The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-02
ADJUSTMENTS
MISS Percy HasweIl in "a Royal Family"
( ~ at: the Metropolttan. r.

MISS Percy HasWeIl in "a Royal Family"
II; at the Metropolitan
Royal Family is justly described
on the bill of the play as. a comedy Of
romance Itsbelongs to the eePrisonerr of
Aenda tribe, without possessing the
seriousness and celebrity Of action that
characterized that forerunner of the new
school OF romance. but with rather more
!tshtness and delicacyg Of humor : The
lnVolutlons of plot that marked Anthony
rope tale are, wanting in this play by
r. t1arfls, whose ;story.is simple and
persplcuous. In TRUTH there is 50 little
oouot at any time as to- what is about
70 happen that there is no suspense what
ever. The cleverness Of the author an
pears in the bright dialogue, the intro
auction of some odd types of character
ana the craft with which striking situ-
atoms are worked out. The denouement
IN spite of the fact that it is foreseen al
most from the outset, is pretty and ef-
1ect1Ve. The one shred of uncertainty
that remains is the question Of just how
the princess will forgive the deception
that has been practiced and the joyous
smile that irradiates her face when the
truth bursts upon her is happy answer
to the question & @ ~
Miss Percy HasWell, already favorite
IN Minneapolis, makes more than sue
cess of esteem as the Princess Angela. d
AotS LII 81 pldyeu ny annie russell. MISS
HasWell makes Of the princess just sim
ple, spirited. girl, unspoiled by her high
station and full of that girlish rort ance
which Is the prelude to love. The char
acter Is limned with dainty but unerring
touch. Her hearts, never riven by
storms of passion aud She makes the SUI
preme sacrifice asked Fiber with gentle
the. end she is the Sim pie. loving. lovable
maiden. Miss HasWell knows well how
to give the deft touch of the coincidence
to such a. characterais4tSas zs,aaa~- 80, 49,,
The company Is excellent The various
more or less fancifui characters provided
by the author ARD Ave well r ealized-7the
fussy and astupld sG issloner of police
(Robert g Turner ~ the SSSpunctilious
equerry CHARLES D. Pity, the prime min
lister 1IIarris 5Forbesy, and the other at
taches Sof this odd q little court. Boyd
Putnam gives a si1lguarly effective i'm
personation Of the king, upon whose mod
ernity is embroidered with almost gro
tesque effect certain monarchical ideas
of the past. But Mr.. Putnam cleverly
avoids any tendency to burlesque and the
comedy thus retains sufficient realism to
ring true Another fine Characterization
is that of the queen mother by Maude
Granger, whose appreciation. of the hu-
NOR IN the old lady's acrid character is
very lively. Miss Granger melows and
AAipl owes With age ana 1t would be I'M
gallant to compute how many years she
has adorned the American stage The
cardinal of Frank Roberts is a smooth
and benevolently diplomatic churchman
Harry Burkhardt plays the masquerading
prince satisfactorily, his fine carriage and
graceful department serving to dissipate
an early impression of affectation Wal
ter Crosby is successful in the role of the
priest who has fallen in love and man
fully battles with his hopeless passion.
1t Is unfortunate that the piece is not
staged little more generously. In the
final scene it is rather misunderstanding to
see, even in this impecunious court, the
same two ladies acting as train bearers
successfully to the queen mother, the
king and queen and then the princess
T.m. w. B. Chamberlain,