The Washington times., 1901-11-05
AT THE THEATRES.
The NntionnI-s'The Helmet of Ma
yurre.'

troduced as a star in a dramatization OF
Bertha RunkIes novel, The Helmet OF
Navarro
The effort of Mr.. Dalton to demonstrate
his right to BE classed as worthy OF
stellar prominence was highly creditable,
and there were few defects common TO
first productions The numerous Out
bursts of applause and the keen interest
manifested by the audience in the fortunes
of the heroic Etienne de Mar, as played
by Mr. Dalton. were good evidence OF the
success of the piece from popular view
point
The dramatization OF the story is the
work of the authoress, Bertha Runkle,
and Lawrence Marston, a stage writer OF
acknowledged ability, and one VINO mas
all the articles of stagecratt at his nnSers
ends. And it is worthy Of note that in Tine
Helmet of Navarro the handiwork OF
Mr.. Marston is quite apparent at all
times. None but such a capable devlser
of theatric effects could contrive many OF
the bits of business that make the play
attractive. The idea of having the hero
hide in a corner of a window and over
hear a plot to kill his father would not
occur to anyone but a dramatist of the
scnool that believes the average audience
cares but little for new situations"
Neither could the Introduction of the hero
in the guise of a notary to witness the
signing of d compact between his beloved
one and his hated rival come to the mind
of any but the experienced stage literary
carpenter. There are other numerous evil
dences of the workmanship of sir Mars
ton in the play. and while the web and
woof of The Helmet of Navarro" doubt
less should be attributed to the youthful
Miss Runkle, the dovetailing of the ''situ-
atoms lifted from the book, and the
elimination of page after page of the
printed Navarro tale belong to Dramatist
Marston.
Persons who have fondness for meIo-
drama with dash Of stage romanticism
viii enjoy The Helmet of Navarro"
They will forget that the writer's have
overlooked the introduction Of the sup
posedly necessary comedy element for
during the entire performance there is
hardly an opportunity for a laugh. But
there are enough thrilling scenes-sone of
the old-tipie melodramatic kind-for sew
eral plays, while of action there is a
plenty. Indeed. from the standpoint of
the person who revels in the melodrafnatic
The Helmet of Navarro" Is one of the
pest lhings that have been offered TO
WashinStOnians for some time. And, after
all, theatregoers always have a fondness
for melodrama when It is properly served,
and IN the present instance ii Is given on
an unusually magnificent scale
There are in the Runkle-Marstoa play
some admirable specimens of the scenic
painters art, the second act, The Three
Lanterns Tavern, and the third act rep-
resenting the grand salon in the Hotel de
Mayenne, being particularly elaborate. In
the matter of costumes, too, the manage
inert OF Mr.. Daltons venture has been
prolgal, for more regal and varied garbs
would be hard to imagine. Everything
tnat money could do toward making THE
Helmet of Navarro" a success has evil
IDENTIFY been done and the result is q re-
cOInDletP Drn6uPfiOn
the interest in The Helmet of Ma
Varre" is secured at the very commence
ment of the performance. and until the
final curtain there is never any let-up in
its intensity. The action is unusually
rapid and of the cumulative order and
until the last moment of the piece, when
Etienne de Mar, the hero and his rival
Lucas. indulge in a duel-and a very
realistic combat it is. too. with none of
the ordinary one-two-three, cut-and-dried
thrust and paries-the audience is not
exactly certain If Etiennes struggle for
the hand of the beautiful Torrance will
terminate satisfactorily, although, being
a melodrama, there can be only one out
come. But simultaneously with the re-
uniting of the lovers comes the final
drop of the curtain.
Just what viii be the future success of
The Helmet of Navarro is difficult to
say. Mr.. Dalton succeeded In attracting
immense audiences for a number OF years
with play that was not a bit better.
viewed from literary and dramatic
SIaInlpOIHt, MS success was COM
paratiVely easy matter. for he had q part
that appealed not only to the regular
theatre patrons but to persons who rarely
ventured within the playhouse. In his new
piece he will not have the aid of this lat
ter class. but will have to rely solely upon
the steadfast supporters of the drama
and ii is questionable If there are enough
Of them, In these days of frothy farces
and light musical affairs with newspaper
made stars and plays, who will care to
sit through three hours of such a stirring
entertainment as THE Helmet OF Ma
Yarre."
There is almost a superfuity of material
in the play as presented last night and
there is little doubt but that after a few
more performances the offering viii be
vastly more satisfying. If Miss RunlCle
and Mr.. Marston will but recall that the
major portion of the American public
wants TO be amused above everything
else just at present and inject a little
comedy into their play. 1t will be a de-
cided Improvement. In The Helmet of
Navarro love laughs at political differ
ences, and at almost everything else but
Dan Cupid does not provide sufficient
hilarity to suit the people on the other
side of the footlights.
The story of The Helmet of Navarro"
hinges on feud between two rival
houses, the Montagues and Capulets. rep
resented by the St. Quintins and che
Mayennes. Etienne de Mar, son of the
ward Of the Duke Of Mayenne, his faith
ers enemy Merely to win Etienne over
TO the cause OF the league, Mayenne en-
deavors to implicate him in plot to kill
St Quentin, and thus compel him to
choose between the cause and death. A
wager with Torrance that she cannot
bring Etienne to her side gives Mr. Dali
ton his reason for appearing on the scene
He excuses his hardness. and explains
that he was detained on the way by an
encounter between a party of Leaguers
and followers of the King. From a dying
boy he learned of the plan to kill his
far rlGN nd No aim
Etienne seemingly faYors the plot and
causes Mayenne to confess that he is the
originator of the scheme and also that
he induced Torrance to send the letter
that brought him TO the girls side Dur
ing a reconciliation between the lovers
Mayenne and Lucas enter. and from re-
cess In a window Euenne overhears the
details of the plot to assassinate his faith
er. The impetuous hero. very much a IA
D'Artagnan, confronts Lucas and they
draw swords. After he has disarmed his
opponent Etienne sewers the bell cord
just as Mayenne is about to summon as
sistance. When the guards finally arrive
Etienne leaps from window. And then
when the soldiers are about to shoot, Lo-
rance places herself between them and the
fleeing Etienne, who is soon after en-
abled to save his father without disclos-
ing his identity.
Then t.ticnne's troubles are increased
by false charge made by Lucas of the
murder Of the latters brother, Francois
Just as a captain of the guard is about
to arrest Etienne, who has been surprised
with some companions. Lucas enters hur-
riedly and is proclaimed to be the man
the guard is in search Of, and is marched
away. while Etienne and his followers
rnockingly lament his sad fate. Then
when Etienne learns that Torrance is to
be aiiianctd TO CASTOR de Retz for politl-
cal reasons. he disguises himself as a no
tEry and appears At the Hotel Oaycnne,
which is thronged with guests to wit
ness the signing OF the compact. In
stead of de RetZ' s name, Eticnne substi-
tutes his own. The guard Is away and