The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-04

Miller and company In ''D'Arcy of the
Guards" a four-act comedy by Louis
Evan Shlpman.
The Henry Miller OF the new comedy
Is study in red. II is scintllating
bit OF stage work and this star never
scintillated more engagingIy.
There is little OF The time honored mirth
and pathos combination about darcy
OF the Guards" much less Is there any
thing tragic. II is as merrily bright all
through as Mr.. Millers swagger Uniform
OF an officer OF the British grenaders.
The dramatic element Is quietly effective
without any whoop-la The melodramatic
possibilities are nicely restrained to give
scope TO the delightful love story and
the play at cross purposes between the
hero and the heroine These find them
selves In "A situation that while by no
means new to the stage, has novel twist
10 it.
The theme that perhaps reached its
highest altitude OF popularity I'm the play
familiar 20 every stage loving household.
Held by the Enemy" has received div
ers treatment from time TO time but we
fail TO recall a precedent for making the
natural enemy OF the audience, as well
as OF the heroine. its hero.
In "D'Arcy OF the Guards" the hero
Is British soldier OF the American
spirited daughter OF an American house
hold that Is compelled 10 suffer. having
the hero and brother officer quartered
on them during the British occupation OF
Philadelphia. Incidentally the audience
views the doings IN the British lines. the
while Washington is waiting his chance
at Valley Forge.
This smacks of novelty As n general
thing II IL not demanded OF audiences that
they must be in agreement with the sem
timents OF the stage heroine. other than
those indicated by her affections, but II
has been thought quite necessary by the
cautious playwriter that the hero must
be on the side representing the general
feeling OF his public and having their APP
proynl for what he represented.
But the author OF "DArcy or the
Guards shows how the trick may be sue
cessfully accomplished Of reversing The
traditional order. n he seems to compro-
mise bit by making HIS hero an Irish
man. though Briton. he takes pains also
TO indicate that his heroine hates an
Irish-B -Briton even more than she would
be expected to do an Englishman.
The boldness OF the venture Is 10 be
commended and the success of IL Is It's
sufICient Justif cation. Major DARCY in
his swaggor red coat Is an enge ging ngurc
from his first entrance. Pamela Towns-
hend. the daughter or the household
where the major IL quartorcd. doesn't
fights two Hessians IN her defence. even
though he drinks n cup of execrable cold
chocolate rather than offend her moro
than his presence has already done; even
though his manners are delightful.
She declines 10 be moved by the act of
championship with tho Hessia: ~ she fails
10 realize the sacrifice occasioned 10y the
execrablc chocolate and the gallant Irish
mans delightful r1anners strike her as
all impudenoe. As for the majors brogue,
that is unbearable.
Nevertheless Major D'Arcy's attributes
as displayed I'm the first act win the au-
dicnce and AFFORD 10 comfortabl" as
surancc that before tho four acts are
over they win win Mistress Farneg.
The story OF Major D'Arcy's woolng
under ths embarrassing circumstance Of
being the gaoler of the object of his af-
fection Il told with great spirit. sufficient
incident. lively climaxes and a refreshing
freedom from stage hcroCs that 6ccp the
audience In a merrily delighted mood tine
whole through.
Contrasted 10 the naughty and sncom.
promising Pamela. Major Darcy IS livc-
ly. spontaneous persistent and evidently,
from the start. Irresistible.
Mr.. Miller. among the group Of talented
young actors OF the day. fills a place
peculiarly his own. and II IL Of sort
that never fails To- delight his audiences.
And ~ II perhaps I'm the lighter and inor-
rier vein ~ his art that audiences best
like him. for all hls demonstration ~ c.,-
cellence IN emotionally romantic not 60
say tragic. episode. There i~n't any
question about his tslent for the latter
but probably, from tho point or view Of
the box Office. II r. In the former range
that audiences mostly want him Co.
As rule raow-n-days sudiences- don.t