The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-02-11
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The heatres.
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Providence Opera House.

Andrew Mack. who made a long
stride forward last season with IAN
Irish Gentleman" will come TO the
Providence Opera House with frshly
won laurels Monday evening, TO
present his new and highly successful
Irish comedy drama, "The Ragged
Earl. and he will undoubtedly be
greeted by crowded and enthusiastic
audience, for the reason that he is one
OF the city's favorite visitors. The
piece which he presents, and which was
specially written for him, is the joint
work of Ernest Lacy and Joseph Hum
phreys. 1t has already been given i'm
number of the large cities, and 1t has
invariably won increased reputation
and popularity for Mr.. Mack, who lis
working earnestly and intelligently to
get as near as possible To the niche left
vacant by that prince OF Irish comed-
ans, Dion Boucicault. He brings it to
the city direct from brilliant four
weeks engagement at the Academy OF
Music, New York, where he drew a Sc
ries OF crowded audiences, and he prom
ises that the Providence production will
in every respect be equal TO that given
in the metropolis.
OF Mr.. Mack's histronic gifts IL is
almost needless to speak. His follow
ers, and their name is legion, know
him as a player OF winning manner,
charm and individuality, with an un-
usually keen appreciation of wit and
humor, a knack OF getting all the meat
out OF an authors comic lines, and
with faculty for reeling those lines
OF TO his audiences in a manner TO
make them enjoy the fun as much as he
seems 10 enjoy IL himself. 1t is the
trick of taking his audiences into his
confidence, so that he not only makes
oh All
Admirable as he is in lighter vein, he
Is the possessor also of strong emotional
power; and he handles scenes of dra-
matte force an intensity with unusually
fine skill. His work is genuine and
spontaneous always, so much so that he
can bring an audience 10 the verge Of
tears and back again TO smiles in the
twinkling of an eye. He has been fitted
capitally by Messrs. Lacy and Hum
phreys I'm the new play, and they have
given him plenty of the kind of work
10 do which his audience like and which
has won for him his following.
THE Ragged Earl" tells IA stirring
story Of true love that holds attention
and wins admiration. Gerald FitZger-
aid, the young Earl of Kildare, divides
his patrimony with the poor on his
estate until from the clothes that he
wears and the poverty of his estate, he
gains the nickname of the Ragged |
Earl" A young girl. fleeing from her |
guardian in the disguise of a boy, is |
protected by the earl. and when he af- |
terwards learns her sex, he finds that |
he loves her. Her stepmother and |
brother wish her To make a wealthy \
marriage and oppose her attachment |
for Gerald. The daring nobleman res /
cues her by force from the home of the /
brother and carries her 90 his estate. |
where they are married just as the pur-
suers arrive. The scene OF the rescue
Is thrilling. Having sent her away un-
der the care of one OF his retainers,
the earl bars all the doors OF the room
in which he and her brother are left
alone. Then the men fight. The earTs
sword is broken, but his adversary is
disarmed Ut the same moment, and be-
fore the attack Is renewed. Gerald has
time 20 arm himself with broadsword
that hangs at the side of an armored
efgy. With this he fells the brother
twice, and clears a way for himself to
leap through a stained glass window.
AS he disappears. the brothers retain