The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-12

Lord Donald Hay. Mr.. &. stewart
Rev. j. Carmichael. Mr.. +. Gheen
William Macclure. G. Harbury
Lachian Campbell, Highlander.
.................Mr j. IA. 5toddart
Archibald MacKittrick..... Mr.. X. Fax
TammaS Mitchell. ........ Mr.. A. Duncan
Sandy Mcpherson. Mr.. chas. MacRae
Flora Campbell. Miss Daisy Lowering
Kate Carnegie. Miss Edith Athelstone
Marget Howe. Miss Carrie lie Stoyle
Annie. ie.............. Miss Irma La Pierre
Geordie ........ Miss Delphine Perrault
JEANNE. ........ Miss Gertrude Robinson
A very beautiful and thoroughly en-
joyable play with the added attract
iveness of novelty Is the drama that
James Macarthur and Tom Hall have
named for the latter Beside the Bon
ME Brier Bush" and presented at the
Providence opera house sast evening.
The story is centered in the chief
character, Lachlan Campbell the old
Highlander. who drives his daughter
from his house and disowns her be-
cause he fancIes that what Is a sincere
love between the girl anu Lord hay,
who is far above her station IN life, Is
an episode shameful TO ali concerned.
sort and not untiI his daughter is lost
To him does the father love assert 1t
self To demonstrate how Srievous Is MS
error ana how unwairanted his disclp-
line. AS matter OF fact, as readers OF
the stories Will remember, the daughter
Flora and Lord HAY have declared
themselves man ana wife, which was
seen and overheard by "Postey, all
unknown to them whicn declaration IN
the presence or a witness accordingly
constituted d Scotch marriage. SO all
ends happily. The secondary plot, or
story rather, has TO do with the love
affair of the kirk minister and Kate
Carnegie. and the two love stories are
complicated from the fact that the min
lister and Flora believe that Lord Hay
is i'm love with Kate Carnegie while the
latter believes that Flora and the min
ster are I'm love.
The story is very simple And IL Is
told with simplicity in the drama.
There is small opportunity for vigorous
action or meloaramatic situation and
nothing OF phe sort Is aimed at. In
construction the Bonnie Brier Bush
thus resembles the several plays with
out "A plot like THE Old Homestead,
"Shore Acres" The Village Postmas-
ter" The comparison by no means
signifies any similarity. but only ex-
presses the method Of the plays con-
struction.
1t is a notable fact that such "plotless
plays" often have in them elements OF
interest that attract audiences and
keep them running for season after
season. The "Brier Bush has that in
terest in n very marked degree. It's
strength indeed lies in its simplicity
and the appeal ii makes TO the best and
most sympathetic emotions. Its quail
ity is rhyrhmical, amounting TO the
poetic. Its action is for the most part
quiet but develops strong interest at
places VIA a suddeness that is fairly
startling. Humor mingles with it's pa
thos and the comedy features are the
most delightful kind The smiles, like
the tears, are produced naturally and
without apparent effort on the part of
playwrites or actors. The whole pre-
sents a charming pictllTe OF contrast
ing phases OF human emotions and hu-
man aspirations that creates in the au-
dience a desire to see 1t all again.
The scenery is in keeping withNthe
dramatic method. 1t is very beautiful.
yet not extravagant or obtrusive. The
first act represents the exterior of the
Campbell cottage in Drumtochty There
Is the cosy house of the Highlander en-
sconed amid tale rocks and trees with
the brier bush in evidence, hay NOW
in the foreground and at the back the
vista OF the mountains and the river
that distinguish the glen. Another scene
shows the interior of the cottage, rude
but not uncomfortable with accessories
of furniture, wall adornments and the
like that are doubtless copies from the
actual The third set is a grove OF
beeches with rocks and rough walls in
evidence and another view of noun
tains and river Further harmonious
10 the story is the music, which is
Scotch from overture to finale. SO the
Of lan T. % =
oped To the last detail.
The cast is admirable At the head
of it is the veteran j. IA. Stoddart,
who finds in the part OF Lachlan Camp
bell an opportunity to display his nm
ished art to the greatest advantage.
Indeed actor and character seem the
same so thoroughly is the one suited
to the other. IL would not be strange
IL Mr. Stoldart should be longest re-
membered because OF Lachlan Camp
bell. 1t is a fine creation. And the
balance Of the characters are in hands
equally competent. according TO the re-
spective requirements. The piece, in
deed. offers a lot OF character studies
which OF themselves are by no means
the least feature OF it's attractiveness.
SO engagingly are they done.
The author of the Drumtochty tales,
Rev. John Watson. accompanied by Mr..
Macarthur and several friends, Wit
messed the performance from one Of the
boxes. " was the first time the author
had seen the play enacted and at the
close OF the second act he congratu-
Hated -Staddarl- his admirable
portrayal ofthe chief character.
Beside the Bonnie Brier Bush" will
hold the boards for the balance OF the
week with the usual Saturday matinee.
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rb,unoav (llnnu'e Enoanamani