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

JeneTSOn
Major Doria ............. w. y. Duess,ne
Commentators Angelelii. Adoipn Lestins
Capt. Cavalli .............. warner Olano
Capt. Cont ................ george ~ oru %
Felice ....................... William EViie
Natalino .......... Miss Affie Mcvicker
Giovanni ........,....''''... rianA ps
Guiseppi ...........,.''..''''' foua A'a',"
Donna Roma Volonna ......''.'Miss Ahen
At the Providence Opera House Tor the
week with matinees tomorrow and Sat-
urday. Viola Allen as Roma" In dra-
mstization by Hall Caine OF his novels
..The Eternsl city"
Score one more big and impressive pro-
duction for a season that Is already nota-
HE for big and Impressive things. There
never was another season like IL In all
the distinguished history OF the froVi-
dence Opert House.
No,hinr. however, has been more tre-
mendous that THE Eternal city" Moth
Ing can surpaso II for magnitude In the
Immediate future. For one very excehent
reason thlt the limits OF even the dig
stage OF tie Providence are pretty nearly
reached this week.
Thare = one set Donna Roma's
.,udio" hat has "a ceiling. just the cell
ing. thatis more massive and more eiao-
crate thn a good many whole scenes.
Perhaps this set Is the most beautituI
OF the many. At all events II Is the most
stupend)us. 1t shows vast interior IN
marble with a tremendous frieze and
rioriou ceiling decoration the panels
~ the rieze being reproductions of mural
that are themselves distinctly works OF
art he ceiling to the rppm instead OF
beinrthe customary painted canvass nap
A ar amazing production OF stage art
and kage carpentry!
TIL set for the closing scene. Loggia,
4. sother massive piece. And every
o,1 Of the scenes Is a good deal more than
ordhary In art and solidity OF construc-
tiol Even the stage hands must ieel
AZ though they are real palaces ana
things that they are hindling. The ef-
ect on the audience is surprisingly SUD
,tantial II is as though whole struc-
lures out of the Eternal City, or some
equally permanent residential section,
were transported by gigantic movers
bodily to the stage.
There are innovations In the production
that are calculated to arouse mingled
emotions In the minds of the audience
One Is that Miss Allen wears black
wig instead of the tawny concoction that
we have grown 10 love her In. Plainly
that dense black wig In not so becoming
as the blond affair. We suppose IL is
necessary as species OF local color. 30
10 speak. to the lillian atmosphere For
our part. we prefer the glorious req
thing and no matter about art. we
fancy there are SUCH creatures as red
headed Italians. At all events, we are
sure that Roma lie enough of character
10 be entitled to have any sort OF nair
that she pleases.
Then there is a telephone. IL Is gilt
tering affair that Is up-to-date and per-
hans even advanced into the century. as
posed to be I'm order 10 relieve the intro
duction OF the Pope from any possibility
of a misunderstanding The telephone
figures In a big climax OF speech ana ac-
ton. Perheps II seems TO smooch ana
chafe the romantic and meiodramauc
element. fitting and properly reahsuc as
It's service undoubtedly In.
Then there is the figure OF the Pope,
.'Pius x" OF the unidentified future or
the action. The curtain rises upon him
seated In a chair In the Gardens OF the
Vatican, for all the world like the pictures
OF Leo XIII, as the face and form ana
attitude Of that Pontin have been MADE
familiar In the biograpn ana painting
and portraiture.
Mr. T.. M. Holland. distinguished
actor portrays the Holy Father and the
tableau eminently commands respect and
admiration.
II is a dignifed and decorous represen-
tation though we are not prepared TO say
that the deeply religious might not view
Il with other sentiments or prefer not
- view Il at all.
However. II Is part OF the stnrx That
could not very we'll be omitted from even
a stage version. although everybody
knows a play can ordinarily be made
from a book I'm a way that the reader
OF the book would never recognize IL.
The book of the Eternal City" is a
big story. II has magnitude and no end
of atmosphere and all that sort OF thing
a bold plot and strident vivid characters
The drama reproduces the play ir all the
essentials OF bigness and impressiveness
1t is heavy and intense.
IL is on the grand scale throughout,
with no lighter touches except for a rare
flash OF Miss Aliens delightful coquetry.
IL ends happily which is more than can
be said for the book.
IL had to be so for the play. an au-
dience would hardly consent TO be s2 tor
tured and held In susp,nse except on
condition that the outcone should be re-
leving.
Roma and David have their life To live
after all their trials whtn the final cur
tain falls on them. whipped In a warm
embrace.
A whole lot goes on behind the scenes
as an obligate 20 the tremendous tableaux
almost uninterruptedlyo on view TO the su-
dience. II In busy stage all the time
Bells peal or toll as ne action indicated
chorusses sing, there Is fine baritone
solo. there are the SHOUTS and cheers and
3eers OF a mob, the ihooting OF a gatling
gun. the killing OF Fruno's child. the fall
OF the Kingdom and the rise of the Re-
pubic-all and muh more behind the
scenes. SO that thsaudlence is Impressed
with the fullness of things Invisible as
we'll as spectacuig. Then there Is spe-
ciai incidental misic written for the
"Ftemai City" ~ Mascagni-before the
.trikel IL reallyis a complete and con-
,unmate stage work with every nicne
niIed no gaps @ lspses anywhere.
Miss Allen is superb. She throws her
self into her pat without giving you any
shadow OF unesy feeling that she may
throw herself rrough II. as she occasion
sIIy ala with dory Quayie She grows in
renose and pwers OF quiet expression.
she makes va feel that Roma IL n real
woman for a the unrealIty of her era
matte environment.
Mr.. Edwaf Morgan and Mr.. Frederick
Ds Belleyilt are her leading associates.