The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-06
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.


At the Providence Opera House for the
week Mr.. r.. s. willard with different
bill every evening.
A week OF Mr.. willard Is a treat and
90 is week Of repertory. the good old
fashioned variety OF performances which
actors were once wont to deal out lavish
ly 10 their admirers.
Last evenings opening bill was r. W.
Robertson's fine favored old comedy
"David Garrick' which was preceded by
bit OF a curtain raiser entitled IA Silent
Woman"
Garrick was a good selection for an
opening night because IL Is quite general
ly known TO theatre-going folks ana al
ways may be counted upon 10 furnish a
FIRST rate vehicle for a well trained ana
talented comedian. For such week or
repertory az Mr. willard proposes To pro-
vide, Garrick affords what the yachtsmen
would call an easy entrances.
Tonight the bill is The Cardinal
This Ia recent addition to Mr.. Will
lard's already extensive list OF plays and
will be a real novelty TO his audience. II
is the work OF Louis ~. Parker and is
written and produced on an ambitious
scale. Perhaps tonight's bill may be said
70 be the most brilliant offering OF the
matte plot and action. THE Cardinal" will
also be the bill At tomorrows matinee.
For Wednesday evening tom Pinch
IL the bill. a dramatization. OF course
from Dickens Martin Chuzzlewt
Thursday evening Mr. Willard will give
us THE Middleman." which may be said
10 be the play In which he achieved his
greatest popularity i'm this country. at
least a. is best recalled by old admirers OF
willard. And on the whole the elaborate
repertory can offer nothing more absorb
ingly interesting than this fine old timer
Friday evening "Al for Her is the BILL
a drama that has for it's central motive
that Of the sacrifice of Sidney Carten in
1.-THE Tale OF Two Cites" I'm deed ''Al
for Her Is an old time version of the
theme that recent seasons have seen I'm
1.-THE only Way" In many respects the
older play is tho superior. Saturday
evening Mr.. Willard will present "The
Professors Love story" delightful
comedy and entirely different from any
thing else OF the week. IL will be re-
membered as the bill with which Mr.. VIII
lard filed his whole week on his visit
last season. For the matinee on Satur-
day David Garrick" will he repeated
AS to last nights bill there really isn't
much 10 say about either the play or
the play that can be new. SO far as
the possibilities OF the comedy go, at
least. Il would appear that tho star has
surrounded himself with particularly
good company. Miss Maude Fealy, who
Is at the top. s pretty and talented
young actress and she gave very de-
lightful performance OF the lovable hit OF
a part OF Ada Ingot." The play is pro-
nounced in it's character sketches which
amount 10 burlesque after the old man
ner. And the picture presented by the
company at Ingots house i'm the famous
scene Of Garricks stimulation Of drunken
ness. with Brown, Smith and Jones and
the ladies I'm their exaggerated finery and
fine airs, was as richly grotesque and
mirth provoking as the writer has ever
CHANGED to have seen 1t done. Unreal
and. indeed caricature as this whole
scene Is. il appeals to the sympathy of
an audience as well as TO it's love for
the comic. The drunk act Is long drawn
out and only the most studious skill can
really invest II with enough variety TO
sustain II to the end. Needless to observe
Mr.. Willard has the requisite amount OF
skill. II ever an actor had
Mr.. Willard Is the kind of fellow that
the old play bills probably meant when
they announced the eminent actor" He
Is truly an eminent actor. IL you want
TO get a good idea Of what that means
pick out two or three OF his PLAYS and
see Willard In their several parts during
the week. There is surely no one Just
now kicking around our modern stage
who approaches him in his combined tall
ent OF character actor and an exponent
Of the romantic drama as we'll There
is considerable opportunity i'm David
Garrick. slight as the comedy is In many
important respects. TO demonstrate Mr..
Wizards mobility. Last nights audience
stood az their seats and gave the actor an
ovation before departing from, the theater
II had surely been an enjoyable even
ing. The audience was one Of the largest
or the season. and I'm n society way IL
was particularly distinguished. Mr. Will
lard played the part in his happiest mood
and his company were imbued with tho
same excellent spirit. The scenery and
appointments were in the very best OF
taste and the elegance and refinement
and finish and repose Of Mr.. Wizards
own distinguished style seemed to be re-
fected In every part OF the stage and from
everything on IL.