The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1910-05-17

DRAMA WELL
PERFORMED


dience attending the Opera house last
evening could tnH nothing but praise
for Henry McRaes elaborate produc
lion of the well known scenic play,
When knighthood Was in Flower.
When the curtain rose on the first
act at Windsor park near the river
landing storm OF applause broke
forth in appreciation of the marvellous
setting. 1t was one of the prettiest
stage pictures ever seen in this city
and it surpassed in beauty many set
tings of the same play seen in the
cities of the mainland
The beauty of tie court ladies, the
satin gowns of that period, were in
oescribably alluring, and the play from
start 10 finish revealed such a wealth
of labor and painstaking care that, m
the estimation of a great many 1T
would have been the proper thing 20
do had the audience called Henry Nc
Rae before the curtain in token of its
appreciation.
When Knighthood Was in Flower
is considered by the coast managers
as one of the most stupendous plays
to produce, for in every way it entails
the greatest efforts of all concerned.
scene painters are always busy at the
settings for weeks ahead, and the cos
tuners needles fly without cessation.
But the heaviest task is that allotted
to the players, for the parts are most
ly long and the language is difficult.
There was nothing lacking Of all
these details in last nights perform
ance, net a single flaw in the pTettiest
of all the plays yet presented here.
Margaret Oswald (though the print
ed program omitted her nameJ reveal
ca another side of her histrionic char
acter and played the part of Mary Tu-
dor, the capricious sister Of Henry
VIII, with startling reality. Her voice
was characterized by many lights and
shadows and rose to climax in her
agitated scenes, impressively. She
wore some magnificent gowns-the ia
veneer satin decollette with butterfly
sleeves of violet chiffon, the regal
robe of white satin heavily embroid-
cred in gold with Il Tram of cardinal
velvet trimmed with ermine, which
she wore as Queen of France, and the
blue riding habit with Gainsborough
velvet hat and white ostrich plumes,
this being the most beautiful
All the other ladies' were attired in
satin gowns of various pastelle shades,
which in addition to the silk hose and
doublets of the men made a striking
picture.
Edith Elliott as Lady Jane Boiling
broke looked and played the part per-
fectly. She was dainty, pretty crea-
ture in part well suited to her tenn
permanent, and refrained from over
doing any of heI scenes.
| Louise Melr0Se as the Queen II
England looked handsome in her regal
attire, wearing the flowing ermine
trimmed velvet train, a crown and
innumerable jewels. She spoke her
lines impressively and added more
laurels to the reputation she has al
ready gained here.
Louis Morrison made a round and
fat" brother OIL the impulsive Mary
Tudor and played the part of King
Henry VIII remarkably well, bringing
out the more tender phases of the do
mineering monarch with artistic skill
and winning him friends in spite Of
his autocracy.
Laura Hudson, having little to dc
or say, made up for the deficiency Il
personal appearance and availed her
self of her innate ability to create &
picture of feminine loneliness. But
the small part of Mistress Anne BolyI
held nevertheless a prominent place
in the play through Laura Hudson
clever Interpretation Of it, for she
made the most Of every line.
Ivan Miller and Sherman Bainbridg,
were assigned uncomplimentary part
but they both did extremely we'll ant