The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-01-05


Robert Mcintyre. VIM. r. Johnson, Gu
Eichele
C'rporai ay..................,J w. Rea, Jr
ppn,rporai' .'.'''.'....'...'......G Gene Bostwic'
hiuasoe. =, ,........,.....:.., Charles Collin
Little True Blue.......... Master Percy Powell
Ruggles.. es........................C Charles PTestoi
ryIpcs'... ............-......,.. d. Horace Rusbl
a, a, ''-''''''''''''''.''''' ,,Jsoseph A. NcpDtl
Mrs. Claiborne Gordon. Miss Helen ls.ac, TrscS
s,hoebe ,nancey ,......... Miss Winona shannon
Nanny McNair. ........... Miss Angela Mccall
Maryland Calvert. ........... Mrs Leslie Garter
David Belasco knows the value of eli
max, the Importance of activity, the
potent charm OF love, the thrill OF
>atriotism, the fascination of danger. and
he contrast of storm aud calm. He has
assem- bied them all In "The Heart of
Maryland seen fer tno first time in this
city at the Providence Opera House. last
evening. II is q picturesque play, with
tue better elements of sensationalism gem
erously besprinkllng It's four acts. 1t is
the product of clever and unusually In :
telligeut maker OF plays who comprehends
fully the inn or .ance of oster.ng TO popu-
lar sympathy and catching firm hold
and love is it's theme, with side lights of
self sacrifice. treachery, devotion and love
OF country.
TIE ensemble OF there various elements
in a story OF interest TO all parts of the
country made "The Heart Of Marylsndu
the most successful American play of
recent years aud gave il the distinction
pf n 1e f.,
contributed to the fome OF the play in the
metropolis Is contri ousing to the favor il
finds on the road and this city paid its
tribute last evening by one Of the largest
audiences OF the season. Ii was sympa-
thetic audience, TOO, and st entered into
tho spirit OF the mimicked scenes and re-
sto'srd its APPRECIATION generously. Two OF
the ciimaxo, rouso1 the house and the
players, apparently much rleased at their
reception. bowed repeatedly in response
TO hearty recalls.
The story OF the play is centrslized in
the love of a northern officer for a
southern girl. They are kept apart by
thsr loyalty. The southern girl is at
tacbed TO the cause CT the South and re-
linoui1hes love fer duty. The northern
officer tecomss the victim of treachery
and bis sweetheart sacrifices everything
to savo him. j he scene Is laid In the
green valley of the bills OF Maryland, and
II affords opportunity for sumptuous
stage setting. Indeed it cannot be re-
.alled when play had more charming
imtellishment from the stage mechanic |
than this one. Stage setting played an |
important part in the general favor be-
because the scenes seemed so |
much In harmony with the sentiment, the
danger and the various other agreeable
Ind engroseing emotions firmly touched
oy the events incident to war and part ic-
ilarIy civil strife. Everyone responds to
he martial spirit aud soldiers and the
,szard Of life In the face OF iminent dan
Ter. Suspense Is facinating emotion and
The Heart CT Maryland" has lots OF it.
he horror. of war Is suggested. There is
10 actual fighting and the shock of fire
rms and the smell OF gunpowder are in
ivdence infrequently. There are
moments OF intense sincerity and then
gain there are unmistakable signs OF
uperhciaiity. The playwright has aimed
or effect and he gets 1t at the sacrifice of
reliability. Now ana then the careful
bserver winces at the effect, but under
lands the purpose aimed at and finds ex-
use for the interruption OF interest be-
ause he realizes that the author is touch
lg chord in responsive human nature.
be chief sensation consists of the young
oman hanging to the bell tongue and |
into space to prevent the gen.
'al alarm meaning danger to her sweet {
cart. 1t is sensation.of the pronounced {
3ps and IL wins its tribute of "spon- I
'neous applause" To some minds IL {
humorous situation. One OF {
,e strongest scenes Is that where the 1
oung woman, driven to desperation. as 7
ults the villain with bayonet, releases u
er lover ana falls exhausted from tb. a
rrible strain. In this particular scene I
RS. Leslie Carter. who hss won national I
putarion in this play, rose to the dig G
~ OF dramatic art of the first quality. C
here wss no mistaking her, sincerity and b
,r acting placed her in the foremost o
NIX of emotional playing. Indeed, nearly a
her work was OF first quality. There z
ere, OF course, here and there, lapses. but e.
togetrer her efforts were artistic and h
usually satisfying. There were no false u
'tes In her loyalty to the South end her a
We had genuine ring. Personally she IL
Is the natural equipment for strong G.
'personstion OF this interesting south.
u girl. 81
Herbert kelcey, who was the leading {,
an az Frohman's Lycsum Theatar, New m
'rk, player who is no stranger In this al
~, impcrs mated the northern officer ~
IN fire appreciation. Whether in repcse p
action he never failed to impress with
Q thoroughness of bis art. M-Eellard al
,de great deal of the vfIlsinous Il
lionel Thorpe and made the miserable sc
Iitor aud utterly despicable character q
ihout overstopping the bounds Of pos al
'illty. IL was n difficult role and he m
'yed IL well. Mr.. Mordaunt, Mr. viii Al
ms. Miss Helen Tracy and the several SC