"THE VAGABOND KING."

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 55, 8 March 1929, Page 5

"THE VAGABOND KING."

There was a big demand for seats at tho Bristol when Mio box plans wcro opened this morning for tho brief season of '•The Vagabond King,"- the musical play, lo bo staged by the J. C. Williamson, Ltd., management at the Orand Opera House on Tuesday next with a matinee on Saturday. In tho spectacular sccno at Margot's tavern, Tabarle, Francois Villon's bosom' pal, leads the male chorus in a rousing and inspiring drinking song. This is one of the most enjoyable musical Items in tho play. King Louis XL, that superstitious monarch, who believed in asttoiogy and dreams, comes slinking among the rabble of the city to see what his cunning may spy out. He sneers at the reckless bravado of Villon, «tio has just had an interview with the lovely Katherinc do Vaucelles, to whom ho had the audacity to send a love poem, and at her bidding has fought and wounded tho traitor Thibaut, who would betray Paris to tho' Duke of Burgundy. Louis indulges a whim, from an clTort to revenge himself upon Katherinc, and makes Villon King of France for a day—the price, a hempen noose next morning. In his Court finery and tho change that a hath.has made in him Villon is unrecognisable even by tho devoted Tatmrlo, and Katherinc falls in love with him. It Is this love which in the end saves Villon from the scaffold, .lames Llddy as Hie brawling, heroic, drunken poet, plays with inspirited style, and his singing Is one of tho features of the production. - Strella Wilson makes a gracious Kathcrine. Messrs Arthur Stigant and Cecil Kellaway aro most amusing, and others in < the cast are Albert Grcenaway and Arthur Mayes. There Is a full chorus and