File:Ellen Terry as Henrietta Maria in "Charies I".jpg

Identifier: playersplaysofla02strauoft (find matches)
Title: Players and plays of the last quarter century; an historical summary of causes and a critical review of conditions as existing in the American theatre at the close of the nineteenth century
Year: 1903 (1900s)
Authors: Strang, Lewis Clinton, 1869-1935
Subjects: Theater -- History Theater -- United States Acting and actors
Publisher: Boston, L.C. Page
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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bably the best of Mr. Willssplays, — was Charles I., which Mr. Irvingfound good enough to retain in his repertory.It was a curious play, evidently written withthe purpose of vindicating Charles I. andvilifying Cromwell. Whether one agreed ordisagreed with Mr. Willss treatment of theunfortunate Charles Stuart might have de-pended largely on the history one had read,but it is doubtful if in any history Mr. Willsfound warrant for his slander of Oliver Crom-well. Historical accuracy, of course, has noth-ing whatsoever to do with play-writing, andprobably no one would have concerned himselfgreatly regarding Mr. Willss private opinionof Charles and Cromwell, if the dramatist hadnot so insistently thrust it into the foreground.It was not so much in fact, but in characterthat Mr. Wills departed from what is generallyaccepted as the truth about Charles I. Ignor-ing completely the fact that Cromwell and hiscommoners had the right on their side, howeverharsh and unreasonable they may have been
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MISS ELLEN TERRY as Henrietta Maria in Charies I. Robertson and the English Drama 41 in enforcing their rights, Mr. Wills idealisedCharles to the utmost, and emphasised themartyr idea in every possible way. He didthese things adroitly by keeping constantly inview the human side rather than the kinglyside of Charles. One saw Charles in the homecircle, playing with his children and comfortinghis wife even while he himself was perplexedand harassed by his enemies. One heard thehigh-sounding sentiment of Charless loyalfriends, the loving tribute of his queen, thetender prattlings of the little prince and prin-cess. There was never a hint of the despot.Charles was consistently portrayed as a fear-fully abused monarch, while the harsh-spokenOliver Cromwell became a melodramatic vil-lain and a despicable beggar for bribes. There is no quarrel with Mr. Wills for pic-turing Charles as a martyr. In so doing hebut paralleled the opinion of all stalwart Jaco-bites. Mr. Willss fault was in overdoin

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