The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-24
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.

Merton W. Grass
Colby 'Atreu james
Barraclough Lawrence Smith
Lady Melrose. .......... Hattie Russell
Mrs. Vidal. ...........H .Lorena Atwood
Lady Ethel, owe Wyndham
Marie Mignon Beranger
Gwendolyn Conron ....... Clara Blandick
Al the Providence Opera house for the
first half Of the week. with matinee to-
morrow, Mr.. Kyrle Bellew. assisted by
Mr.. r. NJ Holland. in "Rafies the ANA
teur Craftsman, a comedy drama I'm four
acts by e. W. Hornung and Eugene Pres
brey under the management Of Liebler &
Co.
Glad he got away" observes the i'm
perturbable Capt. Bedford when Rallies
makes his sensational escape via the case
Of the hall clock While Bunny braces
against the double doors to keep the de-
t~ectives from bursting into the room I'm
pursuit and Gwendolyn Conron, who loves
him, interposes her graceful figure at the
hall door 10 prevent the sleuths, when
they do get In, from getting out too
quickly on the trail OF the gentleman bur-
slar who has won all the points OF the
game that has been played for four acts,
barring only actual possession Of the dia-
mond necklace.
Put on the stage, the story OF the only
criminal who might have a chance or out
whiting Sherlock Holmes, should they
ever get 10 working In the same territory.
Is reduced to a single nstance-like any
one OF the Hornung Rallies stories. The
cracksman engages to get away with "a
necklace, the chiefest treasure In one
OF the country houses where he Is an
honored guest. The poss2ssor OF the
necklace wears the priceless piece about
her neck. putting a paste duplicate In he
safe every night, where burglar men
would naturally look for II. Through the
medium OF a French maid and n common
kind OF burglar. Raffles secures tile treas
uIc ana then begins the game twlXt him
and Captain BEDFORD for the high stake
and a side bet OF a hundred pounds 10 be
devoted TO charity, Bedford wagering the
same on his proposition 10 secure the
booty within "a hours.
Raffles wins the bet by himself. restor-
ing the necklace to It's rightful owner
within a few seconds before the expiration
OF the time limit. Captain Bedford grace
fully hands over the check for the hun
dred. His Is the real victory though, for
he has succeeded In securing the restorn-
ton OF the necklace and he has the
craftsman in his hands. He can afford
~ laN hAA' ne ~ . ~ AA@
game. And when, the next instant. RAT
-Aes II out of his hands and away TO free
dom-well Captain Bedford views that
with complacency. too. lie is glad OF II.
for he has a proper fondness for the man
who has so fairly matched wits with Ms
I'm the game OF hare and hounds. And
, everybody else on tho stage Is glad tnat
Raffles has got away. lie is n friend 20
all OF them and they like him, with an
especial devotion. OF course. on the part
OF Bunny and tho girl. And the audience
is glad, too, mighty glad. IT just rises
in It's seats. electrified ut the startling
climax which comes without warning AT
The Anal curtain
Both wln-the detective and the crimi-
nal"-that Is the verdict. As the play
develops. about the only concern aroused
in the audience Is that one may possibly
iose-and II Is n matter OF grave doubt
which one the audience would rather see
win. or lose. so engaging are both per-
sonalities. Mr.. Bellew makes OF Raffles
Just the sort of a chap that the char
acter's creator, Hornung. plainly had IN
%mind-and n little more so. for when II
comes TO gentlemanly polish. the refine
ment and high art OF that sort Of thing.
Mr.. Bellew discounts mere imaginative
work. But. despite his attractiveness,
never for a moment does the audience
want to see Raffles get away wholly un-
scathed. Even when vice Is the hero OF
romance. Il Is virtue that must be
triumphant. Still. you wouldn't have
Ranles hurt. not n bit OF II. and the sug-
gestion that he will shoot hirself rather
than be walked off 10 the gaol. IL re-
%pugnant. II only some way could be de-
vfsed whereby he might be punished prop
erly and vet not nave II hurt the feel
ings-the feelings OF the audience as well
as OF Raffles. That would be the idea.
And this confusion OF interest I'm his case
is greatly heightened by the engaging per-
sonallty OF Captain Bedford, AZ portrayed
by the inimtable Mr.. Holland. with the
time honored long red moustache. To
have Captain Bedford finally discounted
would be quite as unsettling 20 ones feel
lngs as 20 have Raffles knocked down and
out. Captain Bedford ~ 10 less fetch
ing n char than Ranles. and no audience
Leeuld ever leave the theatre happy and
content II Rafrles should really com. II
over him. SO there you are-and therein
lies the secret OF the chief interest IN
this entertaining play that grows In In
tensity from the beginning and, contrary
TO the rule with plays. instead OF taperlng
Oft toward the end, develops It's greatest
interest I'm the last few moments or the
Last OF the four acts, and Is hugely eX-
hiliarating beyond anything u has been
before az the instant the curtain drops
and shuts Il out. For both wtn-Captain
Bedford and Raffles both win, and neither
IS nut TO shame. II is a mighty artistic
bit OF work. adjusted To n scientific nicely
% meet the demands Of the very human
emotions Of an audience.
The supporting company Is excellent.
Two handsome and finely favored In
teriors dress the stage adequately.