The Washington times., 1902-01-14
THE NiTIONAL-"A Royal Rival
new play by Gerald du Maurier

Don Caesar De Bazan. ........ William Faversham
The Marquis OF Montefore. Snltz Edwards
The Captain of the Guard. ...-. Robert p. Harvey
The Governor of the Fortress. E Henry Bond
Pedro. boy. Claire Mcdowell
The MartIioness of Montefore.. Maggie II. Fisher
Marta ..-..........-....----..-- JUNE opp
William Faversham has reached the Don
Caesar de BaZan period iii his career as
star much earlier than most actors do. He
gives every indication of being able to get
away with the swashbuckling Don In his
first year; this is indeed promising, and
at the same time gratifying to those who
recognize in Charles Frohman's latest star
an actor OF more than ordinary ability
one who is capable of much better things
than he displays in "a Royal Rival as
witness his Lord Algy and John Kinds.
1t took Actor HaclSett several seasons to
get an attack of Don Caesaritis, but here
is Faversham experiencing the dramatic
malady in the swaddling days of his star
DOM
Lucky Faversham.
BY the time he makes the circuit of the
big cities ne VIII have outgrown Don
Caesar. just as in the long ago he passed
out of tie dangers of the chickenpox, and
the Group and the mumps.
The audience at the National Theatre
last night lost no time in recognizing their
old friend. Don Caesar de BaZan, in Gerald
dr Maurier's play. "A Royal Rival. Just
because his late parent had been bright
and clever enough to turn out "Trilby,"
with her marvellous left foot that rivaled
in beauty and renown the far famed
dimple,i shoulder OF her earlier contem-
porary, one "Katisha," Du Maurier fills
argued that he ought TO be able to grind
out drama. So he collected Victor Hugo's
"Ruy Bias" D'Ennery and Dumanois
melodrama from the came source, to say
nothing OF Wallace's opera. Mariana"
and with the aid of pair of scissors and
a jar of library paste, with a few ideas
of his own tossed in for luck, young Mr.
du Maurier did things to the romantic
drama that one of less distinguished
parentage might not have had the
temerity 10 attempt.
The product of this young Englishman
resembles the libretto of one OF Harry B.
Smiths comic operas. although Mr.. Smith
may claim. with much truthfulness, that
the comparison does him a great injustice
The personages in "a Royal Rival
lack flesh and blood. mobility and indi-
viduality; they are fer the greater part as
dry boned and as angular and as uninter-
esting as the operate puppets of another
generation. There is. however. a super
abundance of those good old-fashioned
s'deaths," "By the mass" and the other
familiar exclamations so dear to the
heart of every lover of romantic drama
and ii Charles Frohman, who presents"
this newest version of plsy that has
seen better days, had only been wise
enough to provide a score for Mr. du
Maurier's libretto and given Mr. Faver-
sham Delighted chorus, "A Royal Rival
would have been far better offering than
it is in its present form.
Most of the characters made famous in
Don Caesar plays of bygone days turn
up in Mr.. du Mau-iers work. There is
Don Jose, who plots boldly and coldly to
trick the dancing girl, Marita-regards to
Maritana, Mr.. du Maurier-all unwilling
into a marriage with Don Caesar,
likewise unwilling. each to serve the ends
of the Minister with the King and Queen.
lad has caused him to be spirited off to
prison and condemned to death for duel
ing He is induced TO marry Martha
she's a gypsy girl, 1t should be explained
1.-TWO hours before his execution. The
bride-to-be appears at the ceremony
heavily veiled and does not make her
identity known even to Don Caesar, who
later on in the play escapes from prison
by the devotion of the lad whom he has
befriended. Immediately the romantic
hero commences a search for his wife. and
Marta starts on a hunt for her Don
Caesar Don Jose clumsily thwarts them
and manages to keep the pair apart until
they meet at midnight in lonely villa,
where the King has come to press his un-
welcome suit upon Marta. Don Caesar
pops up very conveniently. defends his
wlfe's honor, and finally sets everything
Alright.
M Fayersham really deserves a better
play in which to convince the public that
he is a guaranteed xxx star. There are
folk, OF course, who know that he is a
most capable actor, a studious and intel
ligent Thespian who excels most other
players in certain line Of parts; but the
great majority of theatreSoers are igno-
rant of Mr. Faversham's superior attain
ments aaG viii judge him upon his work
in "A Royal Rival" Author du Maurier
should shake aands with himself how
ever, that his chief character is played by
an actor who is, physically at least, an
ideal Don Caesar. Fayersham is always
secure and sincere: he has a capacity
for swift, light, imaginative suggestion
that stands him well in hand in his pres
cnt play, and whatever success "A Royal
RIVAL may achieve will be due who'll; 10
the excellence Of Mr.. Faversham's own
Don Caesar.
Mr.. Fayersham's main support Is Miss
Julie Opp, handsome. tall young woman n
who made something Of q success in this
country few years ago, since which time
she has been exhibiting her art TO Lon
doncrs. She was brOugh' across the va
ter especially to create 4 role Of Marta,
although there are a Do en OF more act
resses on the FroLnan payroll who could
have saved the T1qnages, tie expense OF
transportation and played the part Just
as well as does Miss OPP ueE. Marta is
a colorless creature iurf~ lpsi early por-
tion Of the piece. and no, all he third
act does she strike anything like a true
note. Edwin Stevens. a brilliant actor,
is the Don Jose, and plays with his Gus
tonary success. An undersized' actor.
loaded down with the unromantic name of
Mr.. "Snitz" Edwards. is quite funny in
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CASfORIA farinfsnis and Children