The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-28


Aubrey Tanqueray. Mr.. Il. II. Thalberg
Cayley Drummle. Mr.. a. :. Homewood
Frank Misquith, q. c.. Mr.. l.. Outram
Gordon Jayne, NJ. D.. Mr.. Fred Thorne
Morse ..........Mr. Charles Wellesley
Lady Orreyd.. Miss Cicely Richards
Mrs. cortelyon.. ..... Miss Emmerson
Ellean ......... Miss Madge Mcintosh
Faula ......... ..Olga NetnerSole
1t is TO be regretted that there was
not larger and more appreciative au-
dience at the Providence Opera House
last evening, to witness a really excel
lent performance of Arthur w. Pinero's
somewhat peculiar, but powerful
drama THE Second Mrs. Tanqueray."
as produced by Miss Olga Nethersole
and her company. Whatever the opin-
ion may be of Miss Nethersole's ability
as an actress as compared with others
who have appeared i'm similar roles, one
thing was plainly evident, and that was
that ii is in THE Second Mrs. Tanquer-
ay" some of her very best work is done.
Mr.. Pinero's drama has been widely
criticised, not for its very clever char
acterization, nor for the vigor and in
cisiveness of the dialogue. which is
truly refreshing in these days OF so
many weak and flabby efforts, but for
it's doubtful moral atmosphere for IL
deals with sinful relations between man
ant woman and with the inevitable re-
suits that follow. The drama, while ii
cannot be called immoral, in the ordi-
nary. sense of the word, is assuredly
not suited To the young person of un-
trained mind. Yet IL is really work of
art, and as presented by Miss Neither
sole there is nothing that can offend the
healthy minded man or woman.
OF Miss Nethersole's conception OF
the character of Paula, the second wife
of the good-natured, but weak Aubrey
Tdnqueray, there can truly be a diver
sity of opinion, but only from a socio-
logical standpoint, and one does not
know which TO most admire, the Won
deTful art of the actress in the more
elevated passages on the almost brutal
cynicism with which she refers To her
life and her condition among women as
If such an existence was something
that was hardly worth taking into con-
sideration. 1t was something in the ma
tGre of surprise to those who were
familiar with Miss Nethersole's work i'm
other roles TO see her rise to such
heights as are demanded by the part of
Paula. a woman of impulses, a creature
made up OF good and evil and yet Miss
NEtntTSOIt SuCCttutu
She is not a great actress. and her
work was by no means perfect, but II
was noticeably free from much OF the
cXaggeration which she manifests in
Carmen" There was from time TO time
n trace of what might be called abrupt
ness in her acting. and the fact seemed
patent that Miss Nethersole's principal
failing ia an inability to maintain an
even standard of effectiveness. But her
conception of the role of Paula and her
presentation OF il are of a high order
OF merit and deserving of commenda-
ton.
So much cannot be said of the sup
porting company, which is hardly equal
to the demands made upon il. Mr.. Thai
berg was careful and conscientious as
Aubrey Tanqueray, but not strong The
Cayley Drummle OF Mr.. Homewood was
very pleasing, and the De Jayne OF Mr..
Thorne is one of the best characters of
the piece. Miss Madge Mcintosh as Ell
lean showed that she was desirous of
giving an intelligent portrayal of the
role.
"The Second Mrs. Tanqueray" will be
repeated Friday night and Saturday
afternoon. This evening, Miss Neither
sole will play Camille"