The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-09-26

at the Empire theatre last night
Much Of the smoothness OF the per
formances and the close adherence TO the
old orIh NAL business and general effect
is undoubtedly due TO the influence OF
Harry Child. the stage director, who has
been with the piece Tor about II years
coming from England with William
Greet's famous company. In its long runs
and through shpwreck and blzzards Mr..
Child has been IN the thick OF IL and five
or six years ago reached here IN bnz-
zard and put the play on al $50 with
host ~ supernumerarics whom Mr. child
instructed as the play progressed, lie
plays the part OF Seryilus the spy, so
that he can be in the thick OF the mob
scenes and soc that all goes well.
Although the great mobs ana army of
soldiers have dwinded 10 III the size Of
the theatre the production Is a very cred
liable one and not only pleased last
nights audience but will undoubtedly
continue 10 cnthrall the crowds who will
attend the performances during the
week.
1t is hardly necessary 10 speak of the
plot which has become so well known,
but II deals with the love Of Marcus
Superbus Nero's richest and most power
ful noble. for a Christian maiden Mercia.
As prefect. Marcus IL charged with eX
l
the girl from the slaughter IS made much
I Of by a Iatrician woman mad with jeal-
ousy. and Tcgeinus and Licinous. two
/ Jealous mobiles anxious for prefSAment
with the emperor
The scene during the orgies al Marcus
house where he s about TO possess him
self Of tho girl by force but is stopped by
fash of lightning when Mercia makes
the sign Of the cross and he is rendered
-
applause.
The play ends with Marcus a Christian
accompanying Mercia TO death in the
arena-a truly inspiring scene.
Miss Alberta Keen. who Is the Mercia
is splendid In the part which she not only
looks but apparently feels without over
dong IL. IL is a trying part and one In
which any but a true artist would not
ring true. Miss Keen is not disappoint-
ing and looks very sweet and pretty In
her clinging soft white draperies.
Frank w. Smith who plays Marcus
looks not unlike the accepted pictures OF
Dante and misses none of the oppor-
tunities to score points that the part
affords.
lie is very intense and his splendid
physique makes him an imposing Pa
trician.
Edward T Mannerg has the part OF
Tiegelinus and plays IL smooth-shaven
while Thomas OConnell is the Licinius
AS Poppaea the empress. May Radcliffe
does some excellent work. and also as
Ancaria, Marcus impetuous and flerS
mistress she is convincing and adequate
10 the demands upon her
Ethel Won Osthoff. as the proud anC
naughty Berenis who loves Marcus does
some strong work and is a very intens'
actress and handles the difficult situa
tions with credit
The sprightly Dacia is played by Mis-
Caroline Eckert. aud Mildred Johnson +
convincing and gives a clean-cut inter
pretation OF the boy Stephanus who 4
put down the rack and tortured.
w. L. Martin as Flavius and e.. Stuar
: Johnson as Titus do good work as TIL
venerable Christian teachers. y. j. For
: is satisfactory as Niturius. captain Of tn
guard to Marcus. James l.. L.Ayres a
Strabo. the spy, does his part well. as ais
does Charles Stuart as Philodemus.
| Some excellent comedy work is done b
Henry f. Hambro as Glabrio. who Is
devotce Of Bacchus. and suffers fror
! wabblv knees. His heart is i'm the righ
place. though. and he makes good wit
! the gallery.
Frank W. Smith is the aero.
There are one or two incongruities, a
I for instance. when there are many shade
Of difference between the barred arms an
, tho legs OF a few Of the characters an
1 I'm one case a man is an African cvery
where but the back Of his neck and hi
legs. but they do not interfere with tn
e action OF the play or with its charm.
e Some excellent solos are sung b
D Katherine Naeftz. and with the assistanc
: ! of a chorus the hymns form an Interest
I ing accompaniment and add to the propc
( atmosphere Of the play.
s 1.hc attraction fnr next week is Ton
I nick and Harry" \ musical absurdt'
Z | N-a.sor, apd N[rofhe