The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-03-10
SNUBERT THEATRE.

During the coming week at the shubert
theatre Bertha Kalich. an actress who
has achieved wide fame In several coun-
tries In Europe and also IN the Jewish
theatres In New York. will make her first
appearance In Providence as an English
speaking star. presenting Maurice Mae
terllnck's drama 'MonnH Wanna ana
Emile Zolas "Therese Raquin." During
the run OF "Monna Wanna" at the Man
haitian theatre Ia New York, both the
star and the play received very high
praise from Metropolitan critics. The
Tese Raquin'' has just been added 20
Madame Kalich's repertoire.
Although Madame Kalich Is but thirty
years OF age she has had a very wide ex-
pcrience In the theatre and has been
splendldly trained for the extremely dlf-
icult role OF the heroine, "Giovanna" and
the strongly contrasting role Of The
rese"
Madame <alich played IN no less than
five languages before she made her en-
trance upon the English-speaking stage
and her requirement or the language ne
cessitated conscientious study for some
six or seven years. She now speaks Eng
lish with but little foreign accent and
what there is lends Individuality 20 her
speech rather than being detrimental
The action OF the play 0f "Monna Van
ma" takes place I'm Pisa. Italy. at the
close OF the Fifteenth century The city Is
besieged by the TlOrentine army under
the leadership OF Prinzivalle. and the Pi-
sans have been brought 20 a state of fam
inc The commander OF the garrison Gut
do Colonna driven 20 desperation. has
sent his aged father. Marco 10 make
terms with the enemy. Afarco-scholar
and philosopher-returns from his mis-
sion with the astounding message that IN
GiOvanna C"Monna Nanna) the beaut-
fUl wife of Guido. goes 10 the tent OF
Prinzlvalle at nightfsll, clad only i'm her
mantle, and remains there until dawn the
siege will be lifted and provisions In
abundance will be instantly sent 10 the
starving citizens OF Pisa.
Guido IS amazed and enraged al the Of
fer. but Wanna in order to save her peo-
pie. consents 20 sacrifice herself Upon
arriving at the tent OF Prinzivalle she
finds IN him one who has been her play
mate IN youth and he leaving her un-
harmed returns 20 Pisa with her 10 find
refuge from his enemies in the council OF
Florence
on their arrival at Guidos palace the
heroine is cheered by the multitude
whom she has saved. but her statement
that the night has been one OF innocence
IS disheleved by her husband This pos
ture OF circumstances leads 20 scene Of
extraordinary emotional COufict-and II
was this particular scene that Madame
Maeterlinck. as we'll as q number OF Ger
man actresses, found 20 be beyond their
powers
"Therese Raquin" Is a play OF an en-
tirely different style it IS q masterpiece OF
realism. showing the tragedy I'm the lives
OF humble folk OF the present time Zoia
wrote II thirty years ago and Paris, ac-
cGstomed 20 a stage that offered only
artihciality and frivolity was amazed and
10 an extent shocked. But Zola was mere
ly ahead of his time. "rherese Raouin"
belongs absolutely 90 the modern school
OF plsywriting. II was presented some
years aEo IN this country. but even then
the public had hardly grown up to It.
The version used by Madame Kalich
was prepared especially for her bv Mr.
FIske, under whose personal direction the
production has been made Madame IA |
Itch appeared for the first time fin the |
play AT Washington last week. and so |
great was her success that Il was at once /
decided TO present II here during the last |
half OF the week.
In mounting the two plays Mr. Fiske |
has spared no pains or expense 10 make !
the scenes. costumes and accessories ab- |
solutely accurate 20 the time as we'll as |
beautiful. a feature Of the production OF
'Monna Wanna Is the mob OF starving
Pisans, which has been so carefully train |
ed that each member Of II does an indI |
vidual bit or acting Another triumph q.
stage management IN the production is |
tho moving OF great caravan OF soldiers.
wagons oxen and sheen. which passes |
Prinzlvslle's tent bound for the city OF