The Washington times., 1902-10-07
An Elaborate Production of
The Manxman's Latest
Novel Play Scores a Big.
Success.
Large and Fashionable Aud
ience Give Miss Allen and
Her Company an Ovation
"A Strong Play.

.
The first performance in this country
Of Hall Gaines version of his story
1.-The Eternal City," was given at tbs
National Theater last night. and an au.
dience that found the spacious Raple!
playhouse altogether too small ap.
plauded the work Of the star. Miss viols
Allen, and her more prominent asso.
ciates, MIR. Frederic de Belleville. Mr.
almost without stint. and made it quite
apparent even to the most captious that
so far as America is concerned, THE
Eternal City" is a great big success
even II Londoners failed to enthuse over
the version of the story as offered by
Beerbohm Tree the other night.
The applause was inaugurated early in
the performance, when Miss Allen made
her appearance at the reception ST
Baron Bonnelli's. 1t continued through
the entire five acts. and at the end OF
the fourth, undoubtedly the strongest
appeal for handclapping and cheers. in
the piece, the applause took on the ma
fure of regular ovation for Miss Allen,
MIR. Morgan. and Mr.. de Belleyille.
Miss Allen was indeed fortunate In
inducing Dramatist Caine to remodel his
heroine. SO that she might appear as q
pure woman instead of as the mistress
OF Bonelli, as she is pictured in the
original story. Then, too, there is a
happy ending to the play which is lack
ing in the novel and the English play.
and it IS on account of these impor-
tant changes in the story that the
Allen piece will go on record as an out
and-out success.
In the London production Mr.. Tree en-
deavored TO carry the play to success by
showing Roma in the light of a strun,-
pet. while he sought to create interest
in himself by giving a mastery imper-
sonation of the scheming, power grasp
ing, unscrupulous Bonelli.
Small wonder it is then that the Eng
lish performance Of the Caine drama
was not received as cordially as the
American version.
A Splendid Production.
Liebler. & Co.. who made the presen-
tation for Miss Allen, have been lavish
In the mattef of equipping the play.
Some of the scenery is really magnif-
cent, even when judged by the standard
set in previous seasons by this ener-
getic firm of managers. The costuming
is admirable, and the incidental music, 4
composed by Pietro Mascagni, adds con-
siderably to the completeness of the per-
formance. OF the numerous sets of
second act, is perhaps the best.
In it's dramatic form The Eternal
City" is divided into five acts, repre-
senting eight scenes. All that portion
Of the story which relates TO Donna
Roma ard David Rossi's life in London
is done away with, and the play opens
on the day of the papal procession in
Rome. The opening scene is located
in the loggia in the palace of Baron
Bonelli. Guests are assembled to wit
ness the spectacle and the promised
sensation Of Rossi. the political re-
former. stopping the procession and ad-
dressing the Pope in person. Rossi does |
stop the pageant, and in his speech he |
denounces, insults, and humilates Donna |
Roma, the ward of Baron Bonelli.
Rossi is arrested, but, realizing that |
were he brought to trial the scandal |
would spread. Donna Roma secures his
release, promising Bonelli that she will |
encompass Rcssi's downfall in some !
more crushing manner In one month.
she promises. the baron shall be pos
sessed of the secrets of Rossi's soul
Hero Finds His Sweetheart.
In the second scene, his apartments.
Rossi learns that Donna Roma is Roma
Roselli, the sweetheart Of his child
hood in London. while she in turn dis
covers that Rcssi is David Leone. who
was implicated with her father in a
and the two very promptly
proceed to fall in love with each other.
In the following scene, in Donna's
studio, she implores him not to attend
! mass meeting at the coliseum that
night. He refuses. however, and later
is supposed to be injured in a riot, but
escapes and returns to the studio.
The city has been placed under mar
tiaf law. Roma secures the password
,ver the telephone. and Rossi is enabled
10 pass the guard.
In the third act. after an interesting
court scene, Roma is brought into the I
presence of the Pope, to whom she re- I
reals the secret of Rossi's life and the ]
Pope recognizes in the young political &
,eformer his long-lost son. Roma. on I
he promise of the king that David's /
lie shall be spared, denounces him as ,
he state conspirator. David Leone. a
The fourth act happens at Roma's a
tudio, which has been stripped of its o
furnishings and ornaments. Rossi en- C
eayors to return to Rome and is cap h
ured. but escapes and comes to Roma's d
partment during an interview between
be young woman and Bonelli. b
Highly Dramatic Scene. v
This is the one intensely stirring q
Gene OF Mr. Gaines play. 1t shows p
pIendfd appreciation of stagecraft and n
be value of melodramatics. for the Il