The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-11
MANTELL IN "MAcBErH." /"

At the Providence Opera House last
evening Macbeth" the second number in
the weeks Shakespearean repertoire was
presented by Robert Mantell.
IL was a highly satisfactory perform.
ance. The appreciation OF the audience
was attested by the intensity with which
II watched the unfolding OF the dire and
dreadful tragedy, to break from its ST.
lence into warm applause when the cur
tain released II 10 express its appreciation
more effusively
Physically. Mr. Mantell's Macbeth ls
like igure out OF those old time steel
engravings I'm the Shakespeare edition de
luxe OF grandmother's day.
He Is massive and splendid He looks
the part OF this most likable murderer In
literature us fpw actors OF our day
would be able 10 do
In the reading and acting OF the mighty
character role. Mr. Mantell made a pro-
nounced impression on his audience. Mae
beth Is loud and strident igure, on the
whole, gross, domneerng, but vet with
heart I'm him that beats warmly enough
and creature 10 excite sympathy as the
coils OF his destiny tighten around him
There ~ much massive defamation in
the blank verse and a weight to the lines
generally as perfectly attuned 20 the
character. Mr. Mantell delivered hls verse
With impassioned resonance I'm the thun-
derous outbreaks OF the sorely beset kins
tttfa-deinonsTated nna shading there
from through the different moods that
stirred him. His pantomlme was restrain
ed, deft expressive and IL never got be-
yond his control. Particularly effective I'm
the gentler moods were his meeting with
the Queen
Miss Marie Booth Russell appeared as
Lady Macbeth and she gave thorough
ly interesting and noble portrayal OF this
~ tfnf tn ..hu a.
dienne. She Is a large and handsome
woman fitted by physique for the tragic
roles. To the climax OF the sleep walking
scene she grew In favor with her audi
ence her play In the banquet scene being
particularly we'll thought out and capital
ly performed. Equipped as appears with a
voice that possesses what may be- called a
haunting" quality. Miss Russell read the
sleep walking lines with fine effect that
won for her the unstinted tribute OF the
audience.
This afternoon, Mr.. Mantell is doing
"Othello." Tonight the bill is Lear" and
tomorrow night he viii be seem for the
first time i'm "HamIet"
%.
A spirit OF reverence and deep religious
fervor marks Gen Lew Wallace's play Of
Ben Hur" which scored such an inn
mense success I'm this city three years
ago, aud which is TO be again enacted at
the Providence Opera House for six
nights and Wednesday and Saturday mat
inees. next week
ben Hur" as arranged and staged by
the Klow & Erlanger company is a mar
velous piece OF stagecraft, and only few
theatres TN America surpass the Provi-
denee Opera House In furnishing oppor-
tunites for such n presentation The
Holy City OF Jerusalem, with its olive
clad hills stretching into the dim distance
Is reproduced by the magic OF stage per-
spective. The oriental atmosphere. soften
Ing the brilliant colors OF the East. makes
picture OF wondrous beauty The inte-
rlor Of the Roman galley. It's capture and
shipwreck, the raft OF Ben Hur battling
with tho angry waves In mid-ocean, and