New-York tribune., 1910-09-18
THE LONDON STAGE
"Henry VIII" at Tree's-"rbe
Crisis" by Berton and Besier
London San+ar.

production Of the same pageant DIav Vs.
Edward German music has been used ana,
and Mr. Percy Macquoid has Succeeded -
designing hundreds OF medlevai costume.
which can hold their own against Carstn.,
Wolsey's gorgeous scarlet robe Conspicuo,..
among them are the marvellous green -
TUNES worn by the King. and Queen Kasba-
rine's dark purple robe, with gold srnhrai-
deries. Seldom have reds and green's hAsn
contrasted more sharply than in thesa pa
geant scenes nor have black white and 9ol5
been used with finer effects sf modusa+o,
in t0ning Gown ri0tOus blaze Of color. Nor
only Is the Tudor architecture reproavcsn
by scene painters most irnpressively. b.sr
also the Spirit of the gayest OF rsicnz "a
caught in splendid feasts. boisterous dances
and coronation csremonials and the pleas
urabie excitement of cOurtiers and str-er
crowds is reflected with brilliant vivacftv
II there is more pageant than play. so was
il when Sir Henry Irving surpassed IN
suInptuous setting anything previously seen
at the LyceUm Theatre.
Yet the acting is without faw and ina
chief impersona ttons Of character are brftl-
liant Sir Herbert Trees W0lsev is the as
tute statesmanIike Chancellor, broodfng
over his own ambitions and England's
greatness and using royalties. dukes and
court beauties as pawns in his intricate
game In place OF Irving's ascetic intel
IecruaI face there are the hawk-Hke feat
i1res ef a man Of mystery and prescteuce
and while less penitent in the hour OF M
initiation and downfall he is not less pa-
thetic in bidding farewell 70 greatness
That is an tmpersOnation IN the grand
manner while Mr. Arthur Bourchie-'s h1rz
Henry with a beard OF his OWL dyed red
and with costume iustated closely from
HeIbein's portraits, Is a distinctly modern
and realistic embodiment OF fuU bIooded
life In bringing out the animal spirits
bonhornfe and joIIity Of the King he comes
periiousIy near 10 sacrificing royal dignity;
but to see him ronping with Anne BGllen
in a registering dance and leertng at her
before kissing her and smacking MS lips
is TO witness a vivid portrayal OF character
Contrasting strangely with these whimsical
humors and sensuous appeals is the ausrsrs
and tender farewell to life OF the Duke OF
buckingham ON the way 10 the scarold:
and how noble and touching Is Mr.. Henry
Ainley's delivery Of the eloquent lines
which Mr.. Forbes Robertson recited IN the
Irving revival Mr.. Gerald Lawrence makes
fine acting IN repeating the sarcasms Of the
Earl OF Surrey.
Miss Violet Vanbrugh, being tan and
statuesque has the figure for proud spsT-
tied and commanding Queen Kathar1ns;
and she revives the tradition OF Mrs SID
dons in the trial scene at Blsckfriars. when
she defes her enemies. Droclatms her tnno-
cence and appeals 10 the Pope II sne seems
md n1rf
Ellen Terry used TO be IN denottns the
sorrows of the prosecuted woman. she Sue
ceeds in revealing the pathos Of the Queens
lonely and unhappy end Miss Laura CoWis
is the gayest OF romps as Anne BUllen,
very sweet and natural in receiving tokens
Of royal favor and most beautiful in the
coronation spectacle al WestminSter Abbey
Not even the reds and green's are in sharp
er contrast than the characters OF the Two
queens-one a noble and faithful wife. en-
meshed by the craft OF her enemies and
perststing in loyal devotion 10 her soveF-
eign lord. and the other a light hearted
and saucy mink. fond OF pleasure and ex-~
element and making pretence ot beng
sorry for her rival. A fine foil Tor t7s
young maid OF honor is the shreEd and
cynical old dowager. who exchanges con-
trfumphs. Mrs Charles Calvert enacts ne
part with sardonic humo-. and betEso
them they make the Windsor PleasaunS
scene thoroughly delightful
The stage manager. with M LOUIS
Parker al his elbow, is the Snowman and
there Is a succession OF wonderful stage
pictures. The first act runs through clois-
ters and council chambers and the old red
banqueting hall OF York Palace. with ian
rooted ceiling and gold plate on walls sn0
tables When the jewellers are IN tneir
places, and the choir boys II alcoves aooFe
velvet and gold fabrics have sung grzce
in Latin. there Is one OF the most bea1r-ul
color schemes ever seen on the stage N
the second act there Is the gloomy riVel
gate at the Tower, where the Duke o.
Buckingham parts from MS friends, anu
this is followed by the charming Windsor
p.easaunce and the majestic Blackfriars
Hail. where Queen Katharine declairns VIII
passionate heat and unrestrained tears
IN the third act there Is an ingenious ante
chamber, where the King dismisses tns
Chancellor into outer darkness. and sf'sr
f. there ia the gloomy picture OF hlEiooi
ton. where Queen Katharine has q vision
rose window of Westminster Abbey. wnefs
Queen Anne Bullen Is anointad an
crowned by Archbishop Cranmer, WIFE
duchesses holding up the canopy, ana
great company of clergy. choristers. lncsis'
holders mace and sword bearers, no0aS
and court ladies as witnesses Throusno1A
these revels of pageantry runs the eE21e'
cent sparkling vtvacity OF the luxur''1,
Tudor age The tragedy OF the abando1ea
Queen is there. with the doom or the O'A'
OF buckingham and the downfall OF O@
dinsl woisey; but In spite of these sscoH''
episodes there is an unceasing play OF ~
IN life
At the New Theatre there Is Frsn~N
problem play, NJ Pierre Berton's coneos'
Ia Rencourre" adapted for the E1nsHs.
stage bv Mr. Rudolf Besier and renan'e~
The Crisis" The adapJsr has not
dered tribute TO unctueus British reetir-ns
IN reconsrructfng and distnfscttns sHs
characteristics Partisan study of doaiss1
tnrencisy. He has reproduced with m1I"
skill as a craftsman the theatrical si~-
tion, with its case OF casuisrry- A ViFt@'
woman. Camille. II love with ner l'is-
husband, sees the faishless wife witn 30
lov.r la.e ar night Before she has reco'