The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-19

English ID. - e.
Charles the Sixth sheridan BLOCK
Lewis IJuphin Of France, .......--.--A Bertneet
The Duke of Burgundy ......--....C. H. "eIuhd't
The Duke o Orleans .Staii-ey de'suP
The Duke OF Bourbon. element ioolt
The Constable Of France. ;PrnSe Llo!u
The Duke Of Alcncon. ......-..-.f w thompson
Lord Ramlures. ...................Ch Charles obrleh
Lord GTanpre. ..-.--..---.....-.-..--N- IL brown
Ar.hbiSllop of Joseph f. Hunter
Bishop oi BouIEes h%h'I "a, ~
Governor Of Haricur. LGisNcIe
MCnijoy. .Efneet WaiuG
French Soldier. Galaiu
French Nssssugpr ......... Edwin l. Belden
Chorus. Florence Mann
Isabel Qucen of France. ..Georgine Brandon
Princes, Katherine. -lua h"ssgN
Alice Suzanne sehtle
Dame Quickly Myra Brooks
The Henry W of Mr.. Mansfield. as
displayed last night at the National The
atre. under very suspicious circum-
stances. is by far the most wonderful
srectacie the native stage has ever seen.
Its magnitude is almost inconceivable,
surpassing as il does ali previous at
tempts on the part of ambitious inter-
prefers of Shakespeare to exhibit one OF
the noblcst and most lovabie Kings known
to English history. Mr.. Mansflelds pro
duction is a veritable triumph. and sets
standard that must be followed by all
future actors with no little trouble.
In his own introduction to the printed
acting version of Henry W Mr.. Mans
field makes this statement: The induce
ments that led me to make this produc-
ton of Henry V were a consideration OF
its healthy and virile tone $50 diametric-
ally in contrast to many of the perfor-
mances now CURRENT; the nobility of its
language. the breadth and power of which
are not equaled by any living poet; the
lesson it teaches of godliness, honor, 10y
atty, courage. cheerfuiness, and persever-
ance; its beneficial influence upon young
and old; the opportunity it affords for
pictorial representation of the costumes
and armor, manners and customs of that
interesting period. and, perhaps, a desire
to prove that the American stage is even
under difficulties quite able to hold its
own artistically with the European. The
ambition Of my stage career has been to
prove the superiority of the American
stage and the American actor. ana /
maintain that today against all those who
pretend the contrary.
In this very laudable ambition TO set the
native ahead of the foreign stage. Mr..
Mansfield has been eIninently successful,
for as spectacle pure and simple
Henry v as given on the National
stage. eNcels any undertaking that this
or any other country has ever witnessed.
Henry V. as showed by Mr. Mansfield,
is largely a matter of scenery. The OPP
portunities for acting are subordinated TO
those for the display of weapons, cos
TUNES, armies helds. forts the city. and
the mobs. There never has been seen
finer scenery; there has never been pre-
scented on 4 local stage more realistic
armies; there never were more historical
ly accurate costumes, weapons, and
groupings. and the operation Of sieges, of
battles, and Of pageantry was never more
effectively denoted TO the eye or to the
mind on any stage. This comprehensive
and fully deserved tribute is still within
moderation. In short. MIR. hansfeld's
production of Henry " is a remarkable
achieN ement. the very apex of a career
of artistic successes, and there is no doubt
but that il will attract to the National
this week series Of audiences that will
find the theatre even too small to accom-
modate them.
In the present version of the play. Mr..
Mansfield has done away with much Of
the versions used by earlier Interpreters
of the part of King Henry. He has re-
stored considerable that is excellent to
the original Shakespeare, and added
vast amount of illustrative business
ness of the numerous scenes. In past pro-
auctions Of Henry v, the play has be-
gun with the royal presence chamber.
with the reception of the French Ambas-
sador and including the tennis ball Incl
dent. In the Mansfield production, the
first scene shows an ante-chamber, in
which the Archbishop of Canterbury and
the Bishop of Ely discuss the King. Mr..
Mansfield has increased very perceptibly
the amount of humor and the scenes be-
tween Dame buckley, Pistol. Nym. and
Bardolph have not been condensed into
one scene as was the case in previous per-
formances. but now show the quarrel be-
tween Nym and Pistol, which is inter-
rupted 10y Quickley, who implores them to
hasten To the side of Faistan, who is in
a dangerous condition with the fever.
Throughout the entire performance the
cutting of the text and the rearrangement
of the scenes have been most felicitous.
Great, long passages have been entirely
eliminated with the exception of all Of
the Kings speeches. MIR. Mansfield has
retained the first scene between katherine
and Alice, In which the former takes her
First lesson in English" and has
struggle with a few simple nouns and
then a few moments later addresses King
Henry quite well in his own tongue The
effect is very absurd, and the act would
be immeasurably strengthened If the
scene between Katherine and Alice were
entirely eliminated and the audience left
In ignorance Of the fact that the Princess
was not an accomplished linguIst
In the entire performance the specta-
tor is impressed with the idea that I'm ar
ranging his version Mr. Mansfield has
primarily had an eye to impressive stage
pictures, even at the expense of the text
One Of the greatest bits of stage manage
ment ever displayed here is exhibited i'm
the fourth act. With the exception of the
speech Of Chorus there Is not one word
spoken. that Is audible to those In front
of the footlights. The scene is the London
Bridge. near the Surrey end. Decorated
booths are lined UP against the houses
and banners, flags, and other insignia Of
paseantry are in evidence everywhere. The
popuace has turned out 10 extend a royal
welcome TO King Henry, and his arriving
troops. fresh from victory and marching
in battalions. with cross-bows pixies. and
lances. passing rapidly forward through
an arch in the rear. and of through the
crowd to the side. Heading each group of
soldiers IS "A knight, with i page bearing
his shield and a standard-bearer with his
COiors. The crowds cheer wildly as they
recognize some particularly popular per
son. while the returning men search eager
ly Tor their loved ones. Now and again. a
soldier Is joined by his wife, or by a wait
ing maiden, and amidst the excitement of
Il all tho harder side Of war is just sug.
IL -. IL