The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-05

and Tinney
At the Providence opera house for
three nights and matinee tomorrow. e.
II. Sothern In THE Proud Prince" a
miracle play I'm four acts by Justin Hunt
ley Mccarthy. under the management OF
Daniel Frohman.
Mr. Mccarthy is known as the author
Of III ! We're King. a poetic and spec
share toward Mr. Sothern's fame and de-
velopment.
"A Proud Prince Is also poetic might
ny spectacular. and is further notable
because IL hasn't a smile i'm II.
These two substantial and successful
works suggest for the author the promise
OF career akin To that OF the only sar
dou-with AIR. Sothern as his divine Sara.
% 10 speak-providing such an arrange
inent continues agreeable and convenient
10 the young dramntist and the young ro-
mantle actor.
A. all events. Mr. Mccarthy has pro-
vided Mr. Sothern with two remarka BILE
plays, remarkable for novelty OF theme
for picturesaueness. for fetching story.
for sound literary merit. for magnitude
and for a ine' suitableness 10 Mr.
sothorn's temperament.
IF Were King enjoyed successive
seasons OF popularity and there Is no rea-
son why the new drama should not have
goodly life. Mr. McCarthy's work Is
as distinctive IN its way as Sardou's it,
self. and Is like IL i'm respect OF spec
tacular possibilities. The combination
looks profitable for indefinite con-
tinusnce
One takes away from a night OF The
Proud Prince" impressions OF swring
stage crowds, bewilderlng colorings a
mighty upheaval OF nature, an atmos-
phere OF mysticism. a trail OF the grue-
some and the terrible. significant music.
Cecilia LOTUS shmmering halo and
Sothern bigger I'm his art than ever be-
fore, more commanding, more fluent OF
expression in voice. face and gesture al
together. still a growing Sothern. stiIl
suggesting even greater and finer pos
sibilities for all the strides he seems To
make from season TO season I'm the
breadth and finish OF the actors art
AS the Proud Prince changed I'm ali his
bald wickedness into a groveling fool 20
be redeemed through love repentance
and self sacrifice. Mr.. Sothern Is an artist
OF fine distinction. authoritative strokes
and big effects
This isn't pretty play-again suggest
Ing sardou. II Is violent passionate,
awe aspiring shivery.
Big and terrible things are doing or are
contemplated through four considerable
acts.
In the first act Robert az Sicily pro-
claims defiance 10 divine power as a rally
20 his humiliation at the hands OF Per-
petua who. loving him as n hunter met
BY chance in the sylvan wood, Is shocked
20 discover that he is the bad King
Robert with an evil purpose toward her.
From It's niche In the church wall steps
the figure OF the archangcl quickened by
the spirit NJ the divine wrath To put
down the mighty and the proud and
vengeful Robert is forthwith resolved
into gibbering fool while a storm of
the most terrible stage kind really shakes
the house and makes the audience
trenble we'll as the hapless prince
Though bearing the aspect Of the fool.
the prince retains his conscious self the
dual state evidently being necessary To
his proper appreciation OF the punishment
nc Is undergoing
In the second act. the climax IL reached
when the fool rushes off Perpetua in
cloak supposed 10 have been taken from
the body of one dead with the plague--to
the shrieks of the ladies Of the kings pri-
vate encourage Perpeiua has been taken
there to be degraded upon the order OF
Robert. before he was turned into a fool.
But astounded by her willingness to die
rather than submit the fool becomes her
rescuer.
The terror OF act three develops with