"HENRY OF NAVARRE."

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1143, 2 June 1911, Page 6

"HENRY OF NAVARRE."

"Henry of Navarro," a play in four acts, by Win. Devereux. Cast— Henri do Bourbon ...-, Mr. Lionel Atwill Charles IX Mr. Ambrose Maiming Henri Due de Guise ...Mr. Charles BlackaU Henri Due d'Anjou ...Mr. Robert Bottomlcy Arthur d.e Mouliy Mr. Vivian Edwards Cosmo Tiugeieri Mr. Maurice Dudley Marshal de Tavannes ...Mr. Eardley Turner Catherine' do Medici Miss Emma, Temple Marie Belleforet • Miss Fyfe Alexander Charlotte de Sauve :..Miss Krazer Marguerite de Valois ...Miss Evelyn Kerry It is difficult to say if the' decidedly prosaic course of latter-day history will yield much matter for the considcralion "of the dramatist of tho future; indeed, it is amusing to contemplate Hie possibility of bis historical drama being wrung out of a period of frock coats and tall hats by'tho stage'historians of a century hence," whom one can imagine despairing in his attic "at the steady drift from the picturesque which marked the iiTneteenlh and twentieth century." In these days of Imperial Conferences and 14-inch •* guns, we .havo lost the fashion of "ruffling it, ,, and the personal strife and violence, and intrigue which lent so much romantic and dramatic colouring to medieval times. Such thoughts come naturally on witnessing a play .such, as "Henry of Navarre," which was produced by the Williamson Dramatic Co. at the Opera House last evening. Us author, Win. Devorcnx, could hardly havo selected a more stirring period and a more thrilling story than that- which caught and held the interest of the large audience present last evening. He has treated his subject admirably—technical]} - , from a literary point of. view, and, as far as circumstances will permit, with n regard for historical verisimilitude. The nlay grips from the outset—the dramatic note is struck at once—and though I here are passages light, enough to ticklc,..tlie t»;nse almo»phere of dramatic dread, ominous , of coming tragedy, is conveyed with a cunning touch, which strings the audience on to the culminating point—when the doep-tbnod bells (if Paris clang' .in the dawn of St. • Bartholomew's Day. The petty stage is made'a series of pictures in which the noble,' noted, and notorious great of Prance appear in their glory. The gallant Gascon Henry laughs his way to tho heart of the hcaiilifiil Margaret dc Valois; Charles IX, pictured as a mental inept, chatters and screams about the palace; his mother Catherine do Jledici distributes death in manner various; and tho Due de Guise intrigues darkly • against the hated Huguenots. With such material, tho dramatist's task should not be a difficult or unattractive one. The plot need hardly be explained. Henry of Navarre, head and front of the Huguenots, has come to Paris to woo and wed .Marguerite do Valois. sister of tho King, who has prompted the match. He comes at a time when Catholic I ,, ranee, stirred by the powerful Duke de Guise, harbours a deadly enmity against the Huguenots. Henry weds his Marsot, but, fearing that she is in the plot with her Italian mother to murder him and.his, proves but a cold husband. Exasperated by his neglect and seeming contempt, she listens to the Due de Guise, makes an assignation with him, and repents a moment later. Do Guise will not be denied, and is becoming insistent when one disguised enters and warns him that .the King approaches. Ho leaves by the window as (lie King storms in at the door. He accuses his sister of harbouring de Guise as her lover. She denies the charge, -a search is made, and in a wardrobe is-discovered none other than the laughing Gascon—Marguerite's royal spouse. Finally tho torch is tired by the attack on the Huguenot leader. Colisny. The half-crazed, wholly-distraught King is urged tn loose his forces on every Uugucnot in the land; He declines —he loves Harry—wavers, consents! The boom of a great bel! of St. Germain l'Aiixorois turns'the flesh, there is a clash of arms, the howls of men turned animals signifies that the reddest day for France has dawned. Henry, who has realised Marguerite's innocence and genuine love, mceis the Duke de Cuke blade to blade, ami disarms him as the King enters. De Guhe is spared, and Henry is declared a prisoner of State, but finds consolation in his MargotVarms. The play loses little in the performance, and in at least two instances is marked by acting wholly admirable.. The Charles IX. of Mr. Ambrose Manning is as vivid and consistent a bit of character-acting as has been witnessed in Wellington far many a year. Masked .in a clever makeup, he makes the cunning, queer-witted, jumpy, vacillating character a being of life. With rare art he conveyed the wanderings of a mind distraught with lighjningchanges of expression nnd intonation, a whirl of gestures, and feverish finger play; occasional accessions of royal dignity, pitiable pathos, and imbecile gaiety —all were depicted with fine dexterity and convictiqn. Mj". Manning's performance .will not readily be effaced from the minds of local playgoers. Another good bit uf work was that of Mr. Lionel Atwill as Henry of Navarre. He invested the role with a brusque breezines.s and reckless gaiety without losing grip of those elements which proclaimed Henry of Navarre a gallant gentleman, an ardent lover and true-hearted Huguenol. Mr. Atwill showed up as a fine romantic actor in the charming comedy love scene he has with Marguerite in ihe first act, and played subtly in Ibe srencj in which he was concerned with the death-dealing Queen Mother. Miss Kvelyn Kerry was nicely, suited in Marguerite's lighter seen.??, but did not plumb the dramatic depths which occur late in the play, inclining almost to inexpressive listlessuoss in the bedroom scene with de fiuis-e. where "ner anguish at being so discovered should have been most poignantly portrayed. Miss Emma Tcmplt acled wilh experience as Catherine de Medici, but lack* the traffic viii'Metiveiiess temperamentally io do full justice to the role. Mr. Charles Blaclcall's Due de Guise foil bc-'ow the standard of ad ing r<"l by Ihe other protagonists. His methods are immature to a degree. Mr. Vivian Edwards, as Arthur do Mouhy, was (|uilo effective, and Mr. Maurice Dudley, as Cosmo Ruggieri, an astrologer, made the most .of a poorlywritten part. Others concerned were Mr. Eardley Turner and Mi=s I'raytr. 1 The scenery in "Henry of Navarre" is rir.tisticallv excellent wiilioiil lieins; spectacular, and substantial aid is lent the performance by Mr. Percy KehoeV orchestra. The play will hold I In- Ma K e iinlil Monday nexl. when the new rcnsation.il drama* "Via Witless," will be produced.