The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-27
SUPERB PRODUCTION.
E. S. Willard in "The Cardinal Last
Night at the Hyperion.

E. S. Willard in "The Cardinal Last
Night at the Hyperion.
80! all too trustful of the smile
Of sky and ocean, on an unknown shore
And naked Palinurus, shalt thou lie!"
Virgil TRANSLATED by James Rhodes).
That eminent English actor E. S.
Willard opened three nights engage
ment at the Hyperion last night with
the presentation of The Cardinal"
four-act play by Louis Parker. All in
terest of New Haven theater-goers CEN
tered in this engagement OF Mr.. VIII
lard, and they showed their apprecia
ton by a generous outpouring last
night, and their keen delight by the
hearty and generous reception accord
ed him. His surprising histrionic abil-
ity is too widely and favorably known
to demand much exploitation. Suffice
it to say that the fashionable and crit
zeal audience was intensely impressed
and deeply moved by the excellence of
the play and the superb rendition given
it by Mr.. Willard and his splendid sup
porting company.
Mr. Willard portrayed the part of the
Cardinal, and it afforded an exceptional
opportunity for the display of his many
talents. There are numerous strong
and intense passages in the course of
the play~where Mr.. Willard is at his
best, and the audience was last night
held spellbound by the excellence of his
rendition.
The action takes place in Rome in
1910, during the reign of Pope Julius
II. The scenes of the four acts are
laid in and near the Cardinals place on
the Capitoline Hill In brief, the play
relates the love story of the Cardinals
brother, Giuliano De Medici, and Fill
berta, daughter of Bartolomme Chigi,
a wealthy merchant of Rome. The
Cardinal is informed of the desires Of
the young people, and through his in
tercession the consent of the father is
secured to the marriage. Scarcely has
he agreed when Andrea Strozzi. a Flor
entine outlaw who has already the guilt
of one murder on his head, proclaims
his love for the beautiful Filiberta. His
request is spurned by Chig, and Stroz-
ri murders him and has his henchmnn
ltlItl AUillC' IL JuoI lcoS-
ing the home of Chigi, when the men
arrive with the body. He is accused of
the murder, tried and condemned. The
Cardinal hears the confession of Stroz-
ri as the latter Is about to leave for the
war; and his lips are sealed even
against his own brother. True to his
vows, he does not reveal the guilty one,
but sets a trap to catch him and have
him unwittingly confess. His refusal
on first demand is opportunity for his
announcement by the Cardinal. and the
situation and acting are the strongest
witnessed here this season. The death
procession is formed and Giuliano is on
his way to the eXecutioner, when the
Cardinal by a clever ruse of insanity,
causes Strozzi, who is the close friend
of the pope. to confess. and he is led
away captive, while Giuliano is restor-
ed to his affianced bride.
Miss Maud Fealy is a remarkably
handsome young woman and Mr.. Will
lards new leading lady. She is a most
sympathetic and capable actress. The
other members of the company are de-
serving of special mention, but the
more especially excellent are Bassett
Roe as Andrea StroZzi and J. G. Taylor
as Beppo, the bellringer of the capitol.
Tonight Mr.. Willard will present
David Garrick."