New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-21
By Ralph Block

Poking fun at kings is the legitimate
sport of democracies. But only a
Frenchman or an Irishman could con-
trive to include democracies themselves
in the picture, as de Caillavet and de
Flers did when they wrote "The King"
These two Frenchmen did not use any
thing so fine as rapier in their at
tack on the amusing contradictions OF
modern society. Rather do they ad-
vance with eleavers in one hand and
bludgeons in the other. They spare no
privacies. seclude no scandals and have
no respect for anybody or anything.
The result is several hours of rib-rock-
ing laughter at the Cohan Theatre,
with Mr.. Ditrichstein presenting the
scented and well-mannered follies of
royalty. and Mr.. Robert McWade clown
ing the antics of well advanced democ-
racy. 1t is burlesque, If you please,
but burlesque extremely well aimed
and shot.
Mr.. Ditrichstein belongs to a tribe
Of monarchs now rapidly on the in
crease, the kings Of the boulevard. He
still retains his crown, but he does not
hide that it lies uneasy on his head.
lie is genial fellow, quite at ease in
the most democratic society, taking
goodfellowship and kisses wherever he
meets them-which is not infrequent.
That secret and still unrevealed au-
thority who is responsible for the
names of imaginary story book king
doms is still in fine fettle, presenting
Mr.. Ditrichstein's king with the prin-
~ 90 al 4. hnuaVaT
not so distracting q land but that the
king runs off frequently to the Bots and
TIE other several fascinating avenues,
and IL Ia one Of such little journeys
which forms the occasion for the play.
Paris awaits him, but although he Is
not wanting in gratitude for the pub
lie attention bestowed on him, several
of his adventures do not seek the light
of day. He visits once more the lady
Of his acquaintance five years before,
undeterred b. memories Of the brass
band Jealous concierge brought to
greet his sneaking departure from her
house at o'clock in the morning. 1t
is there he meets Bourdier, Socialist
member of the Chamber, blatant. loud
mouthed, gloriously and honestly vul-
gar, and so human being that his an
ger melts before Difference when he
discovers it is king who is kissing
his mistress. Mr.. McWade acts the
part with the lid off. He asks the
king to his chateau for the shooting,
and the scene portraying the kings re-
ception &c the country gentry is wildly
comic. At any rate the king falls here
TO the charms OF Bourdier's wife, is
found kissing her b. the Socialist dep
uty. who, robbed now Of both mistress,
and spouse. becomes violently enraged
at the tyrant. His rage precipltates
Cabinet crisis. forces the king to sign
a long awaited commercial treaty and
gives Bourdier, > the Radical, place IN
the Conservative ministry. The King
departs the scene, bowling.
No one escapes this s:aughter-klng
democrat. aristocrat. statesman. mis-
tresses and wives-all are exposed TO
LAUGHTER. The cast Is large and adc-
ouate. Mr. Ditrichstein is not SO am
ply disclosed as in other. parts OF ms
repertory, but makes a pleasant hgure
Of this royal idler The play is quite
the most vulgar Of the Broadway stage
Of now. and proves how delightful vul-
qarity can be when it is rich enough
ond honest