The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-03-19
Providence Opera House.

James ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. .,ieorge 20, ke
Helen Le(irand. ............ Beatrice Moreland
Harriet Leicester. Gertrude Rivers Alison
Miss Clementina. na..,.,.... Fanny Addison Pitt
Martha Morton has fitted comedian Sol
Smith Russell with play that is I'm har-
mony with that actors temperament and
apparent personal characteristics She
has been quite successful in this respect
and has produced material in which COM
median Crane has been equally az well
equipped as Mr.. Russell seems To bc in
"a Bachelors Romance, which was
seen by q large audience for the first time
i'm the Providence Opera House last even
ing. The play does not differ great
deal from those written for particular
players, and does not illuminate anything
of Importance In dramatic art. Its simple
story of domestic life of some queer and
somo ordinary persons IL told directly and
To tho point, but i'm the telling there is
nothing to quickcn.thc Imagination or stir
the blood. The characters are well drawn
and well known. They have been seen be-
fore An old man who has devoted his
life To the getting OF bread and butter
falls in love with his ward. He has not
seen her since the death OF her father, his
closest personal friend, until she is IL
years of age. The girl has u sweet, natural
and sincere character and she entwines
herself about her guardian who falls In
love with her and forsakes his old life for
a new existence under the inspiration of
his new found passion. He gets giddy with
delight, but IL awakened from his blissful
state by the hard, cold fact Of the great
disparagement OF his ago and the girl 5.
He gives up his hope because he believes
that his ward loves and Is beloved by a
young man of the same household. His
ward, however, loves him and in the last
act he finds IL out In the usual stupid
way of the stage old man aud "A Bachc-
lor's Romance onds pleasantly.
There are several characters associated
with the principals who assist in working
out the main purpose and conduct love
affairs of their own In the usual convcn-
tional way. Miss Morton's play Is pure
and wholesome IL couldn't be anything
else and he used by Mr.. Russell. No one
would accept this beloved player as a viii
lain or even moderately bad man.
There would be- discord at once, AS
David Holmes, Mr.. Russell Is delightful.
He plays the loyablc character with re-
markable ease and naturalness and ho
sways the emotions by his art and SINGER
ity. David has the lions share of the
dialogue and for this tho playwright is 90
be thanked. The hero Is simple, straight
forward, honest and generous, character
istics synonymous with all of the work of
this popular player. Mr.. Russell makes
better men and women because he Is u
worthy representative of an ennobling
art.
Mr. Denham gave a strong character
study of "A disappointed old man. MIR lIud
son was excellent as the poverty stricken
literary man and Mr.. Forrest played as
though he enjoyed his part Miss Creigh-
ton was sweetly natural as the loving
ward and assisted Mr.. Russell in giving ~
charming entertainment "a Bachelors
Romance will bc played this evening
and tomorrow afternoon and evening