The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-06-07
/" The RED KNIGHT ..
Broadhurst's New Comedy Catches
First-Nighters If Frisco.
ALL PAPERS SPEAK WELL OF 1T
James Neill Company Gathers New
Laurefs in the Pacific Coast
T. - Metropolis. N97. -.

San Francisco, June Livery former
Minneapolis man or woman. and there
were more than few, who saw the
premiere production of George Broad
bursts new fancful, comedy at the Cali
fornia. felt a tinge of pride in the fact
that George was cnce one of the boys"
back in the old days Of Minneapolis, when
he and others who have since became IA
NOUS chased the festive news item. But
it was not Broadhurst alone that. drew
that great packed house. with its quota of
Minneapolis people. This initial produc-
ton was done by the James Neill com
pany, at whose head is the stock actor of
that name with his charming wife. Edythe
Chapman, as leading lady. the whole COM
pany under the management of an old
friend, Charles Aston Parker. 1t was the
combination of Minneapolis favorites that
drew the crowd. All came with delight
full anticipations and went away with the
feeling that they had seen success and
could boast. in the future that they had
been at the get away .'...'. -.
The new. play is. called The Red
Knight, taking its name from mys-
FERROUS highwayman who has been dubbed
thus because he always wears a red
feather in his hat. 1t is of the modern
life, dealing with two mythical king
doms The play opens with a masquerade
scene to which the young queen of Rhode
land comes as Outlet" She is to be
welded two days away to the prince OF
Morantea, the betrothal having been an
arrangement between the parents OF the
two when they were: ba bies. But an ambi-
tious minister Of war has sent his spy to
steal the plans of Moranteas Notifications
and their loss has been discovered by the
prince, who sets out on the adventurous
project of recovering them. In that role
he appears on the scene disguised as
Romeo and at the masque Is delightful
passage between the disguised queen and
the prince, who maze the most Of their
fun. =. =
The second act reveals the prince still
I'm his disguise, waiting to hold up the
carriage Of the minister of war and re-
cover the plans. He has assumed the
character Of the highwayman, the Red
knight, and has just secured the plans
when the real highwayman appears. The
false Red knight assumes great aston
tshment, and denounces the other for mas
querading. This conception Is Broad
hurst's and his only, and is one Of the
most ridiculous that can be imagined. A
sparkling climax is given by the discov-
cry Of the queen in the coach. The queen
by this time discovers that she Is in love
with the unknown and needless to say
the prince likewise falls in love with the
queen and is bemoaning his fate at being
betrothed to the queen. -. .-.... -.
The third act is the gem Of the play and
has delightful comedy as we'll as pretty
love scenes and dash Of heavy work.
The queen is visiting her foster mother
The prince with wounded follower ap-
pears, seeking to escape from the soldiers
who have been sent out by the minister Of
war. While bandaging the wound, the
soldiers suddenly are heard and the queen,
to save her unknown friend, whom she
believes is the highwayman, lies in a good
cause. She gives a safe passage to the
two men, signing her own name and is
thus revealed to the prince, who how
ever, retains his assumed character and
tells the queen he will see her tomorrow.
One anticipates the last act, but Is un-
certain how it will all happen. It is the
wedding day and the prince comes. But
the queen believes that he is the high
wayman and has held up the real prince
and taken his clothes. His true charac-
ter and the reason for his masquerade Is
at last made known and 1t ends as one
wishes. r.
James Neill takes the part Of the prince
and Miss Chapman is the queen. Both
enhance their regulations by their work
and have scored new success.
Of the play and the players the San
Francisco papers speak highly and kindly,
although there is the usual talk of prun-
ing, cutting and trimming and the first
night nervousness Of the players, which
is to be expected. but all the papers say
1t is success and praise both the play
wri ght and the players. They predict big
BUSINESS