The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-15

providence will witness an important
new production during the engagement
OF tie Lillian Russell Opera Company at
the Providence Opera House during the
first half OF next week. The new opera
will not be produced until Wednesday
night, however, and during the first part
Of the engagement the peerless Lillian
and her great company will be seen IN
those notable ~revivals of Often bach's
opera, "1he Grand Duchess, " and of Lee
cocq's opera "rhe Little Duke" which
have created so much comment in Chi
cago, New Orleans, Philadelphia and
other cities where they have been given.
This revival OF "The Little Duke" in
which Miss Russell win appear Monday
night, was particularly commented upon
because 1t marked Miss Russel's return
to the bifurcated garments OF a boy after
she had made her famous fight in the
courts ON the sights question:" but
aside from such adventurous remark, that
production itself was a notable one. The
opera Is one of the best of the old French
school, very little known in America, and
Miss Russeil's new English version, the
work of Max Freeman, Is said 10 be the
brightest transcription OF Meilhac and
Hawley's witty French libretto ever made.
Miss Russell accorded the piece a gorgeous
scenic production, and IL Is said that no
character In which she has ever appeared
have her charms OF voice and personality
been 40 fayorahly set forth / Grand
Duchess" known to everybody, will be
given Tuesday evening, and on Wednes-
day viii occur the production OF the new
opera, "The Goddess of Truth" "The
Goddess was written by STANCE * Ed
wards, librettist and composer respectively
of "Madelon" and other recent successes.
II is in two acts, of the romantic rather
than the bouffe type n the scene being
laid In Bulgaria, ample opportunity is
wtvan for alt SortQ of fauCifuI disnIay in
the way of ecenery and costumes. The
basic story Is a novel treatment of the
same idea as animates Mr.. Gilbert's clas-
sic 'sThe Palace of Truth" Briefly told,
the plot is as follows:
-Olgai, king Of Reamania, Is visiting
Timiski, king of Bulgaria. Prince Artel,
SON of King Olgai, is betrothed to Prin-
cess Alma, daughter of King Timiski.
Bot kings are poor, though each believes
the other rich, hence the projected matri-
monial alliance of their children. King
Timiski passes as a truthful man, though
in reality is an awful liar. He has erect
cd q statue to the "Goddess Of Truth in
his garden, the model of (which has been
his daughter Alma. Michael, the Bulga-
rian sculptor, selected by the king to
mould the statue, Is deeply enamored of
the Princess Alma, and while guarding
his work during the midnight hours, he
appeals to the spirit OF truth" implor-
ing her TO compel all men to speak truth
fully II but for a few hours. The statue,
like Galatea, becomes imbued with life
and grants his request, decreeing that all
men and women shall speak the truth,
the whole truth and nothing but the
truth from noon of the following day
until sunset. In the second act everybody
r. compelled TO speak truthfully, though
they know ii not, and so the poverty of
the kings, the perfidy of the courtiers, the
despicable natuie OF Prince Artel, the
honesty of Michael and the capacity fer
lying OF humanity in general is humor-