The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-02-01

Montgomery thcatre-goers had the op- portunity of seeing Richard Mansfield again last night and for the fst nnoas tms Tarkington's delightful story Monsieur Beaucaire."
 { Mir. Mansfield was given a reception which was thoroughly in keeping. with the ability of the great actor. It was the largest. most fashionable and most critical audience that has gathered in the theatre this season. It was an audi ence composed not only of the cultured people of Montgomery but of many of the cultured folk of Middle Alabama, for there were persons present who had trav- elied many miles to witness the produc- ton.
 Every seat in the theatre had been sold. and as early as 6:30 o'clock yesterday evening crowd had gathered in front of the box ofhce eager to purchase stand had purchased their seats in advance were compelled 10 pass through a crowd which formed an avenue from the main entrance on Perry. Street to the door playhouse. Many disappointed ones went away unable to ret into the theatre. The hest people of Montgomery sat away up in the gallery. ladies sat on the steps stage and several ladies stood in the afsles and doorways throughout the per- formance.
 The audience. perhaps one of the most bama. was thoroughly delighted with the production. Indeed, barring the fnclem- ent weather, 1t was one of the most au- spicious entertainments ever given in
 seaa Brumme Mn which rst Drought fame to MT. Mansfield "Beaucaire" is the best play which he has ever present. ed The stage detail was perfect. the tunes gorgeous and accurate and the scenic appurtenances elaborate.
 Readers of popular novels are familiar with Booth Tarkington's delightful story ance of MT. Tarkington it was dramatized by Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland for MT. Mansfield, and given the name of Beau caire." It is comedy of English fash ionable society at the time when Bath was Its ruler. George the Second was King of England and Louis the Fifteenth
 Opening Scenes.
 When the play opens the crowd of fair of the Duke of Orleans, who has fled from Paris. and reported Co be con- fined in Vincennes. Into the .pump-room comes one Monsieur Beaucaire, who has gay throng. and Is something of a mys-- tery, though the men make resort of his rooms for their gambling. He has fallen in love with Lady Mary Carlisle, d DCdutiAul yOuHB WOIHdn OI iHtBn. DiItiS and determines to win an introduction to her. but in her presence at their first meeting he is ignominously expelled from Bath by Nash. as master of ceremonies. on the ground that he is an impostor, having come over from France in the suite of the Marquis de Mirepois as that nobleman's barber.
 Beaucaire,. no whit dismayed. catches the Duke of Winterset cheating at cards in a trap set for the noble gambler, and, by threatening exposure, forces the lat ter to take him to the Lady Marys ball as French Duke. Lady Mary promptly succufnbs to the ducal strangers charms, her admiration being increased by his triumph In duel forced on him at her ball. Winterset betrays him to the men Of his set. and plot to expose and pun Fas. he has revealed his love to Lady Mary. he Is set upon by number and defends himself in a stirring combat.
 Winterset revenges his discontinue by Marquis de Mirepois's barber. He ad- mits having come to England in the Am bassadors 8 suite on his barber's passports, which changes the feelings of Lady Mary to angry contempt.
 In the last act he completely turns the tables on his enemies. for when to their surprise he presents himself at the as- sembly rooms in Bath he meets their re- newed attack by calmly sending for his master. the Marquis de Mirepois. who reduces the company to a state of stupe- fication by falling on his knees before the fouted barber, greeting him as the Royal Duke of Orleans. who has escaped from his Vincennes prison With this triumph and his winning of Lady Mary the comedy ends.
 It will be observed that owing to the exigencies of the drama the climax of the play is a radical departure from the text of Mir. Tarkingtons story. It is artistic enough to have the handsome young Duke rebuke Lady Mary and sail away to France and marry the woman selected for him by the King, but 1t leaves bad taste in the mouth of the atre-goers. So in the play he weds Lady Mary and they Tive happily ever after"
 Master of Delineation.
 Mir. Mansfield Is such a perfect mas ter of the delineation of character that his art appeals to the lover of nature as a study. In studying his work as "Beaucaire." however. one cannot lose sight of the fact that Booth Tarkington has provided most excellent vehicle and that as mu:h pleasure Is afforded by the delicious eplzrams and intricate story of the Indiana author as by the superb interpretation and ideal concep- ton of the part by Mir. Mansfield. "Beaucaire" is a flesh and blood hero. He is not of the milk and water kind. Unlike Cyraro de Bergerac he is hand some. He loves a woman and he fights for her. The part fits Mansfield and he is at h.s best when there Is abundance of action. He was at his best. perhaps. at the close of the fourth act when ha routed half dozen hardy young Eng lishmen who bnset him.