"SCARLET PIMPERNEL"

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2350, 5 January 1915, Page 7

"SCARLET PIMPERNEL"

JULIUS KNIGHT DRAMATIC SEASON. "The Scarlet Pimpernel," a romantio play by Orczy-Barston. Cast: — Sir Percy Blakeney, Bart. ... Julius Knight The Prince of Wales Frank Harvey Sir Andrew Ffoulks, Bart. ... Martin Lewie Lord Anthony Dowhurst Herbert J. Bcntley Lord Grenvillc Messenger Bellis Ohauvelin Leslib Yiotor Tho Comic do Tournai Fred St. Olair The Yiscomto de Tournai Heg. Ooiuad Armand St. Just Raymond Lawrence Jellyband .'. George Chalmers Mr. Hompsccd Charles Morse Brogard Eardloy Turner Marguerite Blakenoy Irene Browne Comtease de Tournai Emma Temple Suziinno de Tournai Lizettc Parkes Sally Jellyband Dorothy Gumming Mere Brogard Katie Towera Lady Portales Stella Svrifto Duchess of Warminster Alma Phillips "The Scarlet Pimpernel," revived by the Williamson Dramatic Company at the Grand Opera House last evening, is a sound play. Its story runs in that period wnon half tho civilised world was turned topsy-turvy by the French Revolution, and the French nation slaked its thirst for blood at the fountain 'that spouted red from the guillotine. No story, however improbable, was impossible, and so one may conceive that the exploits of that brave gentleman Sir Percy Blakeney, who elected to become the nameless individuality known as the "Scarlet Pimpernel," were quite feasible, for it is well known that many of the aristooratß_ of France found refuge in England during the reign of terror. The revival of the play, which was well received when played here a few years ago, is doubly welcome because it displays Mr. Juliua Knight's varied talents to distinct-ad- I vantage. As the Pimpernel, Mr. Knight has to convey, broadly enough for anyone in tho audience to grasp, that, though apparently a giggling idiot, with an inexhaustible supply of bad jokes, he is really a very devil of a fellow-when it comes to real action. Tlie only inconsistency in the play is that Lady Blakeney never show® any consciousness that her husband is playing her part, though Bho knows and loves the man he is pretending not to be. Mr. Knight drew the double portrait with, brdpcf, sure lines, which made every point abundantly clear. His various disguises were not too obscure, and he was at times too self-centred to be quite convincing, but on the whole it was a likeable and wellmatured bit of. work. Miss Irene Browne as Lady Blakeney showed some of the best and worst she is capable of. In those airy flippancies and pretty affectations, when she was recalling the • giddy actress, Margaret St. Just, before the advent of Blakeney, Miss Browne was delightful, but her emotionalism wajs somewhat wearying. Mr. Leslie Victor's "Little Chauvelin" is a capital study. A small, Binuous, malignant figure in black, he admirably suggested the madness of the French when the "sans culottes" wero the dictators, and the deadly earnestness with which • the death of every "aristo" was ardently desired. Mr. Herbert Bentley swaggered bravely as Lord Anthony Dewhurst, Mr. M. Bellis was Lord Grenville, Mr. Martin Lewis was Sir Andrew Ffoulks, and Mr. Frank Harvey figured as the Princo of Wales. Mr. Geo. Chalmers fave a olever little character sketch of ellyband, and Mr. Charles Morse was quite good as Hempseed. Other acceptable character "bits" were the Brogard of Mr. Eardley Turner, and the Mere Brogard of Miss Katie Tovers. Misß Lizette Parkes exhibited her youthful oharm in tho unsatisfactory _ part of Suzanne de Tournai. and Miss Emma Temple acted with dignity and finish as 'the ComteSßS do Tournai. "The Scarlet- Pimpernel" includeß •some "darkly picturesque" interiors, a brilliant ballroom set of the Georgian period, and a. lovely garden set—one or the most attractive stage pictures seen in the new theatre. _ "The Scarlet Pimpernel" will exhibis his eliisiveness again this evening.