The Washington times., 1901-10-08
MANSFIELD IN "BEAUcAIRE.v
First Performance OF the Play Dedf-
Gates New Philadelphia Theatre.

PHILADELPHIA, Oct. 7.-Richard
Mansfield tonight presented for the first
time on any stage "Beaucaire,' an origi-
nal comedy in four acts. by Booth Tark-
ington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland
The occasion was further distinguished,
as Mr. Mansfield, with tonights perform
ance, dedicated to the public the new
Garrick Theatre. This latest addition to
Philadelphia playhouses is situated on
Chestnut Street, directly opposite the
United States Mint and near the corner
of Broad Street. One Of the finest audi
ences ever gathered in a theatre wit
messed Mansfields performance. 1t in
cluded representatives of society from
nearly all the Atlantic Coast cities. critics
from all the larger cities. and many men
and women eminent in literary and art
life The management by an efficient ar
rangement got the tickets to the public
without the intermeddling of the specu-
lators or the hotels, whose offer OF 50 a
single seat on last Wednesday rose stead
lily to four times that price today. They
had orders for seats at any price. but
no consideration could be offered those
with tickets to part with them
The whole event was one of brilliance
and distinction. 1t is generally agreed
that Mansfield has not before had more
fascinating character than "Beaucaire-'
1t is role full OF the niceties of man.
heroism of a gallant, the tenderness of
a lover, the caustic repartee OF a wit, and
the dramatic expression coveted by dra-
matte master. He makes Beaucaire a
fascinating man of about thirty, when a
man is most interesting to a woman. 1t
is a romantic part in the sense that there
is an absorbing love story from curtain
to curtain, but IL is also a character part
Beaucaire speaks English only imperfect
ly. Mansfield's s accent and manner were
quite different from any investiture he
or any other actor has before given a
Frenchman.
The play is in four acts and five scenes.
Act l shows the celebrated pump room
at Bath when that watering place was
the rendezvous for all fashionable Eng
land, under the social supremacy of Beau
Nash. The blades and bellies are much
aGitated over the gossip from France in
regard to the flight of the Duke of Or
leans, but this is eclipsed by a newer
morsel of gossip, the grave rumor that
Monsieur Beaucaire. who has obtained en-
tree among the fashionables is the barber
of the Marquis de Mirepois, Ambassador
from France. Beau Nash accepts the
rumor and stirring scene leads TO Beau
CARES social humiliation and expulsion
from the pump room The first scene of
the second act shows his lodgings in Bath
He is an exile from the centres of fashion,
but the mobiles and gentlemen frequent his
chambers to play cards. Among them is
the Duke of Wintersett. Beaucaire traps
him while cheating and he uses his power
over him as leverage to make Winter
sett introduce him again among the elect.
The second scene represents Lady Mary
Carlisle's on the same evening during the
progress of her ball. WinterSett intro
duces Beaucaire as the Duke of Chateau
rien. and Lady Mary is an instant victim.
There is a flow of wit and sentiment all
through the act which eliminates in
delightful piece of gallantry after Bad
gers attempt on Beaucaire'S life. The
garden of Mr.. Banistons country place
at point on the driveway near the Diana
is the background of act g. 1t is
moonlight night and the guests are leav-
ing after merry rout. Beaucaires suit
with Lady Mary prospers. He is handing
her to her coach when Nintersett's hench-
men make an attack. They are beaten OF,
but Beaucaire is wounded. Then Win
tersett betrays his promise and tells Lady
Mary that the Duke of Chateaurlen is
none other than Beaucaire, the barber.
The last act is the assembly room week
later 1t leads up to the return OF De
Mirepois and the revelation of the iden-
tity Of his royal master to the assembled
tTaducers.
II is a consecutive and cumulative story
of sustained interest. The humor and SEN
timeut balance nicely, and the action is
varied and the dialogue witty as could
be desired. Mr.. Harrington has, by gen
eral consent, conveyed all the charm of
that permeated his book into
the play. There is equally general con-
sent that Mansfield has not before done
finer than the princely barber.
Lettice Fairfax, an English actress who
came to America especially for this en-
gagement, is a fascinating Lady Mary
Carlisle. Others in the cast who have
important roles are A. G. Andrews, Joseph
Weaver. Ernest Warde, Joseph Whiting.
Arthur ECrtheIet, NJ \. Kennedy. Ethel
Knight 41lisoI ana Dorothy Chester.
The tctal -1st Numbers twenty-four and
there are Us many more trained players
appearing in action without lines TO speak. |
The producticS is most elaborate, the |
of eighteenth century |
fashion being admirably accomplished. |
Mr. Harrington and Mrs. Sutherland were |
in attendance
Mr.. Mansfield is booked for only four |
teen appearances at the Garrick. He then |
goes TO Boston, few New England cities. |
and Baltimore. Midwinter |
will be spent at the Herald Square The
atre, New York, after which he will |
make twenty-eight appearances in the |
South. and open in Chicago for a run of |
five weeks in the early spring