New-York tribune., 1901-10-27
THE DRAMA.
HENRY IRVING IN ROMANTIC TR,cvnr
KING LOUIS XII

'-'" i-' i'O''AN44C TRAGEDY
KING LOUIS xI.
The play of King Louis XII which -
sented last night at the knickerbccker ThI ~
comprises SO many and such various elementS -
AA apt ana comprehensive designation AZ a. y
seareeS possible II Is comedy it is tragedy. !, =,
nneIoHra1aa-neaning drama of situation. ., a.
nance; IL combines incident and picture. :. 80
trasts Toic and horror; il is instinct with s,rs1
humor: and. though somewhat bizarre ana So
tastic IN story. it Is richly freighted with .h.-
acter. To call ii a romantic tragedy is perhans :,
call 1t by its best name. II is Of French -. y
written by Casinlier Delavigne and translataa 60
adapted. many years age, by Dion Boucieaul,. -
Ola piaygoers still remember the great sIccess 80
was gained with II by Charles Kean in A..
as wen as IN England Henry Irving adon.aS
INTO ms repertory in 1878 winning one OF the grs.
est triumohs OF his professional career hy -
original and truly marvellous embodiment az 20
Louis. and he has conquered with il avar ss
MS Hrst presentment of it in this capital occur-5
at the old star Theatre, in November 1Sss ,s
-as many readers will recall.-he has revived 4, -
almost all OF his American seasons.-his latest 49,.
ducton OF 1t having been made in 1898 The w.
tertals for the Play were derived from thu bts,s
Philip de Confines, from Victor Hugo and from, 80
novel Of Quentin Durward,' by Sir Walter So.
Henry lrving's performance OF King Louis =
markaoie for many subtle traits of complex cbar
acter and for rare felicity OF execution 90
serpentlike fascination of incarnate evil W
Wickedness is weak II is contemptIbIe but VIZ
II Is strong IL Is sometimes ulagnidcent-accor1,.
TO the personality in which it is embodied Nobod
despises Milton's Satan Goethes MephistophaIss
This King Lcuis.-parricide, murderer tvra,,
stealthy in policy cruel in purpose fatal in na,u,
and eHect.-is never weak. The body may be raw
aged and withered with the strife OF evil passion,
and the blight of superstitioUs dread but the hear,
remains impenitent. the mind imperial the monarch
unshaken. the man supreme. Worldly wisdom
grim cynicism, craft sardonic humor and inyat
crate and fatal malignity, in shambIing eccenrrie
diseased old man, are fused with semi-senlIe play
rulness and with the passionate fervor OF blind
religious bgotry; and this personality is sustained
Notwithstanding tortures OF remorse and torments
OF physical decay-even 10 the instant Of an al
fictins and terrible death The environment pra-
sents improbabilites but these are not inconoatib
with fabric OF romance, and the absolute sincerity
grisly vitality and urid brilIiancy of the central
figure veil them with truth and make them stead
lily credible and impressive. In what way II han
pens that this human monster Of cruelty and srlIa
is-in the acting Of Henry Irving-made interesting
and even sympathetic. il would be difficult 10
specify; but the fact remains and possibly IL NAV
be worth while TO suggest as a significant truth
that IL is always the intellectual passion and never
the sensual in an evil nature. that admits OF a
great portrayal Of character and opens the way to
great dramatic effect. The purpose OF King
tugatton Of every potent vassal the DETERMINATION
OF all insurgent authority; and hts scheme O,
private vengeance, luxury though 1t be- is Incl
dental to the larger design. The powers OF evil
impelled by higher motive than carnaI appetite
and bestia desire, ESQ dear to some contemporary
drainattsts, with their jargon about 'virity")
here at least. are invested with dignity and even
with spiendor Such acting as that Of Henry
irving In the scene OF the Kings confessional
the scene Of his suppeation for life the scene Of
MS paroxysm of maniacal wrath, and the scene
OF his august and awful death, opens the depths
OF the human heart lays bare the possible deprayty
OF human nature. depicts a great character in
such a way TO uumine a remote historic
period. and conveys most solemn uonitIon upon
the conduct OF life.
Among the associate actors Mr. Barnes espae,auv
distinguished himself by the admirable discretion
and the expressive vocaIism with which he hlled
the comparatively slender part OF Coitier-a part
however. upon the right presentment Of which some
OF the best effects OF King Louis are directly de-
pendent. Coiters announcement OF the uonarch's
death. spoken by Mr. Barnes might be named as
particularly indicative OF the fine feeling and the
fine taste with which this actor embOdes his ideals
Mr.. Laurence Irving, though. at times. somewhat
violent and tumultuous, where deep passion would
be better than sound acted Nemours so as 10 make
him earnest and affecting, figure Of distinction
and force. Mr. Tyars. often heretofore. made
Tristan dangerous. formidable bluff and grim:
and Miss Milton's comedy Of rustic coquetry was
particularly felicitous, in the character Of the
peasant Martha. Scenery Of darkly rich tone and
correct dresses Of signal beauty have been provided
for the favorite old play. and its revival is
corded OF the best successes OF the year.
Henry Irving was many times recalled. amid gem
eral acclamatiOn. W. W.