The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-06-21
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

The Isabelle Evesson stock company. as
sisted by several members OF the Buhler
stock company that has been playing at
the Imperial, gave a production OF the
new play entitled 1.-THE Invaders" at the
Providence Opera House last night
1t was written by Mr. Edward Fuller OF
this city who is also responsible for the
piece called "Fetters" produced here last
season. Mr.. Fuller calls his latest effort, a
comedy of manners" but just why no
one seems 10 know. Some one tried TO
find the author last night and settle this
point, but Mr. Fuller. IL is said, could not
be found.
Allowances are always made-at least
they should be-for FIRST night per-
formances and an audience while they
criticise in a general way. overlook many
things; In THE Invaders" last night,
there were a good many TO close ones
eye al and give the benefit OF the doubt
The author took a difficult subject upon
which TO build his play-society has never
been diagnosed to complete satisfaction
and perhaps never will be. and the more
Mr.. Fuller tried TO give his ideas or so
ciety I'm the lines OF his piece, the deeper
he seemed to sink In the quicksand OF un-
certainty.
He endeavors TO "show up society. go
to speak. as 1t is today; some OF the
lines are good. some are ''fillers" and
some are utterly past redemption.
The action OF the piece is at house
party given by Mrs. ivan" Kerton. but
terfiy of society. Near by lives rela-
tive whose granddaughter, Hosamund
Stanley, has been reared without
knowledge OF the world. Rosumend Is
invited 10 the party and then the trouble
begins. Rosamund gets ratified at her
surroundings and the people In whose
society she Is thrown and falls victim
to an unscrupulous villain who wins her
love and asks her to be his wife. The
adventurer is foiled, however, by the ap-
pearance OF his wife. and not being OF the
sect called Mormons. the whole love
affair is off, and Rosamund Is shown the
true character OF the villain and In
cidentally feels that sincere love for her
self lies in the person OF Archibald
Greville.
Woven in and about this line OF action
are other minor complications which
bring out other types OF society people,
both men and women.
AS we say some OF the lines were ex-
ceIlent. but there were some that were
a little queer. For instance. while many
say society is broad in some things IL Is
hard 20 believe that young unmarried
girl would. with her finance. talk over
tn. matter OF having children or not. yet
in The Invaders IL seems that two of the
characters had that race suicide point In
view
Careful rehearsals of any peice are alb
solutely necessary to a fair production
and 10 do full Justice TO the author IL
must be said that the players did not
handle their parts as we'll as could be
done.
Several of them were anything but line
perfect and acted as IL they were In any
thing but their element.
Miss Evesson as Mrs. ivan" was well
placed and interpreted her part excellent
ly. while Miss Pitt was undoubtedly
clever as Rosamund. Miss Besley made
a charming Virginia Bromfield. and while
her part was a small one. she created
a most favorable impression. Mr.. An
drews, as Archibald Greville, was good
and Mr. Mordaunt, as Vantyne Fame, did
his part well. while Mr. owens portrayal
OF the young and ambitious lover. Kerton
Dare, was well received.
The piece on the whole shows some
high literary qualities, but ii is yet crude
and the dialogue Is too voluminous for