The Theatre

RICHARD OF BORDEAUX, a play in two acts and eleven scenes, by Gordon Daviot (pen name for Agnes MacIntosh). Settings by P. Dodd Ackerman; staged by William Mollison; produced by Dennis King and William Mollison. At the Emptre Theatre.

What with “Mary of Scotland” and “Theodora, the Queen” on the stage and “The Private Life of Henry the Eighth,” “Catherine the Great” and “Christina of Sweden” on the screen, it does seem as though we are in for a full season of historical costume productions. With the exception of “Theodora,” which closed before the actors became entirely accustomed to the unfilled seats in the orchestra, all these ventures have proven unusually successful. The latest arrival to this cycle, “Richard of Bordeaux,” which had its premier at the Empire Theatre, should be no exception. If first impressions are correct it is slated for a lengthy run.

Written by a female Scotch school teacher, this play has been a tremendous success in London where it is still playing to capacity crwods and I believe that this is one instance in which American audiences will agree with their British cousins.

A review of a play about the unhappy and ill-fated Richard would be incomplete unless some comparison was made to another play about this same young king. I refer, of course, to William Shakespeare’s “Richard II.” In that swashbuckling tragedy you will re member that Richard’s career was followed to its tragic and bloody end. It was a play that was filled with passion and emotion. In the present version the author has been more retrained. She shows Richard as a young man ascending the throne, his fight with the nobles, his sudden desire to be a king, his success and then the death of his Queen, which seems to sap his desire to reign, and finally his abdication wherein he decides that all this kingly butsiness is not worh the glory. The play quiet note. It is very impressive and without ovious moralizing the author conveys a fine picture of richard as a man to whom kindness and a desire to live and let live are more important then ambition.

As a production, “Richard of Bordeaux” is gorgeous and beautifully staged. Its two acts and eleven scenes move repidly and with precision. Dennis King in the title role looks, acts and talks his part with skill and if he isn’t the passionate Richard of Shakespeare that is not his fault. He gives to the lines of the author their true meaning and they are fine lines smoothly and eqphoneously composed. The rest of the large cast play their parts with spirit and intelligence. For those among you who care for the historical drama here is a play that should be more than just merely atisfactory.

REV. HUNT III

Rev. Edward L. Hunt, founder and director of the American Goodwill Union, of which President Roosevelt is the honorary president, is a patient in the Beth Israel Hospital. He was admitted February 11.