The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-12-18
A Week Before Christmas
Attractions.
Slight Falling off in Quantity OF
Amusement Seekers.
Comedy, Melodrama, Farce, aud
Vaud eville the Bills Presented.
Providence Opera House.

(tnuue Melnoltc.s .sss.sss..s.. W. -. iihit
Colonel Damas. ...............,,.ferd hisht
Beauseant ..................... ....l L. NJ. Aisop
CLAWS .........................h Robert NOnhcss
Mons. Deschappelles ........C. w. Mac lOnalh
Landlord ...,..........,,........ NJ. 4. bowers
Gaspar. ................,..'..... Joseph ~ MerA
lst Officer. .Ihaflcs cihihs
Notary. .........................,J DAVIDSON
Widow Melnotte. ......... Miss Rachel Deane
Nine. Deschappelles. Miss Isabel Waldron
Janet................M Miss Margaret Whitaker
Pauline, Lady OF Lyons s...............,..Rh Rhea
Rhea, the coincidence, is always popular
in Providence. On this visit she IS pro-
ducing a practically new repertory for
with the Lady OF Lyons" is followed
tonight with "Pygmalion and Galatea y
introduced by curtain raiser
entitled "Bonaparte at School" in which
Rhea impersonates the boy Bonaparte,
and tomorrow closes with the New
Magdalene." The bill for the matinee
tomorrow is the "Lady OF Lyons"
IL was large audience that welcomed
Rhea last evening. The Lady OF Lyons"
is new with Rhea this season as her pro-
auction OF 1t is new to Providence,
and warm interest in the
the interest TO see her In q part that has
had so many charming exponents. Prob
ably the "Lady OF Lyons" is the most
himsy piece OF stage writing that ever
endured TO the point of being per-
manent fixture on the stage. 1t seems TO
be essentially lacking in the qualities
that tradition and experience demand OF a
piece to make 1t successful. Ii lacks In
situation and is tiresomely talky. It's
heroics are common place and its senti-
ment weak. However, it Is probably the
originator OF the "poor but honest
parents" phrase and OF others similarly
familiar, and so 1t inspires sort OF friend
IU-Q(nnQ fQalinU in the aud iQuQp
that makes 1t always pleasant And when
all the dross is brushed aside
the character or Pauline stands out
In bold relief, strong and appealing,
and 1t is the development of this charac-
ter that ever makes the Lady of Lyons -
attract sympathetic audiences. There is a
lot of human ideality about Pauline that
has given her q strong hold on the human
heart OF the theatergoers so that
she Is an amazing favorite whether inter-
preted by the lowest amateur or elevated
30 histrionic heights by tho most talented
professional-and,w wholly independent OF
The -playwriting that she eenters in.
So II Is no pretentious undertaking for
a capable actress like Rhea to present the
fair Lady of Lyons. Attractive of face
and fetching as to costume, sweet and APP
pealing in her department, Rhea is n de-
cidedly pleasurable Pauline. She inspires
the sympathy OF her audience and works
out her destiny with gracious charm
and fulfilis the pretty ideal of the part
with abundant satisfaction. Pauline Is a
pretty picture and Rhea preserves it's pret-
illness intact. The part is agreeably
suited to her and she has that advantage
in making 1t suit her audience.
Rhen's support, with one or two excep-
tions, presents nc members of more than
ordinary interest. as the parts they assume
demand only ordinary abilities. Mr.. w.
;. Hart, her leading man, is always an
interesting actor. He Is conscien-
tious student, and he puts his whole
heart into his work. lie made an agree
able Claude Melnotte and struggled man
fully with its attenuated heroics. He has
an obvious fault OF seeking elocutionary
effects by sort OF vocal gymnastics that
are not at all agreeable and the tremulous
expression OF his passion fails to accomp-
lish what he evidently earnestly seeks.
He Is manly figure on the stage, he inn
proves season by season in his acting, and
when he has trained his voice to more
reserved use he will be most satisfactory
actor in the vigorous parts that his caps-
bilities and taste incline him to.