The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-11
Providence Opera House.


James ONeill. assisted by a well bal
anced company, presented the four act
drama when Greek Meets Greek at
the Providence opera house last even
ing. The play is one well adapted TO
the actor who has by his Monte Cristo
won a warm place in the heart of the
ntregoers not only in this city but else
where. 1t is good story, there is
plenty of incident in II, as would be
expected OF a play dealing with affairs
at the time OF the French revolution.
1t is fanciful there are light touches,
too that are interesting, and there is
woman's devotion under very trying
circumstances; there is deep eEmity,
love and passion. A sad story, one
would perhaps think It.; yet the touch
Is so light that only once in a great
while is one oppressed by its melan-
choly The story is instructive i'm a
way that never becomes wearisome.
II is a picture of a couple of corners
of the revolution that one gets. and
there is a good deal of talking and
Quoting. Some OF the quotations re-
mind one of the fact that those who
opposed the rabble were sincere friends
OF France. There are, too. character
portraits of old mobiles, OF devoted SER
wants. OF people who bowed then as
people have since to expediency. only
to find that the bow, though very low,
is never satisfactory. The very light
ness of touch in the piece makes ii in
teresting TO all. 1t is not a students
play, that is. not a dramatic students
play, nor a historical students play.
but IL is one which is interesting and
one that requires at times much of the
principal. Mr.. O'Neill.
The statement has been made that IL
Is we'll adapted for Mr.. O'Neill. strong
and romantic as his acting is. but per-
baps there Is more In the last act than
he brings out. The last scene is a diff
ficult one, for Mr. O'Neill as Lavelle
taking the part of the revolutionary
deputy he has killed. has good deal
10 do I'm his interviews with Robespierre
and the sweetheart whom he thinks
false TO his memory. The surly inn
pudence of the deputy he counterfeited
well, but there might well be ques-
ton as To whether I'm the announce
ment OF his identity to his sweetheart
ne has fully realized the Importance Of
his opportunity. There are other parts
in the piece. parts In which the eli
makes are strong and we'll developed. in
which Mr.. O'Neill leaves nothing TO be
desired.
Worthy of mention, indeed. is the
charming picture with which the first
act closes. and very effective are the
climaxes in the second and third acts,
while the finale briefly tells the success
Of the hero. Mr.. O'Neill was called be-
fore the curtain.
Mr.. Breese as the Deputy Grebauval
had worthy conception of his part
and was bold. suave or impudent as
occasion demanded. He could play the
lover well. and his contrasts were
sharp, perhaps a trife too sharp. Mr.
Lingham was in figure. action and
speech the French nobleman OF 70.
nance. Mr.. Hartley has a pleasant
part. and he went through it's intricate
movements in an agreeable way.
AS the Duchess de Lauvet. the COM
p1aisant woman who met the trouble
caused by the change of circumstances
to herself and husband by striving &c
make friends with her enemies. Miss
Fletcher was always successful Miss
Radcliffe as Matilde. the betrothed wife
Of Lavelle, was equal TO the rather
severe requirements of the part.
This evening and tomorrow afternoon
Mr.. -ONeil will play Monte Cristo."
while tomorrow night he will repeat
last nights interesting piece.