"A ROYAL DIVORCE"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2343, 28 December 1914, Page 8

"A ROYAL DIVORCE"

JULIUS KNIGHT DRAMATIC GO. "A Royal Divorce," a drama by \V. G. Wills. Cast:— Napoleon JuU'ue Knight Martiuis do Beaumont Franl; Unrvcy M. de Talleyrand Leslio Victor General Augereau Hcrbort Bentley Murat • Jumcs Hugtwe Marshal Ney Martin Lewie Lord Keith. Lttwrciico Hardiugo Grimaud ; '■••• IJardlcy Turner Jacques '.....: Harry Katcliffe Empress Joeaphine Irene Browno Merle Louise DorotUv OuinminK Stephanie de Beauharnais ... Lizcttc ParUcs Nur«e Emma Temple AngeKquo Alma Phillips Blanche Bothra Balllnger Madam de Cempan Stella Swift Little King of Rome Baby Murray "A Royal Divorce," the play that was performed at the Grand Opera House on Saturday evening before a crowded house, by the Williamson Dramatic Company, headed by Mr. Julius Knight arid Miss Irene Browne, has, in this part'of the world at all events, proved almost as t tcady a draw for the past fifteen years or so as the hoary ''Silver King" or "East Lynne," and its success from a box-office point of view on the present tour is said to have been remarkable. On Saturday evening hundreds sought admission long' before the doors opened and the large crowd, unable to get seating accommodation, included., some of those who had got down an hour before the curtain rose. There is not the doubt that the play holds a strong grip on the public, chiefly, one assumes * on account of the glamour associated with Napoleon and the invariably good performances _ of , the play that have, from time to time, been- given. One would not be at nil surprised to hear that many people take their notions of what Napoleon, Josephine, and Marie .Louise were from thjs drama, just as others fashion their knowledge' of history on Shakespeare's historical playa. Nothing could be more erroneous, but still its tenacious drawing power cannot be denied. It is not necessary to detail the plot, which most playgoers are familiar with, and which concerns the divorce between Napoleon and Josephine do Beauharnais, his espousal of Mario- Louise, and finally his defeat ait Waterloo, and incarceration on'- St. Helena. The passage of time and the events that mark it are conveyed by means of four excel-lently-arranged tableaux, depicting the retreat from Moscow, the advance and rout of the Frencih Army at Waterloo, and finally the Man of fiestiny on tho rock, all of which raised enthusiasm and were indeed pictorially interesting. l In Saturday's performance Julius Knight gave a matured, wellstudied portrait of the great Napoleon; more subdued, less fiery, more-human, and a, trifle less grippyithan his performance of yeare ago. He was always "in the picture" and has .sufficient individuality and magnetism to fill tho stage, so to speak, when ho is on it; His poses and stature were.- traditionally _ correct. Mr..Knight was most effective in,the scenes with Josephine and the traitor, de Beaumont, and roused a storm of applause in the speech in which he eulogises the valour and grit of the English: "These British bulldogs, how I hate them. Wl\en they are beaten they do not know it! Thoyfisht on, fight on, fight on!" Miss" Irene Browne was good in patches as Josephine. She was always .more woman than queen. Josephine never, has any difficulty in gaining the sympathies of tthe feminine audience, and Miss Browne is'a pretty, if not a moving, emotionalist. _ Miss Lizette Pafkes ' made a charming Stephanie , de Beauharnais, acting her many bright little scenes with sprightliness and refinement, and always presenting the fairest of pictures. Miss Dorothy Cumming had few chances as the haiiGihly.Austrian, Mario Louise. She spoke her linos clearly and intelligently. The Marquis de Beaumont was satisfactorily represented by Mr. Frank Harvey ;■ Mr., Leslie Victor gave subtle expression to the caustic wit and cunning of M. de Talleyrand, and Mr.Bardley Turner raised hearty laughter through the comic clown he makes of the bibulous Grimaud. Miss Emma Temple, an actress of excellent parts,: was only seea f or a few minutes as the. nurse'of the young King of. Rome, the latter' a part cleverly played by Baby Murray. Mr. Harry Ratoliffe's singing of-'Our Little Corporal," in the Tuileries scone, was enlivening, and the little ballet which, followed was capitally danced by a charmr ing sextet of young ladies. . ■ "A Royal Divorce" will be played for tho rest of tho week. .