The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-03
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

Mr.. E s. willard Is going to be very
generous TO his admirers during his en-
sagement at the Providence Opera House
next week, for he will give them oppor-
tunitss 10 see him in no less than SIX
plays, the pick OF his extensive roper
toire. The list includes. besides his Ia
test success. "The Cardinal" those we'll
tried and very popular works, "David
Garrick." "The Middleman." ''rhe Pro-
fessor's Love story" IAN for Her and
''Tom Pinch"
."rhe Cardinal was written for Mr..
willard by Louis ~. Parker, and was pro-
duced for the first time last season IL u
an historical play, with the scene isio
An Rome in 1910. and the principal char.
acter Is Giovanni de Medici. who received
the Cardinals hat at the age OF ~ ana
I'm later life became Pope Leo X. In tn,s
plav the cardinal becomes vctlm 10 his
vows of priesthood. and under the sesi OF
the confessional is Obliged TO shieiu .
murderer who has cast suspicion ol 'he
crime upon the prelate's own orothei;
The work IL an exceedingly powerlu,
drama, full OF strong situations, anu
gives Mr. Willard scope for the iuu en-
ercise OF his abilities. David Garrick -
a comedy by the late Tom hoper'son'
ing contest between the narrow s"ruiu
mind and a noble soul supplemented py
genius: the hero Is the famous fnsHsH
actor OF the eighteenth century, VINO. 10
keen a lightly-given promise 10 her iatn-
er is Obliged 20 simulate drunkehhess
ha,oro the girl 20 whom he has given his
heart '.,rhe Middleman'' treats OF anoth-
or contest-that between capital ana Ia
bor and shows how a poor old potter, oe
prived OF the fruits OF an Immensely var
liable invention by his wealthy employer,
and bitterly wronged by the rich man :
son. davotes his hitherto dreamy life "a
revenge, and eventually. by aid or anoth'
er invention becomes the master OF tne
man who tried TO crush him 1t II the
work OF Henry Arthur Jones.
The Professors Love story descrlnes
itself In its title. II concerns dear. OLD
absent-minded. blundering scientist, wne
mistakes his affection for hts private
aecretary for some grave mental aiiment
and In not disabused OF the ides ioi
months The author is James NJ Barrie
whose Scottish stories and plays are
known wherever the English language !:
spoken.
Tom Pinch" Is. OF course, founded or
MARTIN Chuzzlewit." and Is one OF th'
very few successful dramatizations o.
Dickens stories. No better repertor,
for displaying the wide scope OF Mr Wi
lard's art could possibly have been sc
lected. and aside from the pleasure "hlci
the representation Of these plays If SUR
10 give they will furnish opportunities TO
the comparative study Of it's dinerin'
phases. There is not the slightest re
eemblance between any two or tne 81
characters that the eminent actor Is u
personate
As the Cardinal he Is the stately, grave
dignified prince OF the church. with. nev
ertheless. a warm heart under his re-
robe. and generous disposition benin
his craft In THE Middleman' ne
Cyrus Blenkarn, the dreamer who Is an
sorbed I'm his search for lost secret J
porcelain manufacture and content wit
his lot until his and his daughter
wrongs arouse him TO a frenzied deter
mination 10 devote his life 10 vengeance