New-York tribune., 1906-07-15

semblage of mounted heralds sovereigns and
-princesses. singing Druids. ancient Brtons, VIC
torious Romans. medieval knights, burgesses in
robes, friars with crosses, the KingmakeT's re-
tainers and Elizabethan courtiers; and the
schoolboys singing their carmen and the farm
ers' daughters dancing their oldtime measure
carry out their parts in the historic masquerade
seriously as Guy of Warwick. King Edward
" Robert Dudley, Lady Jane Grey, Queen Bess
or the other stately figures in the court scenes.
If Mr.. Parker. the master of ceremonies, has
done nothing else, he has brought together all
the talents of ancient Warwick and taught the
humblest stableboy milkmaid to love and
reverence the genius of local history.
THE foIkpay illustrates in eleven episodes
Warwiek's contribution 10 English history. civic
and religious from the earliest times. Druidical
rites introduce the first episode the dawn Of
Christianity. Caradoc receives the crown from
aged Cypbeline,. and, refusing tribute to Caesar,
is taken prisoner After a battle between
Britons and Romans with clanger Of spears and
shields and after a short pause, representing the
lapse Of years he returns TO tell his subjects Of
the light Of Christianity which has illuminated
his Roman dungeon. The legend Of Caradoc as
the founder or restorer OF the town was vaguely
told by John Rous the chantry priest Of Guys
Cliff. in his medieval chronicles of Warwick
primitive costumes and the battle the
story is reproduced with fine color and spirited
, action The second episode is concerned with
the origin Of the Warwick arms-the bear and
the staff being prominent in the escutcheon Of
the earls 10 this day; and it is a picturesque
medieval bear story cleverly enacted. In the
third scene Ethelfeda, the warlike daughter Of
Alfred the Great. is the central figure in crimson
and ermine. riding a horse with gorgeous trap
pings and followed by retinue of Saxon war
riors She has defeated the Danes yet mag
unanimously spares her prisoners when they con-
sent to become Christians. and leaves them at
work with shovels and pickaXes constructing the
oldest mound in the castle grounds. In these
three scenes large groups of warriors Britons,
Pcts. Scots, Romans. Saxons and Danes. rush
across the lawn with swords, spears and shields
and fight with martial ardor Broad as Is the
stage of this open air theatre, the crowds are so
we'll disciplined that every manouvre, charge
and retreat Is executed with precision and a
close approach TO realism.
With the coming of the Middle Ages there is
a marked increase of splendor in the arms and
costumes The romance Of Guy Of Warwick and
fair Phyllis is staged with blends of soft cOlOrs
like a fairy tale and there is cluster OF dancing
girls In blue and green. and there is monster
At for the widest Boxing night at Drury Lane
a huBe duh co" VII" AiO'"S a JSlu Az i9i1s1i'
blinking with fiery eyes and putting out smoke
from it's cavernous mouth and nostris. After
the wedding revels comes a twelfth century
scene with Gundrada and her maidens speeding
the return OF Roger de Newburgh from the
Crusades by tossing red ball around the circle
OF rose garlands, and then is enacted with
dramatic force the trial OF the boastful Piers
GavestOn for treason, ingeniously adapted from
Afarlowes Edward H." with seven earls in coats
of mail sitting in judgment upon the Kings ia
vorite. The Kingmaker's scene, with Queen
Margaret entreating the aid OF Louis NJ for her
exiled husband brings IN Lord and Lady Will
| leughby de Broke the chief players. and Il is
closed with magnificent cavalcade OF knights
and ladies. The proclamation OF Lady Jan.
Grey as Queen OF Warwick. and the granting OF