The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-11-23
THE NEW YORK THEATRES
Mr. Favefshan and Miss Fay Davis IN H v, Esn1onds
New Comedy Viola AlIen IN Gaines Eternal City
BY ALoNzo NEwcoMsE.
Ew YORK. November 22-rhe re- can,

can, and Miss Jeffreys Lewis is to be
Jim's wife. Mr.. W. H Thompson, Mrs.
Annie Adams. Mrs Sol Smith, and many
other well know players are in the cast.
$50
Viola Allen opens a winter engage
ment at the Victoria theatre In drama
tization of Hall Gaines thoroughly dis
cussed novel; THE Eternal City Inc
stage version of the story will be en-
bellished by incidental music, specially
written by Mascagni the Falian COM
poser and an attempt win De MADE 70
give the play vivid scenic display.
In the story Mr.. Game goes down Into
Rome and using one Of the popes % a
parsonage of his drama, makes lively
bid for sensatlonalism by representing
him as the father of a son-and a son
of checkered experiences at that. Thus
does the astute Mr.. Game contrive to
keep himself talked about.
Another incident which, also brought
the play peculiarly to attention, is that
Miss Allen avowing that she will never
again appear on the stage as a heroine
with a past, compelled Mr.. Game to re-
construct her version and convert Roma.
the character in which she appears, into
a sinned against rather than sinful wo-
man. With fewer words and more fidel-
ity to the novel. Beerbohm Tree, in Eng
land, has allowed the Roma OF his YER
sion to be as bad as she likes.
The play takes up the book narrative
at the incident Of the papal procession In
Rome, when Baron Bonel1i, the prime
minister, with his ward Donna Roma.
sees David Rossi. political reformer,
halt the procession, address the pope In
person and insult ana humiliate them
Rossi Isl arrested, but Is released later
at the instance of Roma. VINO wishes to
squelch the scandal.
Subsequently Roma learns that the Of
fender is none other than David Leone,
the sweetheart Of her youth, and dur
ing the Coliseum riots, their love Is
plighted again. Roma then gives the
baron to understand that rar from pun
ishing Rossi, she intends to marry him.
During the riots the baron is led to
believe that Rossi has been killed, but
as a matter Of fact, he escapes. Soon
afterward Roma is brought into the
presence OF the pope, to whom she re-
veals the secrets OF Rossi's life, and
brings about the discovery by him that
the man is his long-lost son. On promise
from the pope that his life will be spar
ed, Roma denounces him as the state
conspirator, David Leone.
| BY the beginning of the fourth act the
fugitive David has been captured and is
"a
has refused to carry out the agreement
to save his life whereupon Roma at
tempts to kill the prime minister.
| David meanwhile has escaped and come
to Rome, where he is discovered by the
baron. There is conflict, in which the
latter, trying to kill David. is himself
killed the girl taking upon herself the
| guilt of the murder.
Rossi then demands the sanctuary of
the pontiff, and meets his father, who
finds that David Rossi and Frederick
De Bellevil1e as parliament is called to
appoint a successor to the baron and
as David Rossi is the one chosen, he is
restored to Roma
In the supporting company, e. M. Hol-
land will appear as the pope, Edward
Morgan as David Rossi and Frederic
De Belleville as Baron BoneYii. The other
| characters will be supplied by W. e.
Bonney, c. Leslie Allen. Harry Harmon
| George Boniface, Jefferson Lloyd and
| others.
|