The Washington times., 1901-11-19
AT THE THEATRES.
The NationaI-MansdeId i'm "Bcau-
cnire.v

to be expected that such charming little
romance as Monsieur Beaucasre" was to
es.ape the literary stage carpenters.
So last night at the National Theatre
Washingtonians had chance TO draw
comparisons between the Beaucaire OF
Booth Tarkington's story and the same
parsonage rs placed behind the footlights
by Mr.. Harrington and Evelyn Greenleat
Sutherland
Richard Mansfield is the Beaucaire OF
the -stage-indeed there is nothing much
in the play besides Mansfield and Beau
caire. and the performance comes pretty
near to being a monologue. True, the
playbin gives the names of number oil
other players. and the Mansfield manage
ment makes the claim that the organiza-
ton seen with the star numbers fifty
seven persons, but they are for the most
part merely subsidiary characters, of val
ue chiefly for the aid they give in ere
ating an effective background.
.Beaucaire," the play, and Monsieur
Beaucaire." the novel. are considerably
different in treatment and dencuement,
although they tell practically the same
story.
For the purposes of the play the adapt
ers have introduced as the first act Beau
CARES disgrace in the pump room at
Bath by Beau Nash, which is only re-
ferred TO in the novel.
The second act begins the story as told
in the volume, the batting of Winterset
by the love e-smitten Frenchman, and the
agreement by which Beaucaire snail
maintain silence as to the Englishman's
dishonest practices at the gaming table
Then follow Beaucaire's formal intro
duction to fashionable Bath society as
Chateaurien, his victory over the fire
eating Badger, and his sentimental con-
quest of Lady Mary
In the succeeding act occur the attacks
on Beaucaire by Wtnterset and his
friends, the tardy arrival of the French
princes retainers. the accusation Of his
lowly birth by Winterset, and his dis
missal by Lady Mary when he does not
deny the statements of his enemies, and
finally his deIiant promise to make him
self conspicuous in the assembly rooms
week later.
OF course, there is the inevitable happy
ending and the reunion of the lovers,
even If the dramatlsts did have to depart
from the original story. which leaves
Lady Mary in the forsaken situation she
has created for herself and sends the
youthful princeling back to Versailles,
evidently we'll satisfied with the alliance
with Princess Henrietta of Bourbon, ar
ranged for him by his cousin, the King.
In the play Lady Mary rather weakly
explains her leaving Beaucaire after the
ambush scene being due to her con-
tempt for Beaucaire the trickster-she
admits she did not despise Beaucaire the
barber.
AS drapatized novels go. "Beaucaire"
is in the nature of gem. Much
of the play possesses a distinct literary
flavor; the lines are witty, especially in
the first act; there is an abundance of
Situations" that are calculated to evoke
applause, and last night the expectations
of the authors were fully realized in this
respect, and finally there is tinge of
rneIodrama. notably In the fourth act
The action of the piece moves forward
briskly and logically. The production Is
one Of the largest of the year. The stage
pictures are uncomnlonly elaborate. while
the costuIning is in the splendid artistic
taste that theatregoers have come to
look for in a Mansfield Offering.
Mansfield fairly revels in his new char
acter He enters into his work with a
zest that is delightful and absolutely re-
freshing when one recalls his efforts in
the poetical "Cyrano" and the pctorially
elaborate Henry W.
His Beaueai-e is a composite picture
of Beau BrUmmel and Prince Karl,
with much Of he brilliance Of the former
and considerable of the latters gayety.
He is especially happy in the comedy cpl
sodes, while In his love scenes he is ar
dent and does not display that cold, cal
cula ting, twangy tone that has marred
so many of us more recent performances.
In "Beaucaire" Mansfield has number
of serious moments. and in these he Is
convincing and wholly satisfactory. This
latest Is perhaps the actors most sue
cessful portrayal Of recent years.
Lettice Fairfax is the Lady Mary of the
play Miss Fairfax is a good looking
young woman. graceful and unrestrnined
in her movements, and during those
scenes in which she is not required 20 ey-
hibit any great amount of emotion
is eminently satisfactory. But when
she turns from Beaucalre, upon
learning of his deception, and dur
ing her love scenes with the barber
prince. she Is woefully deficient, and
gives the impression of taking the whole
thing as terrible bore--this listening to
sweet speeches and becoming wrought up
over the imposition practiced by Beau
caire.
Henry Laurent, as Beaucaire's servant,
is among the best Of the numerous mem
bers OF the organization. although the
Winterset of Joseph Weaver is sufficient
ly Tllainous TO suit the captious element
OF the audience.
Other members of the company whose
work is worthy OF praise are Arthur
Warde NJ. A. Kennedy. A. G. Andrews,
Alexander Franz. Joseph Whiting James
L. Carhart. Sydney Cowell. Kathleen
Chambers, Ethel Knight Mollison Dor
othy Chester. Myra Brooks, Irene Prahar,
and Cbalis Winter
The only matinee of the Mansfield en-
gageme-t will be given Saturday.