The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-27
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.
First Production AVS Fair In lovsand War;
Last Evoning.


Hulin.... .... ........ Roydon Erlynne
Piton.... -. Frank Greppo
Gen. Bonaparte.. -. Norman Parr
cesare Di Monza... Marshall Stedman
Father Pietro.. ....E. h. Rose
Blacksmith 80. 80. ...... Henry West
tulSdfuo.... .-... ERNEST Iafleton
Manuele ....... .OwsSl Fawcett
Capt. Elliot. .. ........John j. Collins
The Auditor, ...... ....Edgar SelWyn
The Register. 80, ....Frank Beamish
FRANCESCA, Contessa oil Monza.,
80. =. ........ ......Rebecca Warren
Crispina.. ......... Eleanor Carr
iepplna. -. ........ Z. Euna fnllilps
AnunZitta.... 80. Rita Louise Johnson
Pamela. :. kate Pattison- Selten
"Alrs Fair In Love and War" a ro-
mantle drama, was given it's first pub
lie trial on the stage Of the Providence
Opera House last evening. The fact
that the cast is mostly made up from
Mr.. Sothern's company already in town.
doubtless made it convenient ar
rangement to launch the new piece
here.
The play is produced under the man
agement OF Mr.. Daniel Frohman and
its author Is Mr.. Leo Ditrichstein who
also assumes the leading role. The time
OF the story that is told is 1896 and the
place, Italy. The occasion as the Occu-
patton OF Italy by the French army
under Napoleon -and-lhe. the terrible
passage OF the bridge at Lodi" is the
historic incident that i'm the. back
ground furnishes the nucleus for the
action of the drama as II immediate
ly concerns the people therein. Young
Capt. Egalite, French nobleman, but
"A Republican, enlisted in his country's
az 1s..
comes i'm time 10 rescue her from the
too cordial attentions Of some of his
drunken soldiery, the contessa Fran
cesca. disguised as "A peasant because
of fear of the riotous followers OF the
tricolor who are laying waste the coun-
try about her estates. Ii is a case OF
love at first sight on his part. She is
afhanced to cousin whose unworthi-
ness. however. is made known to her
when, trusted with dispatches designed
to promote movement on the part of
the Austrian forces to overwhelm the
invaders. he abandons his mission
through cowardice and permits her to
assume IL for him. The bearer OF the
dispatches is discovered by Capt. Egal-
ite. but upon arresting him the papers
are missing and ii then becomes known
that the peasant girl who has attracted
the French officers attention is off with
them. All this is demonstrated in the
first act which closes with the begin
ming OF the pursuit after the dispatch
bearer. the Contessa.
The Contessa with the precious pa
pers appears at the friendly house Of
a priest the heXt morning. Thither. too
comes Egalite. The Contessa disguises
herself in boys clothes and various ex-
pedients are resorted to to secure her
escape from the place, but they are
thwarted by the French officer who,
hnNaVar iG of
4aeHtits y saf- ttAe Ae-.-antessa-The- arrival
OF Napoleon and soldiers at a critical
moment results in her capture but she
has slyly transferred the papers TO
Egalite's cape pocket and nothing in
eliminating is found on her. Her sex
is discovered however. and her identity
with the peasant girl disclosed TO Egal-
ite. Her charms attract Napoleon who
finally leaves her i'm Egalite's charge
with the warning that his life shall pay
for il II she escapes.
Act the third is developed i'm an inn.
the time the evening of the day of the
capture. Here Egalite and his fair pris-
oner have opportunity To proceed with
the development of their affection
which is now discovered to be mutual.
The place OF the papers rs disclosed and
the Contessa burns them. The time for
their serviceableness is gone as the bat
tie of Lodi has been fought and the
Austrians crushed. Learning of the
purpose of Napoleon as TO the Contessa,
Egalite permits her To escape upon
hearing of his coming and court mar
tial sentences him TO death therefor.
At this point, however, report comes
that a flying column of the Austrians
have cut of the party from the army
and Napoleon fees while with Capt.
Egalite at their head. his bodyguard
blocks the way until the last man falls.
Slx 81 nlnpp
and Ii develops into brilliant tableau
showing the sacrifice of the forlorn
hope that has volunteered to cover Ma
poleon's retreat.
Act the fourth proceeds in a room of
the palace of the Contessa where comes
Egahite whom she has nursed back to
life. Here too comes Napoleon,
suitor, but not recognizing in the Con-
tessa his former prisoner. Left alone
with his general, his rival, Egalite is
about TO compel revocation or the
sentence of death passed upon him
when the entrance OF the discarded
lover. the cousin of the Contessa, IN
terrupts whose attempt ~ capture Ma
poleon Is frustrated by Egalite with
the result that the general comes To
terms as a reward for the service and
permits true love to take its course
further -interruption.
Here is surely material enough for
any romantic drama 10 ask lof MT.
Ditrichstein. as capt. Egalite, has fitted
himself particularly we'll with the part
of a gay, free, brave and impetuous
young soldier. Miss Rebecca Warren,
is charging every moment as the Con-
tessa. Mr. T.. i. Rose. who staged the
production, also assumed the part ot a
priest. who though mention OF IL is
not made a. the foregoing sketch. s
conspicuous I'm the play and his per-
formance is one OF the effective bits
The Napoleon OF Mr. Parr is quite i'm
possible. but doubtless Will receive a
more consderate Interpretation at the
hands Of this capable actor just as aorn
as he gets settled into It, The remain-
ing figures IN the piece arc accessories
that require no special mention. They
are all performed with abundant salts
faction.
AS produced last evening the drama
gives signs of dragging for which the
writing was responsible rather than the
fact OF an initial production which was
on thotwhole remarkably smooth. There
seem 10 be a good many supernIous
lines 20 10 so that the action is halted
10 an annoying extent by their delivery.