The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-06
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE

IVVvtUIVUI VTCUN UuuO6
One OF the liveliest farces ever produced
at the opera house was thoroughly enjoy
ed last evening by large audience, which
demonstrated its approval by actually
laughing out loud and applauding--rathe
bit unusual in Providence theatre e-goers.
The piece was Before and After" from
the pen of Leo Ditrichstein, who also ap-
peared in the leading role.
Preceding the farce was a curtain rails
er entitled "Nocturpo" by Perciyal Pol
lard and Mr.. Ditrichstein There was lit
tie TO comment II except the manner I'm
which is was acted and the stage setting.
IL is quite impossible I'm many ways and
tells the little story OF the nocturnal visit
TO "A Fifth avenue home filled with art
treasures by a Raffes-like burglar. who
is surprised by the mistress OF the house
BY the suave manner I'm which the burg
lar throws out hot air and demonstrates
his conversational abilities he spends a
lovely twenty minutes with his hostess
Is treated 90 few king Williams" and
eventually is allowed To leave. Even the
police have been called by the woman. but
like some mature woman when the police
men came her desire for some sort OF a
romance is dominant and the knight OF
the stick Is sent away. 1t is interesting
and to repeat. well acted, but one can't
lose sight OF the improbability of the
whole thing.
Before tnd After is different!
1t catches right on from the very start
and there is something doing every
minute. In its absurdity lies it's strength.
and one thing about Il all Is thaht there
are no particular stars. Mr.. Ditrichstein.
OF course, is In the title role. but he is
sensible enough not to place this charac-
ter in the dead centre of the stage all
the time.
lie has given the other characters
an opportunity and IL works out to
perfection, for the piece moves along in a
lively manner. each actress, and actor,
Is dependent upon the others and the eff
feet is excellent, which is aggravated be-
cause each is an artist and interprets
their lines to perfection, without one ex-
ception.
a little powder, whose effect Is 10 quiet
disquiet people. is the nucleus OF the plot.
This kind OF a powder finds its way into
the system of grouty Dr. Page (played
by Mr.. Ditrichstein). n demonstrating
doctor friend OF his being the agent of
transmission and Il transforms him in
to a most lovable man. An osculation
planted upon the lips Of a patient, the
wife OF a Frenchman with a most nervous
temperament and desire TO fight started
the trouble under full swing and I'm his
efforts to escape the man. the doctor
TO Clifton Springs He takes another
woman with him together with her
false mother-in-law, in order 10 fool
the Frenchman, whom he feels will
seek him out. At Saratoga the
plot thickens and IL would be quite
impossible TO tell. in a manner 10 be un-
derstood, the various situations OF alarm
ing calibre Or. Page gets into at the fa-
nous watering place. They are compli-
Gated 10 say the least and the little pow
der is a silent, but instrumental factor,
in all Of IL.
The audience screamed at DR. Pages
troubles; others had troubles. too. and Il
was a regular pot-pourri of difficulty for
the last two acts, and certainly nobody
but an Egyptian mummy, n deaf individ-
ual or one with the proverbial sour ball
in his digestive organ that won't dis
solve, could sit through it and not enjoy
it,
There have been some changes in the
cast produced the piece in New
Ditrichstein now plays the part origi-
mated by Mr.. Fritz Williams, and he GER
tainly gets out all there is i'm II. He don't
overact and he makes his situations ap-
pear very realistic. Mr.. George &. Boni-
face. Jr., takes the psst of James Jeffreys
(speled with an "ey'O. which was origi-
nally taken by Mr.. Tom Wise. well
known TO Providence audiences and he
-
the men is next best TO Mr.. Ditrichstein.
Mr.. Thomas Thorne portrays the part Of
an English scare-brained chappie. Edgar
Drlscoll, which Mr.. Roy Fairchid, also
well known here. originated, and did a
whole lot 10 enliven up the farce. An
other Of the men who should come i'm for
especial praise is the character part of
Col. Larivette. played by Mr.. Eugene
Redding. and who gave one of the clev-
crest interpretations of n French char
acter seen here i'm a long time.
The women of the cast are all well
placed indeed. Miss Viola Kellogg as
Mrs. Page was especially strong i'm BE
fore and After" much better than she
appeared I'm Nocturuo, and gave Il very
intelligent portrayal OF difficult part.
Miss Jean Newcombe as Odette De We're
is alsi entitled fairly to much praise both
In her "NOcturno' work and i'm the
farce. while Miss Laura Butler as Mrs.
Tailor was decidedly clever as the woman
with a past and hunting future.
All i'm all the cast is mighty we'll bal
anced In every particular. and. To re-
peat every one gets a chance.
1t will be repeated this evening tomor-
row evening and In a Wednesday matt
nee.