The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-16
ROBERT MANTELL IN
A FAMOUS OLD PLAY
Dcla>i@nc's ''LOuiS XI." Has n
Most Interesting
History.
ABSORBING PORTRAYAL

ro,"r' M,ntcll began last nigh, the
'',i v.ok Of his engagement AT the
r'",t-t'ufth street Theatre with A re-
vFl 'i ra~imir p~clavigne's play Louis
81 NJ, Mantoll has acted tho roIe Of
the \.o.s KIM before in Now York. al
'r'1sH D. Is not closely associated with
MS fume, probably because the 1u.lities
most Characteristic OF his acting are no,
revealed .u il. The sonorous voice. the
masculine vigor. the prepond.ra;ins
to denote the traits OF the senile mon
arch some OF the qualities which the
Interpretation OF Richclicu q ma Il are
reyeSsity In the case Of this other Gal
lc nero. although the rolling p,ri.' Of
Ru.Ncf's horid prose I'm which the actor
can loosen the fun power OF his voice are
not present In this play to reveal one of
his most valuable possess There
are sp,eche. in "RiChelieu" truly of the
Kind which the old actor in "Tfelawnry
Vi the Wells said he could get his teeth
into.
There are some difficulties about ac-
cort.ns seriously to-day D~cldvigue's
shtt'h TOO NHt' ~ NalSs dlAilhlEn IL Mas
rs Original intention In writing tn play
not TO supply "A braVuya role for actors
Du; to reveal to later generations the
cruelty and superstition. the cowatdice
and p.tty OF the Naloi Mr.. Mantrlrs
study of the paisied dotard Is a remark
ably fine specimen of sublimattd melo-
drama. II is an absorbing study Of
seuile delinquency. strong only In the
sense OF evil. Mr.. Mantcll has gdrnished
bis representation with eloquent byplay
and expressive detail OF expression which
makes this LOUIS NJ as absorbing as
any actor could make him. II it Is ditfi-
cut to accept him to-day it Is due To the
qualities with which Delavigne has en-
lowed his hero. Any man at once 50
cid and 80 wicked. So vain and So pre-
tent.ous as this monarch. almost chilled
IN the approach Of death, must seem
grotesque now.
Yet 1t is this character alone which
has kept the play alive in the years
that have interviewed since DelaVlgne
~ 1925 u gan the compos itlon of the
Wo,k. Although he never meant h
bis play should be the battle horse OF
any actor he had Talma in mine as
the only possible Louis Al. lie had
gone 10 Italy to finish the play when
he learned of the death Of this actor.
There was then no need of haste. and
& Wis seven years before he finished
the piece FOR Paris. So there was even
N his own mind nothing In the play
so important as the character OF the
monarch. which is 10 this day its soul.
Their are love and hatred IN the scenes
that play Ike lightning about the sell
fish old head Of LouiS. But 1t is his
participation in the drama that gives
&, enduring vitality.
Lan-.H - ~ Mould 49,. ,,..
troubled himself about the piece had IL
remained aS Casimir De.avigne In
tended. a historical study instead of a
play viii a wonderfully effective acting
r0le His y ~rformances with Martin
Harvey as the DddphiH and with ucca-
: onal cooperation OF Ellen Terry were
among tn Sc which did mos, fer his
fame here. John w. Alhaugh. w. e
Sheridan. bio B~oucicault, with his
son. the young Dion, AS the D%duphin.
t.ey " re some OF the noted predeces-
sor- Of Mr.. Mantcll on our stage. Mr..
Bouc.cdult made his oWn version #
ne p!ecc These actors aye rrmcm-
bored because the author OF Louis
"" not only drew a historical char
ac."r iu such bold outline hat ne was
Interesting 10 all the world for his
oWa sake, but he vas In his iucarna-
lion behind the footlights "A splendid
acting role.
So "Lou's Nj" will probably hold
tho stage when there are actors OF a
after generation than that Of Mr.. Man
tell 20 reveal that kings qualities TO
he world, Last night the audience
Witnessed Mr.. Man'ells performance
WITH absorbed delight. The pageantry
Of 'he piece was adequate and so was
e. general representation, the cast as
usua. being headed by the excellent
actor Fritz Ileher. The version used
was mat Of Mackwcll, who made II first
for Henry Irving.
Nj Mantell will produce The Mer-
r1.Y. ~ N.pfr,f' .n-DIghf