Evening star., 1901-10-12
COMING ATTRACTIONS
The National Theater.

Paul Kester is said to have succeeded ad-
mirably in reproducing his dramatization
of Charles Majors novel, When Knight
hood Was in Flower, that very important
essential, environment, which gives
much delight to the spectator and so much
naturalness to the story of a play. This
quality he has infused into every scene of
the drama with even greater sureness of
intention, say those who have seen Miss
Mariowe's production. than did Mr.. Major
in his novel. The keynote is struck in the
first act of when Knighthood Was in
Flower" and, indeed, in the first glimpse
which is afforded the spectator as the cur
tain rises The scene represents Windsor
Park, near the boat landing on the Thames
Nistas of forest and river are disclosed
and from the depths of the woods comes
the music of hunters horns. The court
fool and his attendants are dancing the
quaint morris dances which were so char
acterlSuc feature OF popular amusement
during the reign of Henry VIII. Other
May day merrymakers are prancing about
the stage on hobby horses, and the whole
scene is one of Innocence and whole-souled
gayety. This atmosphere of liveliness and
good cheer is maintained throughout the
first act of the play. The second also af-
fords Miss Marlowe score of delightful
comedy opportunities in her role of Mary
Tudor
The loves and sacrifices of the Princess
Mary, and of Charles Brandon, form the
motif Of the play. How the princess re-
fuses to obey her brothers command that
she marry the aged King of France, and
how the princess and Brandon are involved
IN great trouble as a result of her determi-
natlon TO wed the man of her choice, is
swiftly disclosed in the first and second
acts. The third transfers the leading char
acters to the great room of the Bow and
String Inn at Bristol, whittier the princess
and Brandon have fed, with the intention
OF taking ship for America, and thus es-
Gaping the wrath of kings and the penalties
OF exalted station. But they are captured
by troop Of the royal guards and torn
from each others embraces Brandon to be
exiled and Mary to be welded to the King
of France She becomes the monarch's
wife in name only, however. The last scene
OF the first act brings a happy ending, and
an exquisite tableau, which discloses King
Henry, surrounded by great array of
courtierss greceiving back to England and
10 MS favor his truant sister. This stage
picture is one of the most elaborate at
tempted by any producer of plays this sea-
son, either in this country or England and,
what is more to the point, Mr. Kester has
written some really exquisite bits of dia-
logue, upon which Miss Marlowe lavishes
the finest qualities of her elusive and many
sided art
Her Mafy. T,,dor is a vixen but she is
not, ViXenish always. She manifests ten
derness and 1oyableness when her heart is
stirred She has will of her own, and she
ever knows the way to enforce her deter
minatl0n to haye the man of her choice
come what mfty How she yields to the
dictates of her fancy cannot fail to be de-
lfghtfully shown by Miss Marlowe, who
poftrays those moods of the capricious girl
with rare artistry. In the first act she is a
termagent eager to see if she really loves;
IN the second she is in torture of doubt as
to her lovers fate; in the third act she
risks all to run away with him. and when
IL is necessary to marry Louis of France
to save him, she does that with the courage
OF a true heroine. After her royal husband
departs this world she sets about to regain
the man who is all in all to her and then
py recourse to a promise, won through
pretty wit. she obtains her hearts desire
During Miss MarloWes engagement at
the New National next week there will be
one matinee, the part making such de-
mands on her that she is unable to give
mid-week performance.