The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-25
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE

Louis Mann and Clara Lipman open
ed a weeks engagement at the opera
house last evening in Julie Bonbon."
written by Miss Lipman and added to
the individual genius OF both they
have play that gives them ample
opportunity to display 10 quite the best
advantage, their artistic powers.
Last nights audience was a large
one. and a mighty pleased one. too.
the two favorites.
Along a strict line OF criticism II could
be hardly said TO be great play. Yet
II is one that will appeal strongly TO
the average audience; that is evidently
just what IL was intended to do, and
Miss Lipman is to be congratulated
upon the construction of piece having
two principal characters that fit them
both like the proverbial glove. II is
one OF Miss Lipman's first attempts at
play writing. but she has quite evil
IDENTIFY struck the key note of success,
so often forgotten by many, when she
kept in mind the value of atmosphere.
for this piece is full of IL.
While the plot is not an original
one, there are certain characters,
principally that OF Mr.. Mann as Jean Pou-
Jol which gives touch or originality
20 the whole thing, which otherwise
might appear somewhat commonplace.
II is an absolutely human piece, If
the term can be applied: that is to say.
IL does not give one the impression of
the story or situations as being over
drawn. One moment you laugh, the
next you are inclined TO weep a bit,
and in many of the situations the action
changes quickly from the humorous TO
the pathetic, even bordering on the
tragic.
The story tells OF a New York mil
liner-a French girl, Julie Bonbon by
name, who has met the scion of an
aristocratic family while on n steamer
crossing the Atlantic. He falls In love
with her and she with him. Naturally
Mrs. Van Brurt. learning of the attach
ment of her son John, for the vivacious
Julie, is shocked. as many such moth
ers have been shocked before. and will
ever continue TO be- Mamma Van Brunt
makes n scene, she storms al her son, al
Julie. and when that fails, seeks another
means of breaking the love affair She
uses the father of the milliner. as
her weapon and seeks TO i'm
press her son that Julie Bonbon
Is not a good woman. Her scheme
Set%een st%Sss fGS0 john and Julie, further s COM
plicated by the latter's dsreputable and
drunken father who attempts TO make
pecuniary gain by his daughters af-
fair with Van Brunt. Eventually
the matter is Strengthened out and
young Van Brunt comes into his own
which is Julie
OF course most OF the action is in.
and centers about Mr.. Mann as Papa
pouiol. and he gives a most extraor-
dinary piece OF character work. 1t is
n big step from the parts he has played
in light musical comedy to really
unique character study such as he now
portrays. AS Poujol he is at times
despicable, then he becomes pathetic
figure weak in his morals and thinking
only for himself; caring but little for
his daughter. so long as he can obtain
enough OF the worlds goods to satisfy
his craving for drink. He is braggart
at times. evidently believing his own hes
as 10 his bravery, while at other tunes
cringing and covering, N IL VIII bring
his what he desires. There are times
when this character, as played by MIR.
Mann, arouses n certain disgust; then
the comic side OF the action pervades,
and In the blending OF the two there Is
n character that stands In fair com
parison with "The Music Master as
made famous by David Warfeld, al
though the two characters are entire
~ different Heretofore Mr.. Mann'S
roles have been mostly in the German
dialect-thls OF Papa Ponjol Is French
and his accent gestures and facial cN-
preston are seemingly perfect.
Miss Lipman, I'm the title role. de-
serves much OF the credit for the sue
cess of the play. She is charming, VI
vacious, and does not overact, but
strikes that happy medium which ADDS
realism to her part, and at times, IN
the more serious lines, displays no httie
dramatic poyer.
The other members OF the company
were we'll placed and perfectly capable.
especially so being Mr.. Franklin Wood
ruff as John Van Brunt. Mr.. George
Paincefort. as John stevens and Miss
Ida Lewis as Mrs. Schuyler Van Brun:,
the high-strung and blue-blooded
mother OF John. The several millincr
girls added materially 10 the action In
the shop scene Of the first act and in