The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-26
|1lFpTR''al9

closed their engagement in st. Paul last
| night with presentation of .LoaX XII, >
! play written by Casinir Delavigne and
| adapted and arranged by. Dion Bouci-
cault. Because of the fact that it gives
Irving an opportunity of presenting a SUI
perb picture of a decrepit. conscience,
| goaded king, the play is interesting. And
| because it. has to do with court life-the
| lavish French court life of a medieval
| period-the play is picturesque. But aside
| from the central figure whose senile de-
| cay Irving presents with a vivid realism
| that makes the dying Louis fascinating
| ~ repulsive, the play is lacking in
dramatic interest. A superstitious, death
| fearing, plotting old king is Louis XI. in
| this play. Possessing not one trait that
! would make him king to any man, fear
| full of every one around him, suspectine
| even his own son, the king, as presented
| by Irving, is pitifu1 figure. He holds
always the center of the stage, not be-
| cause of his kingly attribute, but be-
cause by the genius of Irving he points
| a tremendous moral that is not of any
| creed nor of any religion but of grim,
unalterable human life itself. The role
| is one particularly suited to Irving His
presentation Of it is realistic, gruesomely
so.
Like all his pertraitures this one is per
feet to the smallest detail The plotting,
.scheming king, the superstitious, life
loving old man-for in the play Louis is
first the one, then the other-these two
sides TO the kings character are admir-
ably brought out but both are merged
into a fine unity that makes the portal
ture perfect one. The first act shows
the kings genius for double-dealing, even
in his senility. The second is fine bit
of irony on Indebtedness of human life
The old king has Sl1rnriSpd a nj her of
peasants celebrating their May day fes-
tiyal. One Of these peasants, too honest
to be polite, says something that pricKs
the conscience of the king and arouses
his anger. The offender is a man, but i,
clever woman, his wife, by appealing to
the foolish. old kings vanity, soothes his
wrath end causes him to wag his tooth
less old head in maudlin joy at her fiat
teries. The act which follows shows the
kings struggles with his superstitious
terrors, struggles that end with one of a
different kind, a death struggle with an
assassin. Perhaps there is no ac-
tor living who can surpass Irving in his
power of picturing a long drawn-out and
appalling death scene. In the last act of
Louis XII" he has plenty of oppor-
tunity Of displaying this power. for the
old king staggerss on the stage arrayed
in his council robes, a jeweled crown on
his head, but his wrinkled face ashen
with the hue of death. Irving's acting
in this scene was superb. The blindly
grooping hands, the labored breathing,
the glazed and staring eyes made the
death scene shudderingly convincing.
Miss Terry did not rlay last night. In
the presentation of Louis XII" Irving
was ably assisted by his excellent COM
pany.
O,oo 6 1o1 70 OF fIosad
matte season here will be the appearance
at the Metropolitan of Mrs Sarah Cowell
LIE Moyne in a new play called The
First Duchess of Marlborough an orig
inal drama written especially for her by
Mr.. Charles Henry Meltzer Mrs. LIE
Moyne has the distinction today of being
one of the few great condolences on the
English-speaking stage Her achieve
ments and style most readily recall per-
>haps the work of Ellen Terry and Mrs.
Kendall, in England, and of Mrs. d. P.
Bowers and Laura Keene, affectionately
remembered by the older theatergoers of
America Although Mrs. LIE Moyne has
been at the head of her own company
comparatively but short time, the fame
of what she has done has gone through
cut the land, and the patrons of what is
best, cleanest and most Inspiring. as re-
f1ected on the mimic stage. have every
ner Her new play has been styled by the
author as a digpiied attempt to produce
a comedy of manners distinguished to a
large extent by historical accuracy and
presenting some of the most widely
known perSonageS in English annals. a
costly and sumptuous mounting of the
play has been arranged, and company
in keeping with the high character of the
star and the play has been engaged TO
,ka,1t i- for f1rpeN
nights and Saturday matinee, beginning
tonight
The production of "Quo Vadis'' at the
Grand opera house the current week
drew two large audiences yesterday at
ernoon and evening. "Quo Vadis, treat
ing as it does of ancient Roman history
affords unlimited opportunities tor scenic
elabora tion all of which have been taken
full advantage of, the various scenes De
ing mounted in a most gorgeous manner
and with careful attention to detail. The
producing company also is one of arts
tic excellence.
James A. Hernes famous comedy
drama, ashore Acres, opens for week 3
engagement at the Grand opera house
next Sunday night
Two immense audiences witnessed tbs
performances given by the New York
stars at the Star theater yesterday aft
erroon and evening, and, If one may
Judge by the applause bestowed. went
away pleased. The entire ent arta-Lnelt
is full { f bright features. and is iully the
equal of anything that has bse1 offered
at the Star this season. Mal'nees will
be gwen every aftern Don tits wess.
GREENROoM GOSSIP.