The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-03

"Chantecler." nor OF him who has
made 1t possible for us to hear them
In our own tongue-Louis n. Parker,
who, besides having accomplish I'd
these. has given to us "Pomander
Walk" and "Disaeli." For While there
is something OF tho comic. tho anus
Ing, In few of the parts. the whole
play is one OF poetry. imagery and
satire. and we must go back, like lit
tie children. and believe that fowls
and pheasants and owls can feel and
think, love and hate, envy and benr
malice. like ourselves. before we Gun
sit and enjoy the beauty and usl.ness.
the humor and pathos. the exaltation
and debasement. OF the characters n
Rostand's poetic fable.
And fable II ls-unless one mny
whisper with bated brcGth that 1t is a
paraDie-Decause 1t depicts the utterly
human emotions with the keenest of
satire and knowledge that delves
into Athenian history. Chantecler, the
lord OF the farmyurd, is the enemy of
the Owls because they believe that
ne steals the night, their joy; that he
awakens the world. and puts to Hight
their OWL works. They seek to Kill
nm. and are Joined In their plot by
others The tiackbird, through sheer
mischief; the peacock, because wherever
the cock walks his feet nuke little
stars. and (mark the casting of the
Grecian shell) the turkey, because he
has known Chantecler since he was a
chick-his sole reason. The cat, II is
true. hates him, because he Is q friend
OF the watchdog-and who shall blame
MIN? Then Chantecler Ia led into their
trap through his love for the golden
pheasant, red-breasted Bohemian that
she Is. and all the rest of the story is
as human and living in Its pathos, its
humor and Its simple, primal nature
provided we, like Barries Tommy"
can imagine. or. like his Peter PAN"
can believe in fairies
Poetic 1t undoubtedly is. Chante-
cler's Irst speech @ glowing gloria
tibi to the sun. is beautiful in It's dig
nifty and sincerity: the words of his
wondrous secret unfolded to the pleas
ant. beginning, Il dare believe that l.
the Cock. am natures summons to tine
dawn is exquisite in its brave alb
surdity; but absurdity OF the character
! OF Don Quixote's, while lnnumerable
less conspicuous lines, are rare In their
gefn-like clcarncss and expression AS,
Tor instance. the one In which Chan
tecler describes hlB eyes as having
crown round through gazing In won
aer at morning glory" and, In him,
IL did not betoken the precious" as
the peacock appears in his satirical
character. Brave he Is to the last.
when. shorn OF his glorious character
Us the awnkcner of the dawn. the
usher OF the day. he learns that he
Eout crows when day has come, and
goes back TO the song he knows the
song that God gave him, though he
knows that another's song is more be-
loved-back to "My work, my work.
and In my soul faith. however oft It's
slain"
IL would be difficult to improve I'D
on any member of the nugc gupport.
ing company they are all so good
.nat ~ is equally difficult TO mention
All OF those who deserve special praiso
Only two three may be spoken Of
George Henry Trader, who made OF
the mongrel dog an amusing. vet
wonderfully sympathetic character
william Levers, who played the black
olrd In Just the spirit betting his
jester role; Lucy Prendergast. who
sang the nightingale's song with much
beauty of voice; a Lionel Hogar,h
/ VINO made magnihcen: and splendid
fchcock; Bertram Marhurgh. who was
sinister menacing. and deadly as the
game cock; allen Fawcett, who wa g
intmitable AZ the pointer dog; n. pey.
ton Carter who gave It sup rb per.
iorrancc as the turkey Wallace
jackson, who made an absurd duck,
ana Josephine Victor. whose hen
pheasant was altogether Charming
when Il was so INTENDED and com
rieteiy convincing in ats serious or
tragic moments
OF all 0; them every character with
speaking linc--it may be said ina,
their diction was beyond critlclgm
ever word vas spoken clearly and
distinctly in spite of their muffl'mg
Inakcup. "s
iheTe remains only Miss Adams. To
the role Of Chantccler she gave every
resource Of hei ar,, every raw OF her
great magnetism. every subtle in
Nection OF her schOoIed voice. and s1,.
won the Instant sympathy of the
audience But It was sympathy for
the pathetic SIDE OF Chantecler. and
that only. ~ the risk Of pfoving
again the truth Of shaw's aefnitior,
Of a critic As q. man WI, runs bs.
mind the procession, irving come on,
"eea"se II aaa been said so often a
man should play lie part in orJer ia
! BRING out TINS swagaer;np. brarginp
Hirility Of the ga pf IND fa,.n ,.o,d
| Miss ADAMS u winning, winsoro,'
ana adorable but ync IS no, chantecicr