Two |
of the undeniable hits OF the performance /
are scored by Edgar Davenport, as the |
Cardinal Luis de Torres. and William
Norris as the court fool, known as Adonis. |
Mr.. Davenport is impressive in mis- work |
and his reading is a revelation. Mr.. Nor
ris, excellent actor that he is. has never |
made greater success nor done better
acting than as the jester Miguel de An /
tona. Charles Kent is an acceptable |
Philip, and Clarence Handyside is a man
ly captain of the Kings Guard. OF Ger
trude Norman as the blind sister Dona
Inez, it must be admitted that she comes |
dangerously near to sharing the donors
with Miss Allen in their joint St enes.
Marcia Van Dresser. erstwhile a comic
opera vocalist. shows that she possesses
dramatic talent OF unlocked for excel
lence. The other roles were adequately
interpreted.