Los Angeles herald., 1910-03-01
MANTELL'SLOUISXI XII
is GREAT TRIUMPH
DEATH SCENE ONE NEVER TO
BE FORGOTTEN
oRPHEuM PRESENTS NEW BILL
FULL OF MERIT
"Man of the Hour" Enters on Fifth
Week of Its Run-Joe Mont
rose to Write an
Opera
BY SHIRLEY OLYMPUS

come occasional times when he stops
with pen poised In the air, at a loss to
know what to say that his innermost
feelings may be expressed. Praise seems
trite, criticism impossible. He feels
only-and the feeling numbs his fingers
Tor the writing.
Such a time must certainly come to
all who write Of Robert Mantell as
Louis XXI. His Offering at the Mason
opera house last night is so far above
criticism 1t is almost a PROCLAMATION to
RA<use the word. If those who failed to
embrace the opportunity of seeing Mr.
Mantell as Louis 1kI realize that they
missed truly wonderful performance
= "A Characterization so remarkable a s to
q burn itself upon the memory, / shall
81 feel my duty has been fully discharged.
sg Last nights performance was a. beacon
i light of history as we'll as OF the dra-
3 matte art.
81 In all history there was no more cruel
nBd crafty monarch than Louis XI.
The rapaeity Of the lion, the skulking
cOwardice of the jackal, the merciless-
ness of the tiger, the persistence of the
wolf and the craftlness of the fox were
in the breast OF this beast-king, who
was ever dominated by superstition.
His face marred with the results of evil
passions. his body bent with age, he
went to his grave feared, hated and
istics requires more than the make
UP box, more than stage tricks, more
than personality. 1t requires the magic
OF genius, such as is given few in this
world to possess. And Robert Mantell
is one of the few.
A man of. towering stature. Mr.. Man
tell made his Louis XI little huddled
old man with claw-iike hands, totter
ing knees and bent frame. The purely
physical strain upon him must have
been tremendous, for he never be-
came Robert Mantell but always was
Louis xI. with all that that implies.
His voice ran the gamut of wicked
emotions from the exultation of cow
ardly cruelty to the rasping croak of
death His face, as the time of dis
solution approached took on that ashen
gray which comes as the grim reaper
reaches out his hand for the fatal
clasp. His acting is a rebuke to those
who call themselves actors because
they do one part with grace and ease,
an indictment against types" and
personality" upon the stage. for he
sinks self and makes the character
dominant.
Mr.. Mantell overlooked not the slight
est infection of the voice or turn of
the eyebrow in representing Delavignes 9
masterful character 1t was as though
the stage were not a stage, but the
habitat of the monarch who was
made flesh and blood by Mr. Mantells 3
genius to live again those, scenes
which mar so many pages of Frances
history, and which, for all their bloody
deeds. first made possible united
France.
What could be more real than that
death scene? The craven imploring
the peasant priest to save the soul
blackened by mockery and vice held
ones attention in scornful, loathing
pity which ended in a sigh of relief as
1t 10 lnnU
live the king" rang out from the bed
chamber. 1t was a scene played to bare
the emotions to grip the nerves, to
compel a silent tribute that words
fail meaningly to express.
An then again the subtle, wheedling
y craft he showed in forcing those about
fhim to tell their secrets, and as they
i left his presence displaying the true
Nnature-what deeper insight could man
sgive into the soul? In years to come
Those who shared In giving Mr. Man
tell an ovation after each act and at
the final curtain. will remember with
pride their part.
Marie Booth Russelrs Marie" was
delight for it's ingenue charm. She is
a large woman, but that is not noticed.
Fritz Lieber as De Nemours is en-
thusiastic and convincing. His make
up is a little at fault and in his de-
nuneiation scene he is inclined to rant,
speaking much too loud. George Still>
we'll made an excellent Dauphin and
others in the cast were up to standard.
Tonight Macbeth" will be the bill.
The curtain will rise promptly at s
O'Clock ON account Of the length of
the piece.
Miss Frances Nordstrom, who viii
close her engagement at the Burbank
theater in the role of the "incompar-
able Bellairs," probably will go from
here to one of the northern stock the
aters controlled by the Morosco-
Belasco enterprises to play Sweet
Kitty" Miss Nordstrom's success in
the role has exceeded even the most
sanguine expectations of her friends.
and both Frederic Relasco and oliver
Morosco are anxious to have her play
the part In one or more of their other
houses.
Another enthusiastic audience which
filled every seat in the spacious Bur-
bank enjoyed last nights performance
of Sweet Kitty Bellairs," and there
is every prospect that the theater will
! be crowded nightly for some time to
come.
Josef Montrose, composer of many
successful songs, mas decided to take
q vacation from his duties as treas
urer of the Majestic theater for the
purpose Of writing a romantic opera.
\ The idea occurred to him Sunday
= afternoon when he attended the OPEN
ing performance Of "Sweet Kitty Bel
lairs" at the Burbank. Coming out
of the theater after the performance
Joe turned to a friend and remarked:
"That play would make a bully