The Washington times., 1901-12-03
AT THE THEATRES.
Tho Nn,Ionnl-E. II. sothern.

| success at the National Theatre last
| night. has tampered with history in max
| ing a hero of Francis Villon, dissolute
French poet Of long lgo-iust how long
| nobody not even the most astute Of
chroniclers, has ever been able to deter
mine Everything that is known of this
Villon points to the fact that he was
rum soaked genius. clever rhymester
| who found much to please him in the
most loWly of resorts and the wantons
who frequented such places. a maker Of
! fanciful iingles, who slept by the side OF
| the quay. and whose greatest delight was
! to recite his verses ia the hearing of
| profiigates OF his own stamp.
But in the drama Vilou is idealized; he
| is made to appear as warrior OF uncom-
mon boIdness. a wooer whose words are
like unto the music Of the lutte, wearer
of purple and sold; in fact, very much the
| sort of n hero one is apt to find in the
most approved style of modern romantic
| drama. of which "If 1 We're King" is the
| best specimen that has come this way
| for many a long day. Nobody in the gath
! ering of last night seemed to care for the
dramatic license Author Mccarthy It's
taken with the principal character of his
play-all they apparently cared for was
that Sothern's Villon was a most popu-
lar sort of a fellow, with a wonderful ca
pacity for doing the most remarkable
things imaginable There was 10 end of
applause. and the admirers of Sothern-
and he has as many. il net more, than
any other actor who visits Washington in
the course of a year-were delighted with
the merits of the play a work of litera-
ture, and the numerous opportunities it
affords the chief player to display his
histrionic abilities.
The first act opens in a rather spirited
manner in the Fir Cone Tavern. where a
party of roysterers are awaiting the return
OF their leader, Villon. In the midst of
their festivities enters Louis XI. old ard
shriveled. He is going around, q la Ha-
run-al-Rashid, ircognito, among his pei
pie, with his evil shadow Tristan, at his
side. The reason of the kingly visit Is
explained by his knowledge Of an intended
visit OF Thibaut, mis- High Constable, TO
the place, and Louis wants to learn, pri-
vately, the nature of the business shat
calls him thither. Villon comes in aud
relates how he has been cudgeled for
daring to send verses to proud beauty
he saw while leaving church after her de-
votions. The garIYlous bard. quite IN
aware of the presence of Louis, recites
his poem about what he would do If he
were really King. Then the poet assaults
and defeats the High ConstabIe-ths re-
suit of the appearance of a veiled woman
who reveals herself to be the beauty for
whom he has been made to be pummeled
and who bids him, as proof of his afIec-
tion and sincerity, kill her obnoxious
suitor. the High Constable. This is easily
accomplished in duel In the dark. each
contestant holding lantern, making ar
extremely effective scene. The Constable
is wounded and Villon is seized by the
formers guards
Then it is that Louis takes the rhymester
at his own words and gives him the place
of the wounded Constable. for one week,
at the end of which time he is to suffer
the penalty of death for his reasonable
utteTances, unless--and Dramatist Nc
Carthy has been kind enough o provide
a convenient loophOle for h sppy end
ins-he can win the love of Katherine,
the cold, naughty beautiful. uneonquer
able Lady Katherine. Villon quickly
makes use of his brief authority. He lib
crates his old friends from prison. pays
the royal troops, and, by his yalorous
leadership. defeats the assailng forces OF
rebellious Burgundy, and finally fas-
ciaates katherine by the brillancy of his
achievements and the ardoT of his love.
And, best of all, in the end the love of
Katherine for the erstwhile ruler saves
him from the gibbet. when she offers to
take his place, even after VilIons aged
mother has tottered forward ard offered
to sacrifice herself that her son might
live.
''If l Were King suggests numerous
other plays that have gone before it.
'Gringoire, perhaps, the strongest. and
Mr.. McCarthy's speeches and phrases re-
call othe RS that have been used by earlier
dramatis =, while few of his situations /
are of his own dsvising. But the whole I
fabric is so complete in itself that IL rare
ly suggests the crazy quilt that 1t is in |
reality. The interest is attracted at the |
very comm encement OF the play, and is |
never allowed to flag for an instant. The |
scenes are all splendidiy arranged and ex-
exeCuted, and are full of refresh
ing buoyancy. The production is unusual /
ly complete, the scenery is admirably |
done. while the large force OF extras
IS handled with consummate skill and /
the little errors that so often mar a large /
production are happily lacking in If l |
Were King"
Mr.. Sothern's Villon is splendid his
.rionic achievement. He Is In turn wildly
dashing. ardent, polished dig /
lified. easy, authoritative. secure, always
powerful, and a graceful and convincing
over. Last nights audience liked Sothern
Immensely in his new role, and he was
given an ovation rarely accorded TO
visiting player.
Cecilia LOTUS gives good evidence in
ler admirable Interpretation of the role
II Katherine of her right TO put away all
of everyday. plain CissIe of the
Some of her work is decided
y strong. so good, in fact that one is sur
Drised at her breadth and power The
.hird act. the scene In which Katherine
-eYiles Villon for wlaning her love under
4 false name, is given with a proper ap-
probation OF the demands Of the situa-
lion and is one OF the best bits of work
lone by Miss LOTUS during the perform
'nce. In the semi-humorous and romantic
'assages she is delightful, and her
methods here are broadly contrasted with |
Ter more dramatic efforts.
suzanne Sheldon, n young American |
actress, who has already achieved trI |
lmphs in London. gives a faithful portrait
'f Vilion's passionate and jealous mis-
ress, ana scores success not surpassed |
oy even 1r. SotheTn or Miss LOTUS. Char
otte Detne, who played the Queen so Of
ectively in Hamlet" last year. is given
'ut little opportunity to distinguish her
elf in the Mccarthy piece, but she does
'er mite most excellently. George Wilson.
n oft-tried player, is sardon,c and ma
ignant Louis II, and ma -es his confri
'uuon to the performance a notable one
Mr. Sothern's only matinee will be given
saturday.
The Columbia-E'The Red KIoofu
1t was to lie expected that sooner or
ater the Transyaal would furnish theme
Tor drama by some prolific playwright.
f.n Z