The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-03-30
A WEEK OF REPERTOIRE.
SUCCESSFUL PRODUCTION OF"LA
BELLE MARIE" LAST NIJHT.
Large Audience Witnessed Varied Eater
taiameat at the Opera House.

opening performance given at the Opera
House last evening to say that 1t In the
best sample in the line of repertoire wit
messed this season in this section. Miss
Ethel Tucker and III. p. Melden assisted
by clever company, remarkably well
balanced, presented the drama, "La Belle
Marie" Regarding the play, which Is Of
four acts with a prologue, 1t may be said
that while there Is nothing in the plot or
cient action to make 1t very acceptable.
While billed as drama, there Is q strong
vein of comedy introduced, making 1t
amusing and entertaining. The smooth
running piece st times reminds one very
slightly of the "Henrietta," and in other
portions of the 'sTigress."
The prologue introduces the principal
characters Of the play, and indicates that
Jean Carlton has been wronged by George
Livingston, the characters being taken by
the leading people OF the company. The
father Of the wronged girl dies, whether
from heart failure or assault is q matter
not quite clear. However, he dies, and 1t
is but right to say he dies well. Over her
fathers dead body Jean swears revenge or
rather retribution. Thus introduced the
plot Of the play unfolds itself. George
Livingston h found to be the son Of
Q rich Wall street banker, and having be-
come infatuated with . gay Parisian,
Marie Dubois, is led to make fraudulent
entries for which he places the blame on
his younger brother, who after being pard-
oned tor appearing ct the ONCE in . con-
dition indicating that he has made tour
OF the tswn with pot of crimson coloring
the night before is turned ON the world
% IN outcast. ''La Belle Marie" calls at
the ONCE shortly after, and forces George
Livingston to present her with 1900, sp-
paSently mere bit.
An impossible ONCE boy 10 introduced
during this act by the name of 6teigins,
q. e. Brennan) and his work IL highly
amusing, and entertained the audience
hugely, his Oliver Twist desire for sleep
and stutter being laughable.
During the remaining acts of the play
the web tightens around the villain until
the climax is reached, where the elder
brother Is unmasked, the younger restored
to the good graces Of his family, and the
guiding spirit of George Lvingstone's
downfall Is found to be "I4a Belle Marie''
or Jean Carleton.
The work Of Miss Tucker was very well
done, particularly ~ Marie Dubois, add
that the clever woman has many friends
In this city was indicated by the cordial
reception given upon her entrance. II. p.
Meldon performs the unpopular part as
signed to him very acceptably. Tony
Cummings played the manly part Of Bryan
Waupingee in a manner pleasing to the
audience, and the parts assigned to Will
liam Richards and Horace Clark were
also well done.
Eva Westcott as Ruby Livingston played
the part of the spoiled daughter, and later
as girl In love, very cleverly. Aurella
Lawrence as Patsy, the Newsboy, had but
little to do, but did that little well. Ella
Warren Harmon, who played the part of
Lillian Marston, pleased the audience. The
stage setting OF the third act was very ef-
fective. II there are any weak spots in the
company the fact was not apparent last
evening.
Regarding the spectalties. They were all
good. The Lawrence Sisters do song and
dance sketch very well, their dancing being
the best feature. Eva WestcOtt sings a
number of the old favorites very sweetly,
and has very attractive manner in this
line OF work. j. e. Brennan as an Irish
comedian was very popular with the audi
ence, and all of the above named were
obliged to respond to encores.
The work OF the cinephotograph is alone
worth the price of admission, and is the
best OF the many machines introducing
animated pictures thus far seen, the ex-
press train and hurdle race being wonder
fully true and realistic.
II the remaining performances are on
par with that given last evening, there is
no reason why the Opera House should
not display the "standing room only" sign
at every performance.