The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-13
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.
THE BELLS.

......................M Mr.. Laurence Irving
Mrs. Anne Oldheld....M Miss Ellen Terry
The audience that hailed and fareweled
Sir Henry Irving at the Providence Opera
House last evening was about as irnpos-
ing in size as that that crowded the house
on Monday evening. 1t filled the avail
able chairs. overhowed into the paddock
and slipped into the crannies.
THE Bells most strenuous OF dramas,
was the bill with strikingly different
Nance Oldheld' for a curtain raiser
Charles Reade's comedietta was, of
course, delightfully."- done. To the ina gina
tion Miss Terry loses nothing In light
ness. even though, TO the cold and cal
culating eye the calipers must be some
what widely extended TO comprehend the
gracious plumpness. For our part we
would as lief see her I'm Juliet-nay. even
i'm Rosalind-as in the queenly figures
that she has favored us with In recent
times We are confident that in the mes
merism OF her delightful art, her we'll
rounded outlines. would be surrendered
10 the desired illusion.
Miss Terry was a bouncing Nance-light
and bouncing And Nance must have
been bouncing girl as Charles Reade
pictured her, we fancy. Reade had
fondness for big. wholesome women. But
bless US. what abandon she did throw into
the gay little piece. The comedietta is
only rarely done. probably because only
the rarely accomplished comedian could
tackle IL with any sort OF satisfaction 10
an intelligent audience. Light as II Is, IL
is an artistic It'd bit. Last nights audi
ence will remember Miss Terry delighted
ly i'm il and hope to have her come back
soon again.
From the mirth of Nance Oldfield ;he
audience was swept into the terrific little
drama that Leopold Lewis adapted from
Erckman-C -Chatrian's Polish Jew eN-
pressly. we believe. for Sir Henry's dong
"The Bells Is almost monologue, as
| the whole stage full of other characters
| are played I'm intense contrast to the part
| of the numbering burgomaster, VINO
| is finally driven insane by remorseless
| conscience and dies miserable death. IL
| is a tremendously impressive figure that
| IS developed by the authors and Sir
| Henry's Interpretation and the part Is
| intimately linked with his distinction.
| Last nights audience was spell bound by
| IL.
Providence theatre-goers part with Sir
Henry and Miss Henry again, trusting
TO have them come 10 town OFTEN ana
| soon. After ALL there Is no one on the
| stage today to compete with them, al
| though we have some likely young blood
| coming along that viii I'LL their places
| when they get ready TO retire.
We guess they get nowhere a rounder
welcome than i'm Providence.
Tonight Miss Kathryn Kidder. very
| talented romantic actress, begins an en-
| rarement for the balance of tho week
in the drama. Molly Pitcher" Popular
| prices prevail
| Mile. Marzella. the owner and trainer
/ of the wonderfully clever birds az Keith 5
| this week Is said 10 receive the largest
salary paid TO any owner OF trained ant
| mails or birds I'm vaudeville today. She
| certainly offers one OF the best acts of
| the kind ever seen here. which appeals
| alike TO adults and children. Aside from
being exceptionally interesting, the act
| Is very beautiful. Nile. Marzella wears
some magnificent diamonds.
An amusing little incident happened al
| Keith's the other afternoon during Mar
| zella's Birds act. Tommy the pet cat
| OF the theatre whom regular patrons oi
! the house look upon as one OF the regu-
! lar attaches OF the house. was lnzily
sleeping on the piano ~ the foyer. when
Mile. Marzella's man brought around the
! pigeons. who, upon signal from theii
mistress. rs 20 her shoulders upon the
stage when Tommy saw what was go
ing on he jumped up. and became In
tcrested The birds were In the cage. and
Tommy approached 20 get a look at them
when near the cage, the birds were re-
leased. and Tommy. evidently fearing e
be tempted walked back TO his sleeping
place with "A disgustcd look. Tommy Is
now looked upon as very good littl'
boy.
Miss Rena Aubrey Is one OF the genuin,
surprises OF the bill at Keiths this week
Previous TO her appearance there was mo-
much said about her. and now the towr
Is talking about her beautifully clear ant
syupathetic viocc. Not only has Miss Au
hrey a very pleasing. true soprano bu
sshe has the happy faculty OF using hei
God given power with rare Intelligence
She also has a charming personality anc
stage presence which greatly enhanct