Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-10-29
"QUo vApIs."
A Splendid Presentation at the Opera House
Saturday Evening.

Nllt VI NAit otSl audiences OF the
season at the Opera house. Saturday
evening, sat through the three hours
necessary to the presentation of Quo
Vadis" by the Whitney Knowles Com
pany as though entranced. Watching
with urabated interest to the last scene
the splendid portrayal of the persecu-
ton of the Christians by the cruel
Nero and his followers. their steadfast
belief in their religion and their noble
bearing under the most horrible tor-
| ture. and the unfolding of a story illus
tratiVe OF the unbounded power and
beauty Of true love.
The novel Quo Nadis" is too we'll
known to need more than mere men
ton in this article Whatever liber ties
have been taken in the dramatization
As produced. Saturday night. We're al
loWable, and as presented the play was
perfectly satisfactory. with fine cast
whose work will long be pleasantly
| remembered. While the heavy work
fell 10 only q few, SO cleverly We're the
minor parts handled that even the
''supes" from our own city deserve a
sood word
The audience, as usual. took some
time 10 arouse itself to even
a show Of enthusiasm though
in the first half OF the play,
the strong passages We're fol-
| lowed by that breathless silence. at
length broken by that little wave Of
| long deep breaths and murmurs
through the audience that tell the ac-
tor that he is being paid one Of the
| highest though quiet, bits Of compl-
II
the last half of the play the people
seemed 10 realize that they We're Sec
| ing some exceptionally good work and
were liberal with their applause.
Ninicius. the Tribune, rich and pow
erful. successful in all he had under
taken. snitten with love At first sight
! or Lygia. tie Christian girl. open. FRANK
ana honest at heart, though surround
| ed with all the vice and dishonesty Of
| Nero's court. made a better man by
| his love for Lygia. and at last openly
recognizing the God she worshiped.
| true to her and his manhood in tn.
most trying situations at the risk Of
his oNn life. was most acceptably
taken by Harrison J. Wolfe Graceful
and easy in style. with splendid
| voice, he carried the audience with him
| through the successive steps of his &C
quaintance with Lygia, bis love for her.
| his defiance OF Nero and his final
triumph in saving her life. The strong
ct situations were the scene in the
| garden. where he madly declared his
love for Lygia, while flushed with
wine. his vivid description to Petronius
| of what he beheld at q meeting of the
despised Christians and his scathing
Pronunciation of the tyrant Nero.
| Strong at all times, the force and flre
put into these scenes brought tributes
Of sincere appreciation from the audi
cree seldom exceeded in this city.
| To the minds of many the part Of
Petronius equaned, if it did not excel
in interest that of Ninicius. as IT was
depicted by Lauren Rees. With a fne
figure and commanding presence he
personated the rich Roman gentleman.
skilled in court etiquette and intrigue,
accomplished in all the social arts ana
| wiles Of the times, a past master OF
fatterv and 50 nearly ruling Nero ny
his skilful use of these very accom-
plishments that the Empress and her
ally feared him. in mastery man
ner His championship of his nephew
cause. his bold vet cleVerly covered de-
fance of PoppOea and Tigellinus, his
ekilful working on the pitiable concert
Of the Emperor. was 50 easily and nat
urallv done. that the audience often
failed to reward some Of the hnest
points and situations. At other times
he was handsomely noticed,
ROYAL Thayer a. Nero, handled DIFF
rcult part in splendid shane. The
cruel. wicked. inhuman monster. great
in power. yet weak in mind to the
roint Of believing himself Divine, in
capable of doing wrong ana entitled to
the homage of the world. believing
himself great poet and singer, and
constantly pampered and petted by his
corrupt associates yet having moments
when the terrible truth Of his guilty
deeds came to him with overpoWerinG
force he presented picture of an
Emperor's might, a madman's deeds
land The guilty mans wild fear that was
exceedingly well impersonated by Mr.
Thayer.
Tigellnus. the Roman general, en-
envy of Petronius. and confederate ano
lover of the Empress, was we'll taken
by Myron Calico.
Irrsus. the powerful and faithful
| follower OF LESld dS pay VI ~ $3.50
Hollinssw orth was an important feat
ule of the story. though not 50 mucf
in evidence as others. His story of tbs
!. killing of the giant and the fierce beds
told to little Aulus was finely done
while his other appearances were effec
tive and well handled.
The character of Chilo, the treach
erous Greek, who betrayed his com
rades and later suffered the horrible
penalty of his deceit and wickedness
was admirably taken by Fred A
Beane. 1t is Y difficult part to por
tray. The wine loving. money grasp
ing treacherous old villain presents
traits that may easily be made objec
tionabie on the stage, but so CAREFUL!
is it interpreted by Mr.. Beane that
is one of the strongest OF the play rs
peciaIly strong was he IN the seem
hA iS t1l<pT