The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-10-01
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

There was a large and representative
audience at the Providence Opera House
last evening 20 greet Miss Amelia Bing-
ham and company In Clyde Fitch's mod
ern play, "The Climbers" II was in
deed pleased and admring audience
that made very loud aud persistent de-
mands for curtain call upon curtain cell
AT the close OF the second and third
acts.
-Four acts this modern play has and
thus opportunity is given 10 bring into
sight many splendid accessories 10 the
story The piece is very beautifully
staged II is particularly IN the second
act that the stage setting Is peculiarly
odd pleasant and interesting.
This modern play Is announced as new
and original: perhaps some who have seen
other masterpieces from Mr.. Fitch
workshop can say that the words used
in describing IL are like all language
comparative. Mr.. Fitch Is presumed TO
give us a picture OF society. and In
moderately long story he can point out
10 us only two persons with really nat
ural ard redeeming qualities, ana the
two are women who do not marry. Even
one OF these loves I'm heart she asserts,
q man whose wife Is insane.
The story deals with the business Of
joyahle talks In IT, but there Is always the
shadow Of wickedness and sham which
Is ever close TO the moments OF real feel
ing The piece Is not immoral In the
sense that there Is anything In IL that
might not be discussed i'm mixed society.
as the expression Is. just as II is pre-
sented on the stage Mr.. Fitch does not
needlessly offend
The play sounds the full note of dis
pair Its story is. II you are weak give
way 20 weakness: the end will be bad but
II would be bad any way. The dead
must be reveIled and their interment
made a mockery "a man must help
woman only To ruin himself. and n YOU
are unfortunate. wicked and don't use
your wife or friends right your friends
will advise you TO kill yourself and you
will do il.
Miss Amelia Bingham as Mrs. Sterling,
the wife with the weak husband, who
uses other folks money. gave us pres
entation that was a rare treat. Her work
is OF very deep interest and IL is always
careful and true She has n fullness Of
spirit that makes her the soul OF happi-
ness when there is any happiness about.
and in the many trying and deeply tragic
phases she is all that the most exactine
could desire. Her splendid work In this
part has won her high favor in the Me-
tropolis hut IL Is doubtful n she ever re-
celNed or VIII III dftef peflOfindnctt
receive more earnest and well expressed
approval than she did last evening. Miss
Bingham Is capable OF splendid contrasts
There IS 20 show the hopefulness Of
good perhaps, little child introduced
-the-t,l.t.e-s -rfrftrf iS nor Ufrem
seen. being wisely kept out Of view by
the playwright, in order that the success
OF the work OF despair might not be frus-
trated With the child little more in
view no one would believe the story.
There is a good aunt--good because she
has some of the milk Of human kindness.
aud there Is Rn apparently frivilous young
woman whose heart seems the one fine
thing in all the story.
scene that exposes TO us the folly
Of a family Immediately after the funeral
OF the father. who. II Is insinuated
committed suicide and the story. which
ends with the suicide OF husband, all
of whose male friends advise him 20 go
on a journey is not inspiring 20 say the
least.
Mr.. Frank Worthing Is great favorite
here AS the husband who robs right
and left in order 10 speculate he showed
his ability 10 do great acting. The past
IS unnatural and II was not Mr.. Worth
inR's part II he could not relieve the
character as the playwright had cast IL,
from being at times wearisome. An un-
even and IL must be admitted. thorough
~ unbalanced character Is that
OF Edward Warden. Mr.. Robert Edeson.
who is also most pleasantly remembered
here PLAYED the uneven part OF the lover
OF the weak husband, and Of course, the
outcome could not he satisfactory. He
has 20 portray a high and chivalrous man
for time and then for some unexplained