The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-29

acting OF the role OF Clorinda Will
dairs her unusual beauty and the mag
nificence with. which she embellished
her performance all conduced. IL is
said. TO the success which she has en-
joyed. Undoubtedly IL will be a matter
OF keen pleasure 10 theatre-goe TO
welcome Miss Arthur in her first stellar
appearance here Through her rendi-
tion of Clorinda Miss Arthur has
reached al a single stride leading po-
sition in the theatrical armament and
at once convinced the fact that she IS
equipped as Is perhaps no other actress
before the public with the possession Of
beauty and genius.
The memorable scenes OF this play
which stand out in bold relief are Miss
Arthur's first entrance in boys clothes,
her rollicking scene at the supper table,
her fencing of a bout and her breaking
upon the startled company in queenly
attire with commands TO them TO bow
10 her and next the scene of the sun
dial in which she spurns her faithless
lover. become moments of keen interest
10 lovers OF good acting. The great
scene, however, in the fourth act in
which with we'll portrayed passion and
fury she strikes her traducer blow
that results in his death and her por-
trayal OF the suffering and fear which
arterward UvErtaks her, give Miss Ar
thur the opportunity TO strike the deep
est OF tragic and emotional notes.
The magnficence with which Miss
Arthur embellished her production
made IL rank as one of the most beauti-
fully staged pieces ever seen in this
country. The epoch is most picturesque,
that OF Queen Anne in England.
AS Rosalind in her new elaborate
production of Shakespeare's "As You
Like It," which she presents Wednes-
day night Miss Arthur has won new
han ~ md oh n
her to give this character an ideal i'm
personation.
The double bill Miss Arthur presents
on Saturday night is one Of unusual
interest. as it will see Miss Arthur i'm
two distinctly new Characterization.
The character of the fierce Spanish
girl, Mercedes. is the very opposite TO
the chaste and classical Galatea.
Mercedes" is by Thomas Bailey AID
rich, the poet, and Is one OF the few
pieces he has given TO dramtic litera-
fure. 1t is in one act and two scenes.
The period is 1910 and the scene is laid
In Spain. The first scene is in n forest
before the village OF Arguano at night,
WITT a-force of Napoleon's lying in am
bush. Louvois. the young French officer
i'm charge has received imperative or
ders to discipline" the inhabitants OF
the village at daybreak This was the
term used by Napoleon 90 cover the
word massacre whenever q town he
had conquere-, proved fractious. Lou
vols conffles to his companion Labois-
siere, that a year before he had been
rescued from death in that same viii
lage by a young girl whom he had
promised TO marry Cwho afterwards
proves TO be Mercedes), but had been
suddenly called away 10 his post and
was not able 20 communicate with her.
Laboissiere promises that i'm the per-
forming OF his duty To the Inhabitants
by placing them To the sword that he
viii save her.
The second scene depicts hut with
in the village OF ArguanO at daybreak.
with Mercedes watching the cradle OF
her child The Inhabitants had learn
ed OF their threatened destruction and
have left the village entirey deserted
except for Mercedes, her child and her
aged mother whom she had been un-
willing to leave behind. she being un-
able. through age. to fly with the rest.
Mercedes has poisoned the wine of the
village and has placed it where the
French will hnd e. L1boisslere enters
with detachment OF his soldiers, they
carrying q skin Of the wine. Suspecting
that it has been poisoned he questions
Mercedes she replies that 1T is good
wine for Frenchmen." Laboissiere still
suspecting a trick tells her 20 give some
Of Il 20 her child. With a great sacri-
fec OF mother love she CJCs SO. Labois-
sierre then commands her 20 drink 70
herself. She does so. Louvois enters