'MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE'

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2357, 13 January 1915, Page 6

'MONSIEUR BEAUCAIRE'

BY THE JULIUS KNIGHT CO. "Monsieur Beaucaire," a comedy in four acts, by Henry Booth Tarkington and Evelyn Greenleaf Sutherland. Cast: Monsieur Beaucaire , Julius Knijht Duke of Winterset I'rank Harvey Beau Nash ..„• Eardley Turner Major Molyncux Martin Lewis lord Townbrake Charles Morse Mr. Bakell ............... Herbert J. Bentley Mr. Bantison Raymond Lawrence Mr. Bicksit George Chalmers Marquis do Mirepoii Leslie Victoi Captain Badger James Hughes f™?™ 18 Leslie Victor . t \ ,\-Jl Lawrence'Harding© Jf°y ,?*llerton Lizette Parkes Mrs. Mabsley Dorothy- Cumming Miss Paitelot Alma Phillips t i V S*S U Y stella Swifto wwy liellerton ;. Jean Everleirii Countess of Greenbury ... Florence Leinh Lady Mary Oirlyle Ire nß Browne Was 'ever there written so sympathetic and chanceful role for an actot' of delicate fibre as the title role in "Monsieur Beaucaire," the delightful oostume oomedy based on the novel of Henry Booth Turkington? Every line' almost in the play conspires to the. building up of the strongest bond of: sympathy between the audience and the actor, everything is done to conduce -t» a love for the gallant Frenchman, and' precious little regard is paid to itba tender feelings of the countrymen of those he fools so cleverly, even to the extent of representing the British representatives of fashion at Bath a blundering lot of fools where they are not knaves. Probably no other nation than England would permit of a comedy written on such lines to become an outstanding success, and that that is'so in the case of "Monsieur Beaucaire" is in itself the' greatest compliment that oould be paid to the strong moral spirit and love of fair play possessed by the British. "Beaucaire" is too well established a comedy in Wellington to call for detailed notice, and the excellent performance last evening at the Grand Opera House, and the hearty approval with which it wa6 received bjv a large audience, only 6erve to accentuate the lasting impression that lit made here yefJs ago. It is only a few • months ago .isiice the comedy was revived in Auptralii by Mr. Lewis Waller, and last month ttat actor reintroduced it to London playgoers. Both the storyof the madcap Due ©-'Orleans, who masquerades ' at Bath as plain Monsieur, Beaucaire, and wins the band and heart of the dainty beaut? of Bath, and the period .in'which the story is oast,' i£ invested with that in-, definable glamour and fragrance associated with the gay days whjn the ladies wore powdered- hair ani funny little black patches on their faces/ and the gentlemen prinked themselvei out in satins and lacea, and breakable oaths on the tiny,silk bow o{' my lady's shoe'. Those days are -gonr for ever;, but the recollection of them has all the sweetness of lavender and"' old lace.

Mr. Knight is unfailingly' sound in' all the very fine roles he has played, of which many aver that Beaucaire is the; best acted. He certainly cuts an extremely graceful figure as the masquerading Due, and aots throughout with the grace and refinement due to tho part. It 16 the same clean-cut, intelligent performance of years ago, and exhibits him as an actor of undiminished virility and power. - Miss Irene Brown* was prettily affected as Lady Mary Carlyle, but her staccato diction and thff' trick she has of lowering her yoics almost to the vanishing point, mad<' many of her lines almost inaudible. Mr. Frank ' Harvey blustered bravely as the renegade Duke of Winterset, making the character jiisl as gross and despicable as the authors doubtless intended. Mr. Martin Lewis was' keen and straightforward as Major Molynoux (about the pronunciation' of whose name there was a difference of opinion, amongst those on the stage), and Mr. Eardley Turner gave the dignified Beau Nash a lighter twist than is usual. Mr. Leslie Victor doubled the parts p£ Francois and the Marquis de Mirepoix cleverly, and Mr. Jas. Hughes was thflk •fire-eating Captain Badger. Lucy Rellerton was delightfully played ; by Miss Lizette Parkes, alternating smiles and tears in the prettiest way. The comedy is well produced, and the costum«S? of the mid-eighteenth century made a riot of- distracting colour in the many ensembles that abound through play. . "Monsieur Beaucaire" will bo played again this and to-morrow evenings. On Friday the company leaves for Sydney.'