The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-27

Iialy: ....,;...-.-.......Mr. II. l.. Tabh
An1aner AoIlas 'a,er:.-.-......-MrT 'iai,ar.-.-......-MrT 7 James
Barrasin. n...............-...Mr. Il. Reynolds
hr9SSin, 9Snr, servant........;;.M Mr. u; Youne
Imprisoned at Port.I. I.ibre:
Marechal de Monchy........Mr. O.. Ellis
De Broglie. ...............AIr. Charles Yane
De hersaint. t..................Mr. j. Wilson
nl'''''-.-......'.....-... Mr. NJ. Rose
,Tharies Leguay.. .;..--....Mr. l.; Belmore
I.avergne. ................... Mr.. W. Marion
Mauclerc: :.................Mr. w. J.. Albeit
Msnrsyin .Mr H. r. Cook
The Young De Maiiie ii5j............
.....::..............Miss May Holland
Madame dc Choiseui 80. Miss King LLOYD
asdso aMademoisslie s, Lacroix ,; Miss y Davis
Mad,ame Ma.,a re ee:;:;..:,:.; Miss Alice Goodwin
Miss l.. Tarvin
Shade OF Marie Antoinette. ...........
Madame de- Iavcrenc Miss Ma Mar i'P@sor PSs,er
Mademoiselle de Bethisy Miss Doris Digby
The Marchale de Mouchy. Miss A. Byron
Madame Maleyssie. ......... Miss l.. Marion
Charlotte Maleyssic. ......., Miss l.. Hale
Claire Maleyssie............M Miss T.. Carder
Marie Therese. .......,Miss Beatrice Irwin
Madame Lebas........ Miss Cecil Cromwell
sornene'............. Miss brenda Gibson
Madame dc Narbonne. miss Maud MIIton
II IL altogether probable that could
the shade OF the late Steele Mackaye
revisit the scenes OF earthly trials and
disappointments and view the produce
tion OF Sardou's "Robespierre" as pre-
sented at the Providence Opera House
last evening by Henry Irving, Miss Ell
len Terry and the London Lyceum
Company. it would find much, comfort
i'm contemplating therein the materiah-
cation OF many a scheme and many a
dream that for sundry reasons failed of
realization during the lifetime OF the
dranfatist, who was one OF the most
magnifcent dreamers that ever adorn-
ed the American stage.
Steele Mackaye had a fine taste in the
matter of unobs and for the spectacular.
as he could develop It on paper. there
was no circumscrbing horizon.
When 1t came 10 the actual practice,
the gorgeous Mackaye mobs and spec
lracular effects were necessarily limited
by reason of lack OF capital for their |
proper production in the first instance
and the utter impossibility of hoping
10 secure anything like O fair return |
from such an investment as the plans 1
required because no theatre at the rul- |
ing prices could contain a big enough 1
audience TO pay for what would be ex- /
hibited on the stage.
"Robespierre," IL is believed, would J
fulhll Steele Macsaye's most prodIgal !
ideals.
And, of course, it is Irving.Terry-
three dollars-a- seat that makes the re-
ali2ation possible.
For 'Robespierre" is largely mob and
spectacle.
1t provides some Henry Irving and
little Ellen Terry But on the mob and
the spectacle rest its claims to atten-
zion.
OF the eight scenes almost every one
has its mob or a semi-mob or "A numer- J
Gus stage filling ensemble.
When the mob isn't visible Il is heard
from, uproaring in the wings
In one scene ii Is a mob OF ghosts.
OF course the time or Robespierre was
the time OF mobs
Mobs ruled.
To reproduce the local atmosphere of
the period mob is essential.
W Robespierre like other actors An the
real drama Of the Reign of Terror was
swept along by the mob.
Hence "Robesperre" is n spectacle a I
superb. an unlimited spectacle.
Ii is series of tableaux, OF splendid
stage pictures, extravagant as TO color
and unusually violent as to voice and
movement.
Probably never did the Providence
Opera House stage hold so many people
as were on IL last evening. Probably |
never did the flies shake with so great
and frequent vocal display.
Through IL all moves the figure OF
Robespierre, occasionally in sharp re-
lief more often only bit OF flotsam on
the seething surface of the turbulent
mob waves.
1t is stunning more often than i'm
pressive.
When the curtain falls on the tre-
mendous tumult OF the last scene one is
fairly puzzled To decide whether one has
passed n wholly satisfactory evening or
not. The gorgeous confusion OF the
spectacle Ia comparable only To a ian
Ions "Fantasma" show or the "Black
Crook"
There Is one scene in "Robespierre"
that commanded the approving atten-
tion of the audience last evening.
IL IL n scene apart from the tumult
and the mob and the spectacle
Ii is exqusitely simple and artistic.
Il represents Robespierre at home so
10 speak.
Amid congenial surroundings he is
impatient OF discussion OF bloodshed
md the guilotne and resigns himself |
10 the domestic entertainment provided.
Brought before him Is q young arsto-
'rat who on the previous day has inter-
-upted the public FESTIVAL engineered by
for his own exaitstion by
ienouncing the Incorruptible and at
tempting 10 kill him.
Robespierre discovers that the young ! :
nan Is his own son whose mother and 4,
iweetheart are also held in prison | s
-
Robespierre tries 10 find out about =
his without disclosing his relationship b
o the young man. N
The scene is intensely dramatic and | n
strongly appealing 10 the audience. Its I,
conclusion last evening was followed by | y
pontaneous applause and repeated a
alls for Mr.. Irving and the actors who 81
I'D contributed 60 "a. II
Mr.. Irving ma re graceful little N
peech OF appreciate OF his welcome. n
No other scene and hardly another n
ituation received more than perfume g.
ory applause during the entire evening. a
The first scene ~ the second act y