The times., 1901-03-17
The National Mansfield I'm Henry

discovered in a single company.
The National Mansfield I'm Henry
w
Tomorrow night at the National The
atre promises to be the most notable 10
cal artistic occasion of years. Inc au-
dience will undoubtedly he large and
thoroughly representative. As for the en-
tertainment-well there is Mansfield in
his revival Of King Henry V. Let us
be surprised If we can, but this artist is
ALWAYS promise and an assurance, and
expectation is not easily smothered.
The curtain will rise at 7:45. Those who
know the trade mark of the Mansfield
management know that this means d;45,
and those who come later come at the
expense of good taste, of annoyance TO
those who are courteous enough to come
promptly, and Of missing the earlier
scenes of the spectacular production.
Carriages may be ordered for about II
o'clock though the last curtain may not
fall till some fifteen or twenty minutes
later owing to the petty delays incident
to working so many intricate scenes ana
moving so many hundred people on a
new stage for the first time.
Mansfield and his organization travel by
special train Of ten cars. Four hundred
people appear in Henry Y. Among
them are cast Of fifty-two ballet of
thrty-fOur, and a choir of forty men ana
boys. Ii was TO be expected that IN APP
preaching king Henry V he would
bring realizing sense Of the picture as
well as the dramatic possibilities OF TINS
history, From all accounts he has sur
passed his own and all previous endeaN-
ors in placing this spectacle on the stage.
Indeed il is said 10 Outstrip any dra-
matte display the stage has had. There
are nineteen different scenes in Henry
V Of varying sizes, from the drops in
front to the elaborate displays Of the
royal presence chamber of the English
court the beach at southampton, with
the English fleet riding at anchor, the
walls OF HaTfleUr, with the yawnlng
breach. Powered and hammered London
at the gateway of the old bridge on the
occasion Of the victor s return. the battlc
Of AgincouTt. the French roNal paiace at
Rouen. and the superb interior Of the
chancel Of the Troyes cathedral on the
occasion of the nuptials Of English Harry
and French Kate.
acters Many of the names stand for
distinguished achievements IN the Drama
Nr Mansfelds task in preparing an
acting version has been one of restoration
rather than elimination. Chorus is re-
tanned in fun and appears in the charac-
ter Of Rumor, with her own complement
of scenery a production within produc-
ton Mr. Mansfield restores the opening
scene from Shakespeare, that between
the Archbishop Of Canterbury ana the
Bishop Of Ely. He restores the comedy
scenes of Nym BardOlph. Pistol, and
Dame Quickly TO their original sequence
and form. These are the main distinc-
tions between his acting version and
those used by Macready, kean' and
Phelps. except that many Of the finest
lines OF King Henry's speeches were
dropped by these players, but Mansfield
has, in large part, restored them.
Chase's-POIite Vaudeville.
The whirligig of polite vaudeville is
bringing new artists and acts to Chase's,
g Il, oh &C. sraT-
this reason. especially attractive.
Homer Lind and company in the oper-
attic comedy "tiringoire' are the first
to claim interest, AS Mr.. Lind is a Wash
ingtonian who has won fame abroad as
grand opera singer and also received the
approving verdict of the Capital when
heard here recently as one of the prin-
cipal baritones of the defunct Metropoli-
tan English Grand Opera Company.
"Gringoire" was first produced at Wor-
cester. Mass week before last. and 1t is
recorded that its success was instan-
taneous The pretty stage pictures love
songs and martial strains appear to have
completely captured the audiences ana as
many as seven curtain calls nave Dt,!l
received at performance IL Is easily
one of the COStiiest presentations OF ats
kind ia vaudeville, as MT. Llnd sup
port is made up Of Everett King, CharIeS
Stowe.
uer all well-knoWn singers. The ballads
and incidental music are by Julian Eq-
wards q talented composer who has iath-
cred several bright operas. and the book
OF the sketch was made by Willard hOl-
comb formerly local dramatic writer
who adapted 1t from the French classic
"Gringoire-'
The bill is rems rkable further because
Of the first appearance ia long tune o.
Miss Isabelle Grquhart, a former comic
opera faHOrite With capable comedians
abetting her effort, Miss Crquhart VIII
present Even Stephen, farcical satlre
of humorous phase of married life.
Never before have Janet Melville ana
F,vfe Stetson been seen in this city. ThcF
claim the title of Americas represent
rive. duo" and the press agent AYERS lhal
there need be no doubt that they VIII sus
| tain IL bv their work. Elseeta, another
debutante here, will give her toe dances,
which have been described as marvellous
| because of the difficult character OF the
| steps and the grace with which they are
| done Seeker, Wilkes. and Seeker VIII
| Introduce 4 novel pickanniny act. The
| Five Olracs acrobatic comedians, expect
| TO raise q furore OF fun. The Biograph
/ motion picture machine will show twelve
/ fresh views Of great events the world
| over. while the RaZarfs. with an act
| called The Spirit Of Life. Will EXHIBIT
| their art as necromancers ana teiepa-
| thists.