The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-11
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

Launcelot ooDDo....s...Mr. =. DousWortn
Old Boblo. o...............,Mr Mr.. 4. Reynolds
Gaoier. r......................M Mr.. w. Graham
Leonardo. ....................Mr. II. II. Cook
Balthazar. ar.....................Mr Mr.. w. Marion
Stephano. .....................M Mr.. w. Albeit
Clerk of the Court Mr.. y. ID. Daviss
Jessica.. Miss Mhbei Hackney
Nerisse.. Miss Rosalind Ivan
Portia.. Miss Ellen Terry
Mr.. Henry Irving and Miss Ellen Terry,
Incompatible comrades. come to town
very quietly so far es their own efforts
or that of their official representatives
are concerned.
No glaring posters compete with the
oat meal and grip cure impressions on
the bill boards to announce their arrival.
The newspaper display is conspicuousiy
modest
Mr.. Bran Stoker, prince OF press
agents distinguishes himself by dlffdence
of department and timi6ity OF utterance.
There Is no possibility of anything
mildly suggestive Of a brass band or
hurrah associated with the coming of
Mr.. Irving and Miss Terry.
And to further stay undue popular ex
citoment prices OF the theatre seats are
doubled. IL is hign water mark when
Henry Irving comes 10 town. Prices are
schedule. Nothing that comes along In
the course Of the season costs so much
10 see.
And yet the whole town talks of the
coming of Irving arc Terry from the
day of the first tentative announcement.
As the time approaches folks begin To
ask and 10 scan the newspapers TO dis
cover the date OF the event
When the day is named there is
fever.
When the box office opens there is
rush. II the Providence Opera House
should burst into flame at . a m. some
bright day the crowd could not be more
eager TO be there.
And when the curtain goes up the
packed audience would make sardine
nervous for It's ribs.
Verify this is triumph. The tour OF
Prince Henry of Prussia is mild and
tagging procession BY contrast TO the
ceum.
Truly Sir Henry may hum with much
composure:
There's nothing in the worlds applause
SO precious as a righteous cause;
There's nothing I'm the wages
Half so noble the work.
The opening bill Of the Irving Terry en-
gagement at the Providence Opera House.
this time extended 10 three nights, was
on the whole about the most pretentious
and impressive piece in the remarkable
repertory OF this now unique pair.
Miss Terrys Portia I'm The Merchant OF
Venice" has long been recognized as II
We're a standard. Probably no actress has
ever better satisfied the demands OF the
irnacina ton as TO real Portia or hlled
10 running over the measure of this one
of Shakespeare's impressive and beauti-
ful women Probably Miss Terrys Portia
will never be bettered by any comedienne
10 come.
The critic has long ago said the last
word on II and has gone only 10 refresh
himself and fondly admire. AT all events,
as has been observed or the strawberry
Lord may be able TO make better fruit
but the Lord knows he never did.
To be sure Portals DO not grow on ev-
cry tree these days From the position Of
one OF the most familiar OF plays, The
Merchant OF Venice" is become rare
comedy to see.
Sir Henry's shylock is the new shylock,
the standard of the modern stage that
will probably endure until the comedian
Of the future restors the old. wretched
and mean Jew OF a generation ago. Sir
Henry created, at least for the modern
stage, the Jew that wins the sympathy
OF his audience, the Shylock that COM
mands a large measure Of commiseration
for his downfall. that appeals TO the
sense of fair play and some bit OF good
will for the under dog.
That was new 10 us when Sir Henry
made IL So The Shakespearean experts
disputed and wrangled over it. But "A
civilization that feels sobery disposed TO-
ward a slaughtered Chink. for all his
murder OF the well meaning missionary,
that wants TO upift instead OF to slay a
treacherous Filipino. and that goes down
into it's pocket to subscribe TO the relief
of a starving Boer, accepts with consider
able relief and confidence In Its human
lEAE la nj n n III
shylock. whose retirement from the court
makes for a tear rather than brick bat.
And that. ie the Shylock which the stage
will doubtless give us for a long time to
come. so far as II gives us anything.
For there Is only one actor that we can
think OF today, beside Sir Henry mat is
capable OF providing Shylock. At least
only one in America. And he, we believe,
has never played IL.
In scenic display and sumptuousness OF
tableaux, THE Merchant OF Venice Is
the most pretentious and the most beauti-
ful OF the weeks bill. The scenery last
evening was, OF course, masnincent. Inc
stare work, the grouping OF the people
and the massing OF effects made pictures
that will long remain In the memory. IL
was a consummate production.
Sir Henry's creation and his own stand
ard are maintained TO the last detail.
And. shades OF David HarumV Sir
Henry responded to no emo or applause
by making a graceful speech OF thanks
as he usually Is gracious enough TO DO,
without making amy particular russ
about ~.
Tonisht's bill will be king Charles |,
a drama that IL new. we believe, "a
Providence audiences, at all events quite
unfamiliar. IL Is to be followed by the re-
markabIe monologue Waterloo"
Tomorrow night. the melodrama, The
Bells" that first made Sir Henry famous
"a Ns,.. Terry deiightfully I'm Nance