The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-03-24
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

The engagement OF Henry Irving Miss
Company at the Providence Opera
House on Monday, Tuesday and Wed
nesday nights next is naturally looked
upon as the principal event OF the dra-
matte season. For the first two nights
"Robespierre' will be the bill and on
Wednesday "The Merchant OF Venice"
There is particular interest in the
production OF "Robespierre," sardou's
latest triumph. and the play that has
re-establshed Irving's fortune. The
play opens in a glade in the forest OF
Montmorency. Clarisse de Malucon
Miss Ellen Terry and her niece, Marie
Therese, are waiting for the formers
son. Olivier. They have taken refuge In
little cottage and Olivier has appren-
ticed himself to "A neighboring carpen-
ter. After the meeting OF the mother
and son, Benjamin Vaughan, of the
British House OF Commons, appears
seeking his way TO a rendezvous with
Robespierre. He recognizes Clarlsse
from meeting I'm England. and in con-
Nersation with him she reveals TO him
that Robespierre is the father of Oil
Vier. Robespierre appears and his at
tendants discover Clarisse and Marie,
who are arrested.
The first scene OF act two shows the
court yard OF the prison of Port Libre,
where are the prisoners awaiting the
guiilotine. The second scene is rep
resentatiOn OF uhe Fete of the Supreme
Being, the Place de la Revolution tto-
day the Place de la Concorde) gaily
decorated and filled with a crowd I'm
holiday dress, all wearing the tricolor
in cockades or ribbons. Olivier Is i'm the
front rank. There is great procession
with Robespierre followed by the MEM
bers of the convention. Robespierre be-
gins an harangue upon which he bad
counted 10 secure enough popular en-
thusiasm to enable him to remove all
his remaining enemies at blow. OIL
vier denounces him ana is arrested and
taken to prison. The third act contains
the interrogatory OF Olivier before
Robespierre. in the house OF the lattef's
friend. the Duplays. and I'm the course
of conversation the relationship OF the
two men is revealed and the fact that
Olivier's mother and Marie Therese are
also arrested and about TO die on the
scaffold. Thenceforth Robespierre's
whole effort is TO save these three The
first scene OF the fourth act passes in
little apartment to which Clarisse and
Marie Therese have been removed by
Robespierre's secret orders for safety
He visits them there, but ne has lost
track OF Olivier. The tumbris convey
ing the condemned TO the guillotine
pass under the window. and the three
are torn between the fear that Olivier
may be in one OF them and the fear OF
being discovered at the window. One
crowded cart passes. then anotherthen
a third, and he Is In none OF them. OIL
vier has been removed by the enemies
OF Robespierre, who SUSPECT the latter's
intention. The Incorruptible goes in
search OF his son. and scene two shows
the courtyard OF the prison OF la Force.
where he falls asleep and is haunted by
Hhe ghosts OF his many victims. rhe
last act before the convention is one OF
1rving's greatest effects. At the end
finding his cause hopeless Robespierre
commits suicide. The performances will
begin promptly at s O'clock.
At the Providence opera house for