The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-12
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.


King Charles I..........,...H Henry Irving
Marquis OF Huntley......M Mr.. j. ii. Barnes
Lord Moray...........,....Mr Mr. A Royston
lreton. n........................ MT. W. LugB
Cavaliers. Mr.. Patton, Mr.. F. Daviss
Attendant. nt.....-.............M Mr. X. r., Tapo
queens Page...........,. MISS M. Holland
Princess Elizabeth. Miss Queenie Tarvin
Lady Eleanor. ...... Miss Mabel Hackney
Queen Henrietta Maria. Miss Ellen Terry
WATERLOO.
Corporal Gregory Brewster. Henry Irving
Sergeant Archie Mcdonald, X. A..
.....................Mr Lionel Belmore
Colonel James Midwinter.
....................Mr Mr.. Laurence Irving
Norah Brewster...... Miss Mabel Hackney
The entertainment offered by Sir Henry
Irving and his company at the Providence
Opera House last evening was conspicu-
ously different from the gorgeous, mas
sive and spectacular production OF the
opening evening with all its wealth of
Shakespesrean ingenuity, humor and pa
thos in the story OF THE Merchant OF
Venice"
King Charles /" is the work OF w. q.
Wills. Except that IT should be offered
to the public by distinguished artist OF
the stage, IL would probably command
only a very moderate hearing. And even
under the most favorable auspices IL
could hardly hope TO become anything
approaching a popular success.
The play undoubtedly has merit and
certain charm as surely. II Is a bit OF
poetry and a character sketch, an etch-
ing from a turbulent period OF English
history that, considering. the spectacular
and melodramatic features thereof, Is
dainty rather than robust That Is be-
cause II pictures the personal fortunes OF
the hapless Charles. with the mighty up
heaval only seen in the background of
the canvass.
-Four acts, chiefly defamation. present
King Charles intimately and after a fash
ion 10 incline the present day Roundhead
10 a more temperate consideration or
that monarch's weaknesses and vices.
IL is the king as a man OF not unlika-
BILE disposition and domestic charm that
fills the picture III Is character sketch
suggesting that memorable act In Robes
pierre where the incorruptible one Is
shown in his family circle. Only briefly,
in meeting with Cromwell, is the King
apart from Queen and children. And the
scene with Cromwell rises TO no great
heights of strenuousness.
There is small attempt at production.
The scenery appointments are, of course,
adequate. in perfect taste. But like the
writing OF the play. without magnitude.
The Irving tableaux is in evidence in
group that forms when the king Is made
prisoner and again when he Is about 10
be taken from Whitehall TO the scanold
III these are modest, as displays, they are
notably effective and demonstrate the
hand of Irving, the master stage man
ager. The closing tableaux fingers In
memory.
So King Charles / was interesting TO
the audience last evening, rather than
impressive.
The little bit that followed, Waterloo" {"
by A. Conan Doyle, a one-act play that
is practically monologue, showed Sir
Henry in a character sketch that Is quite
as conspicuousIy one of his triumphs as
Hamlet or Matthias in THE Bells.
The doddering old Waterloo veteran or
the old soldering DAYS, the days OF the
duke and dying in his chair whilst re-
calling the episode that made him a Ia
nous corporal and won him applause from
all who knew him, from his Regent of
the old days to the young colonel OF his
regiment, who calls to pay his respects,
is a stage figure that has become inti-
mately associated with Sir Henry's dis
tinction. 1t YVES especially 10 be appre-
ciated last evening. coming as IL did IN
most striking contrast 10 such part as
that OF Charles the First.
Tonight the Irving-Terry engagement
closes with the blood curdling and hair
raising piece OF The Bells originally
the work OF the famous French authors,
Erckmann and Chatrian. and distin-
guished as one of Sir Henry's earliest
triumphs THE Bells" can never grow
old with audiences who like something TO
set them delightfully."- medge and send
IN ha haunted.
will be preceded by Nance Oldheld."
Charles Reade's one-act comedy. that,
slight as Il Is. offers distinction TO even
a distinguished actress like Miss Terry.
The closing bill OF the engagement could
hardly be improved on for popular favor
in all Sir Henry's and Miss Terry's rep
ertory.