The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-04-03
The Theatres
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE

At the Providence Opera house for the
first half of the week. with matinee to-
morrow. Wilton Lackaye I'm William A.
Bradys production OF The Pit" play
I'm four acts. adapted from Frank Nor
ris' famous novel by Claiming Pollock.
Mr., Wilton Lackaye is an actor seen
here only occasionally. As n creator OF
character parts his reputation has been
notable for a score Of years. Indeed, few
actors OF the present generation have
showed so wide a scope Of talent as has
Mr.. Lackaye. and none today stands
higher in his profession.
The part OF Curtis Jadwin from the
well-known Norris novel, is conventional.
II affords none OF the opportunity FOR the
display Of novel portrayal or OF unfamiliar
characteristics such as make what is
called in the technique. character part
OF interest to the actor. who loves 10 sink
his own individuality in his acting. And
II Is. accordingly, interesting 70 note how
Mr. Lackaye swings through the part
this man OF today type of hundreds you
pass on the street in any great city. and
brings 10 IL the toucn of a genius for
Characterization that is independent OF
and superior to costume and makc-up.
The late Frank Norris wrote THE PITT
as a study of times ana conditions. The
canvass was a big one. the theme had
magnitude and the characters were ie-
signed chiefly as the puppets OF the show.
Nevertheless. several OF them will long
remain among the vital Characterization
OF American literature, remembered for
their own sake And the human love
story that threads through the imposing
narrative Of gigantic business events and
tangles around Curtis Jadwin is tender
and appealing.
This man. this type. Jadwin, Mr. Lack
aye portrays vividly. deeply. with great
distinction and bringing out the portrait
with the touch OF n master at character
zation. II Is beautiful piece Of work.
manship as a whole and I'm detail, and is
surely 10 be counted among Mr.. Lackaye's =
most notable achievements. for all II
would ordinarily he estimated as offer.
ing no great oportunity for the display
Of the especially distinguished talent Of
this actor above that possessed by any
good leading man.
Mr.. William A. Brady has set the story
OF Jadwin I'm the story OF THE Pit" with
true Brady lavlshness. He has made a
spectacle of II quite as the theme would
suggest and the opportunity be Indicated
Four or five massive sets find their limit
In a Brady mob scene where Jadwin
goes down TO ruin In the bowling wheat
pit. a stage spectacle the fame OF which
has spread well IN advance of the act ,al
presentation OF the play.
This scene is highly theatrical of course.
and Is not necessarily, by any means, the
most interesting scene of the play. which
would probably be assigned 10 that where
IN Laura Jadwin first meets her artist
lover In the room heretofore kept sacred
10 herself and her husband, and where the
conflict that constitutes the love senti-
ment of the story goes on in drama tic
contrast to that other conflict into which
the husband is plunged in the wheat pit.
This quietly intense scene brings out Miss
Oaker 10 high advantage. and her por-
trayal Of Laura Jsdwin last evening was
notable for emotional nerve