The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-20
PARK THEATRE.

Mental telepathy. or. as n is more COM
monty known. mind reading the occult
science by which one ts enabled TO steal
away the inmost thoughts from others
good thoughts. bad thoughts and such as
are indfferent-is exploited In a start
ling fashion at the Park theatre this
week.
"Thout Shalt Not Kill"-slated on the
program as dramatizatlon OF Count
Leo Tolstois remarkable writing under
the same title-is as curious a piece OF
melodramatic construction as has been
shown in this city In many a day. Mr.
Frederick Schwartz. the dramatist
whose skill was directed towards the
formation OF Thou Shalt Not KIM"
adopted from the world-famed Russian
thinker and novelist the sensational title
OF his piece and also the idea OF mind
reading as a medium for heavens
retribution. There Tolstols connection
with the play ends and the rest Is wholly
American--and at periods IL seems as
though a little more Tolsto and a little
less American" would work to better
advantage.
The story centres around the murder
of an old and wealthy man by one i'm
whom he had placed the management OF
his large estate This man. the muir
derer Is n bad lot" OF the conventional
type-financially embarrassed and utter
" lacking in scruples when II comes TO
lying, stealing or killing. The honest
noble. misunderstood and somewhat hot
headed son OF the old and wealthy man
gets a paternal throw down just before
the murder is committed and happens
to leave wicked looking knife just
where II will do the most good-to the
murderer.
A horse race serves to make matters
worse for the guilty fellow and the ex-
lied son clears up a deal $1,000 10 the
| good right I'm front OF the audience The
accusation is made at the race track,
the true murderer casting dark suspi-
| con onto the son-as though he was not
already overstocked with troubles.
The final act is by far the best OF the
the three because II Is In the sensational
climax that mental telepathy gets In it's
| heavy work and accomplishes the utter
| defeat OF the sin sated villain. Truth
! shall prevail" says the mind reader
! from India" and then the lightning
| settled matters entirely to the satisfac-
| ton OF the audience
The scene between Virginia Drew Tres
| colt as Alice Granger" possessed or
occult powers extraordinary. and George
! Trimble as Frederick Clayton who
has wicked thoughts read without the
least regard for his personal wishes, is
exceptionally we'll done. The scene Is
/ such as TO demand great dramatic abil-
! ity I'm its enactment and both Miss Tres
colt and Mr.. Trimble prove adequate
! TO the task.
The other characters fail 10 create
more than an ordinary impression The
| various parts are normally done and the
audience can find little 10 complain OF.
The speciality introduced by Miss Flor
ence Brockway I'm looping the loop on
| a bicycle starting from a home trainer
inserted at the lowest point of the great
circular track Is startling and proves a
thriller for the audience.
All in all. this weeks show Is good
one and replete with features calculated
| 10 suit. 1t will be continued during the
week with regular matinees,
Next week. "A Child OF the Sums