The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-03-24

play. T.azarre." adapted by Mr. Skinner
and Aubrey Boucicault from the book OF
the same name by Mary Hartwell Cath
erwood.
Another book play. to be sure, but of a
wholly superior kind.
And the star. about the finest romantic
actor we have and surely one OF the best
readers or the English language on the
modern stage.
"I.azarre." the book" was n more than
ordinarily good historical romance. IL
had poetry and imagnati ton about II be-
yond the average OF its kind-using tho
word Imagination" I'm its better sense
since. goodness knows, many OF the his
torical romances OF the day are fun
enough OF imagination, however much
they may be lacking I'm other essentials
TO a good piece OF fiction.
With such a book at command, II is To
be expected that the play will be above
the ordinary Of book plays" i'm respect
to life and color If not necessarily or
dramatic substance.
And that is the fact "Lazarre" is a
beautiful thing on the stage. None OF
the rare few, OF the long list OF booS
plays that have survived the past two or
three seasons long enough to be remem-
bered. surpass H.
And as presented by Mr.. Skinner ana
his exceptional company, IL Is rafting
fine entertainment.
glance at the cast demonstrates the
company WIFI WHICH MT. SKINNER is sur
rounded to be an extraordinarily good
one. In fact. IL In as fine an aggrega-
ton OF players as has been seen here this
season, with the exception of two or pos
sibly three rare casts. Ard IL performs
-..taZarre'' 10 n fine finish.
The play is essentially a romance and
love story. The political story cuts
very little figure except I'm one strong
scene. where LaZarre and Napoleon meet,
and tiIe former upon finding himself
locked into the room which is the scene
OF the stormy interview, recalls the secret
panel through which his mother. Marie
Antoinette. took him from the Paris mob
ten years before. and escapes.
The play inevitably cuts up into a series
OF episodes and tabeaux. but on the
whole there is dramatic continuity pretty
we'll sustained. except with respect 20 the
fourth act, where Lazarre goes TO Russia
TO visit his sister and his uncle-a scene
which adds little to the play, and drags
I'm some characters I'm whom the audience
has had no interest and doesn't care 10
be introduced to at that late hour. with
this exception the story tells itself dra-
matcally and with steadily growing In
terest TO the final curtain.
Scenery and costumes are very hand
some. Indeed the dressing Of "Lazarre"
contributes to create the atmosphere OF
the play In a very notable way, and the
transitions from the American forests 90
contracting stage pictures that are highly
stimulating TO the interest OF an audi
ence.
Mr. Skinner has number of effective
speeches the delivery OF which Is de-
light TO listen 10. while the reading that
he gives where Lazarre recalls his child
hood for the first time. confounding
thereby the agent Of Napoleon who has
come to America FIRST 90 kill him, then,
upon the failure OF the plot. TO dlscredit
his claims makes n climax 20 the second
act that sends the house into a furor OF
applause. with Mise Durbin's "Eagle
de Ferrier" the many love scenes are ex-
ceptionally engaging.
There is really n good deal 20 this crea-
tion OF Lazarre as n character study. The
81 conflicting elnments that stir within him.
his love and loyalty for his own Of the
forest "a we'll as OF the land OF his blood
and birth and the circumstances 81 his
love making. make romantic and heroic
figure that IA we'll rounded intensely dra-
matte and wholly engaging.
other characters. too. In the book and
play are strongly romantic and dramatic.
Altogether they are Of the kind that com
mand the interest Of the reader and the
audience for their own sake. As pre-
sented by Mr.. skinner's unusually large
and excellent company they give us al
exceptionally delightful performance.