the two most notable events of the past fortnight have been the production of King John at her Majesty's and Hearts are Trumps at Old Drury; both are good, King John especially so. Mr. Tree has divided the play into three acts, a new departure and a good one. Ina small booklet he presents to the audience with the programme he gives his reasons for so doing. He says: "If King John ig critically examined it will be found that the death of Arthur and the conseences ensuing therefrom are the real pivot of the play, it is with this in view that the new version has been prepared as it has. The first act ends with Arthur's capture, the second with his destruction, and the third with the King's death, as an performance full of life and judgment. To my mind he has never done anything before so good as the death scene. Wrapped in a white robe the dying King is carried in a chair on to the stage—the scene representing the orchard of Swinstead Abbey. Tle speaks with more ud more difficulty as the poison works every movement. denotes agony and abject terror and when all is over one feels that one has assisted at a death scene allis so real. As Fauleonbridge afterwards delivered the well known lines:
"This England never did nor never shall Lie at the proud foot of the conqueror—Naught shall make us rue If England to herself do prove but true," there was an immense burst of applause all over the house. I think the news from the Transvaal war in most people's minds, as many years have passed since we have had w war such as this promises to be, if it comes. Mr. Lewis Waller's Fauleonbridge was a fine performance. So also was the Prince Arthur of Master Charles Sefton, who will bea great actor some day if he is not spoilt by too much flattery. His scene with Hubert when he heard his eyes were doomed tears to the eyes of many of audience. Ax the Queen Mother, Miss Bateman was quite in the right ' place and Miss Julin Neilson made an. effective but. I wished she would be just onstrative in her grief scene, it was so very terrible. Miss Lettice Fairfax looked "sweet as Blanche of Spain and every one else in the cast was most excellent, So the fortunes of Her Majesty's should have turnest at lnst—that the piece was henutifully staged and dressed goes without saying.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.