“NAPOLEON IV”

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 490, 20 October 1928, Page 22

“NAPOLEON IV”

French Play Creates International Strife FANTASTIC LEGEND REVIVED Maurice Rostand’s play, “Napoleon IV.”, has almost created an international tangle. It has been hooted in Paris, where it was presented some time ago, and the British Government may take some action. Rostand's play is written round the death, of the Prince Imperial (Napo leon IV.), in South Africa, and the author suggests that Queen Victoria Was implicated. The most offensive passages in the play suggest that the Prince Imperial son of the ex-Emperor Napoleon 111., lost his life In the Zulu war in 1579. not through an ambush, but as a result of a plot which emanated from the highest quarters. They also suggest that Queen Victoria was implicated, at least after the event, when she pardoned Lieut. Carey, who had been court-martialled and sentenced to death for having deserted the Prince Imperial. “Prince Deserter”

The author says Carey deserted the Prince, who fought for Britain, because he loved the Prince’s mistress, Charlotte Watkins, a young English professional roller-skater, who bore him a son. The “Daily News” says that the Frenchman made the Prince’s Intrigue a background for a book 40 years ago, and sent a copy to the Empress Eugenie, who was living in England, to blackmail her. It was currently reported in Paris that she paid £I,OOO for the suppression of the book.

The author of the play, M. Rostand, says that censorship cannot touch it unless it causes disturbances. He Is prepared to suppress a few lines, but thinks that the Governments have enough to do already -without occupying themselves with the play. Queen Victoria does not appear on the stage, but a scene shows Eugenie and Charlotte awaiting Queen Victoria.

“God Save the Queen” is played, and the curtain falls just in time. Dramatic critics generally praise the play as such, but deplore the references to England and Queen Victoria on political grounds, especially In view of British and French cooperation in war time and the present state of European politics. They regret that M. Rostand has dug up an old fantastic legend. The theatrical newspaper “Comoedia” says it must be admitted that whenever England Is accused of Mach iavelllan perfidy the theatre-going public eagerly responds. “We have not yet pardoned our friends and allies for St. Helena,” it adds. Were Girths Cut The Paris correspondent of the “Daily Mail” wrote that M. Rostand, who is a son of the famous playwright, Edmond Rostand, declined to suppress two verses, one beginning, “Blood does not show on a red uniform,” and the other, “Beware ot British goodwill.” “The Parisian public seems* to share my view,” he says. “I like England, but that does not prevent me censuring certain aspects of her policy.” He contends that he was justified in using the legend that Lieut. Carey cut the Prince’s girths, though another version says that Eugenie, who was saving money for an attempt to regain the throne, equipped her son with cheap saddlery.