The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-09
JEANNE D'ARC"
A WONDERFUL
PRODUCTION

A large and appreciative audience greet
ed Miss Julia Marlowe and Mr.. T.. H.
Sothern at tho Providence opera house
Jeanne D'Arc," by Mr. Percy Mackaye.
The play has not had a long life: IL was
hrst produced In Philadelphia some few
weeks ago, and III the attention and in
terest shown In Il by last nights audi
ence Is any criterion IL is certainly n sue
cess. The pleasure shown last night was
not OF the demonstrative sort--that is 10
say. there was not frequent applause, ex-
cept at the ends Of the various acts but
the faces of those present, the severe
quiet during all the action clearly spoke
approval. Both Miss Marlowe and Mr..
Sothern received many curtain calls
Almost everyone knows the story OF
Jeanne D'Arc the peasant girl of Dom
remy, who, as they tell us. was called by
God 10 save France from the English and
eventually does so, but after success has
crowded her efforts. is burned at the
stake for heresy and as an exponent
OF witchcraft. The play deals with
her life from about the time she
first received the heavenly commission 20
q few moments before she Is taken to the
public square TO be burned. The audience
Is saved from witnessing any gruesome
scene OF Jeanne having actually arrived at
the scene of her death. for the curtain
falls on the last act just as the bells toll,
telling her the fatal hour has come.
1t is heavy piece, inasmuch as there
IL very little or no real comedy In IL,
but Mr.. Mackaye has given something
that commands respect and is certainly
dignified. There are no great dramatic
climaxes--not one In fact, but from a
poetic standpoint. IL has charm and
beauty and at times reaches a dramatic
tensity that the audience cannot help but
feel.
It is not pleasant however. to contem-
plate what the piece would be In the
hands of artists of less ability than Miss
Marlowe and Mr.. Sothern. for IL is a play
that absolutely calls for the highest class.
keenest and most cultivated interpreta-
character
would make IL most ridiculous-to
fail to reach the proper height IN
kill the production. The character of
Jeanne DArc Is one that has re-
ceived the attention OF poets ana artlsts
for hundreds OF years, and 1t Will prob
ably continue 20 be so, and last night
performance had a historical flavor about
II that was educational as well as the
demonstration OF the ability OF Miss Mar
lowe and Mr.. Sothern, for the author mas
evidently given much study TO the char
acter of Jeanne and OF the customs and
times in which she lived.
Without the shadow OF a doubt there is
no actress on the stage today who could
interpret the character OF Jeanne ID Arc
as does Miss Marlowe. She appears TO
have a complete understanding OF the
part she plays. AS the sweet, childish,
visionary sheep-girl of Domremy, she
was n character filled with tenderness
and love. AS the girl leading the legions
OF France 10 victory the strength of her
personality and her power 10 command
Increased, without losing her childish
sweetness, while I'm the closing action the
pathos and mental suffering she under
goes is indeed r. wonderful demonstration
of artistic temperament and reached the
heart OF the audience. Miss Marlowe has
a wonderful face and voice; the former
is mobile-one moment n is quiet and as
free from care as a child's, while in the
next it shows the strength OF woman
guided by a high moral purpose. Her
voice is hypnotic and her enunciation Is
perfect, and the combination is one or
strength that is rarely found.
In the piece Mr.. Sothern has minor
character, so TO speak; a weaker one
than in which he is generally seen, and
i'm the part of the Duke a. d'Alencon he has
little opportunity TO demonstrate his
known ability. However, IL can be hon |
estly said he gets out all there Is In II, |
and gives a manly and sincere inpersona-
ton. His scene with Jeanne, whom he
has grown TO love, in the last and fourth |
act, is about the only time he has any |
great opportunity. and tho telling her or
his love is done with fine effect. Mr.. !
Sothern assuming a minor role In the !
play goes to demonstrate clearly that an |
unselhsh spirit in the true sense or the |
word which dominates the alliance or !
these two really great artists
The success of the play Is about all
Miss Marlowe's, but she has in her sup |
port a most capable company, the stage !
settings are all in keeping with the pro- |
duction and, on the whole, Jeanne |
ID Arc is a play that after one has wit I
messed il they cannot fail 90 appreciate /
that they have eseen and heard something |
worth while.
morrow evening, with Saturday matt |
nee.