New-York tribune., 1901-09-04
THE DRAMA.
Mr. HAcKETT AS DON CESAR.
wALLAcKs THEATRE

vsuaoks Theatre opened last night and
-, rIacleft warmly greeted and heartily cheered
aared in IL as Don Cesar de Bazan. presenting
.s,r the title OF Don Cesar's Return" variant
- .no cid play that has been made by Mr. Victor
stanes This variant moves back the historic
,ios Of the story. modifes the dialogue. and
ovvbat auerents at least sharpens. the ac-
80 NV diminishing the talk. in the closing scene
~ King becomes Charles OF Spain.-that is to
- ,be great Emperor.-instead Of Charles IL
- mas little better than an idiot. Since, how
,,,.r there is no historic basis for the play, IL
-o,,a nor seem essential 10 he scrupulous in the
,,.e ~ Kings All that is needed. a foil to
- cesar Is a gallant and ncentious monarch
- nevertheless is capable OF justice. and even
OF generosity
.ir,,le one The King fances Maritana and would
-. her in q dishonorable manner If he could.
-he Prime Minister. having designs upon the
Queen would help the King 10 accomplish this
IL n,rnose thinking thereby 10 degrade him, to
.pe the Queen furiously resentful. and TO profit
A. her anger The ruined cavalier. who has been
condemned TO death, for an infraction of royal
-,roandnent is unsuspiciously willing 10 be
..sded N a veiled lady, Immediately prior 70 his
ooytion snd the subtle Prime Minister contrives
49, Mariana shall be the bride. so that she can
tecon,e & titled widow and. having been thus
,ohed be eligible the Kings mistress. Don
asar escapes his doom. discovers his wife, defeats
wicked purpose OF the Minister, ana, In a scene
~ gay audacity and manly feeling and conduct.
,,fronts the monarch and. by his chivalrous be-
t.,sor obtains safety and happiness. Remoteness
~ period in the historic investiture OF such
.,bene is obviously contributive 10 illusion. All
.tas Is romance not realitv. And the choice of
sre ordains the fashion OF garniture-although
/, this instance il does not seem TO have exerted
-pch influence in that respect. The best OF
wr Napes's variant is the acceleration OF move
ment at the close. for. in play. things done are
slTavs more effective than things said In effect IL
,s the old play over again. and TO old playgoers
that niece is so familiar that particular account
NJ n seems almost ludicrously superfiuous. But the
Armada has sailed. a little while ago it was DAT
tsgnan Now IL is Don Cesar.
Mr. Hackett has long evinced a professional in
clnadon for the brilliant and dashing cavalier
the Prince Rupert Of the stage,-and, under vari-
ans names. has often presented that parsonage In
Don Cesar he finds a consummate type Of this
order-young gay. thoughtless, reckless. humor-
GUS brave full OF kindness. bent on pleasure, the
yasssl OF wine. and the idoater Of beauty, turn
ing all things 10 a jest. and,-though there is a
soul Of goodness within this body Of folly and levy
living for the moment. like the mote in the
beam His temperament seems to possess a
natural affinity with this character. and his
sumption OF II, therefore. is marked with freedom
and Joy. He has not, at any time. impaired
impression OF depth, and he does not as yet sue
oeed in yelling self-consciousness and repressng
self-asserfion; but he can be buoyant, fluent, i'm
petuous, picturesque. jovial and careless His per-
son is snowy. his voice rings with the of
mrth. his demeanor is audacious and his action
is rapid It follows. accordingly. that he IS well
entitled attempt the impersonation of Don
Caesar. and il at be said that since the
time OF young Alexander Salvini Cwho died just
as he had begun 10 show the auspicous promise
Of fine things, one has indicated it clearly
played It so well. He lacks the weight and dig
nifty OF intellectual character, and that grand man
V-hic akeSa auSa cftx and In
vests grotesQue actions with the native hue Of
reason; and also. in this part he lacks something
OF the distinction sppertainng TO a man OF noble
birth, rank, and fine breeding-the innate superb
Ority OF which radicals always deny the existence
and OF which they always recognize the intrinsic
power. But he glitters the surface and diffuses
light and gee. Whatever else the performance
may be- il is airy and voluble frolcsome and ex-
hhratng. II was spplauded 10 the echo and the
comedian was recalled again and again with an
enthusiasm that seemed TO know bounds Nj Le
Moyne gave a deliciously humorous performance
Of the obtuse. silky. comcaIy perpexed old noble
man. the Marquis who only knows that he must
90 as he is told Impersonat tion,-absolute exact
continuous. rounded. and unobtrusively bold-is
this actors invariable achievement in all that he
undertakes With Mr.. Wilton Lackaye as the
King Mr. Theodore Roberts the Minister and
Miss Buchanan the Marchioness the cast Of
the chief parts is exceptionally strong and as the
piece has been richly dressed and mounted the
public that chances to be interested IN this sub
Ject viii find abundant pleasure in renewing or in
beginning an acquaintance with Don Cesar de
Bazan.
There are a few obvious defects. The important
minor part Of LaZarillO is intrusted TO a girl who
Is not a bit Ike boy, and is completely incompe-
tent 10 play II The best speech OF Gonzalo-about
the Don's disparagement OF the old Marquisa-is
CUT out The pictorial Mar1tana-the dark lustrous
spanish beauty, enhancing with sweetness OF
Vocalism and with the enchantment Of rich tempt
ing womanhood. becomes an aquiline blonde whose
and whose method of expression is sometimes to
shriek and sometimes 10 bleat. Mr.. Roberts as the
schening traitor. seemed not TO remember that the
siOVe OF velvet should the glove OF STEEL thas
Lon Jose Is outwardy specious and plausible,
an accomplished courtier and a willy statesman.
Mr Lacksye, in his sef-centred calm, intense with
latent passion, as the King, gave not only a good
performance, but unusually good artistic ex-
ample Not only the power Of the King sug
gested' but each scene in which he appeared was
duly fraught with it's rightful atmosphere of sus-
pense and danger. Finally. and more serious than
all the season. the art Of speech Is neglected by
almost all the actors, not excepting Mr.. Hackett
nimself-who has much to consider II. Moou-
lation, true emphasis. clarity OF utterance, the
suooroination Of the word to the feeling-it would
lead 10 50 much beauty OF effect, IL would be 80
victorious it would give much pleasure and
90 so much good that the neglect Of it truly seems
wicked folly The old actors did not neglect it
as those who remember Mr.. Hacketts noble father
can well testify W. ".