The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-11-22
GREAT TRIUMPH
BY WILLARD IN
MAN WHO WAS"

The cheers OF n most representative au-
dience at the conclusion OF Mr.. j.. S Will
lard's performance at the Providence
opera house last evening told of one Of
the greatest artistic trlumphs ever scored
| by any actor In this city.
| II is safe and quite within bounds to
assert that Mr.. Wizards impersonation
OF Rudyard Kiplings "The Man who
Was has never been surpassed as an
evidence OF the highest type OF dramatic
art and true genius. and has very rarely
been equalled in Providence: and in the
minds OF those privileged to see IL this
wonderful assumption must have left "A
vivid image that only the passage Of
many years could even partially efface.
II is a story OF rare pathos and power
which Mr.. Willard makes impressive and
terrible. Seldom is there seen more
completely ilusive makeup There is no
hint of the personality of the actor In
this gaunt, wretched bundle OF rags and
I'm no other part In which he has been
seen has Mr.. Willard - completely
sunk his identity I'm his acting and
given so powerful an exhibition OF his
art.
From the startling moment when he
falls into the mess room. a gaunt limp
and deathly figure, his dirt-caked naked
ness barely covered with tattered rags,
the emptiness OF his soul showing I'm his
haggard feature and sounding I'm his
inarticulate cries, TIN he drops dead.
grasping the colors OF his old regiment
and with a sentinel's "All's we'll" on his
feeble lips he enthralls the attention.
IL is part worthy Of Mr. WIZARDS
largest aud most substantial powers. Of
all his wealth OF Imagination. authority
and force. OF his unrivalled mastery of
II. .l..gf -ttg
bility OF countenance clouence OF gesture
and significance OF bearing by which he
expresses varying phases of emotion as
distinctly and cogently as by speech.
only that rare acting which creates an
absolute Illusion OF spontancity and con
sequently OF nature could here suffice. and
Mr.. Willard. as shown I'm all his work
has 10 10 offer.
For the preceding two hours there had
been enjoyed the presentation of Robert
sons ever-populsr old play. David Gar
rick" In the strong contrast between
Mr. Willard's impersonation OF the grace
ful titular character In this place and his
vivid, heart-breaking portrayal OF the
most tragic figure In the short stories of
Rudyard Kiplng. there was afforded an
exhibition 81 versatility that would suffice
TO place him among the greatest I'm his
profession
His David Garriclk" was the same
graceful charming impersonatlon that is
already familiar here, especially delight
ful IN this case as a most effective foil
10 his work later IN the evening lie gave
smooth. sincere and felicitous perform
I ance. playing with grace and fascinating
delicacy ~ touch and refinement. even I'm
his stimulation of intoNication Miss Lon
non AZ Ada and Mr. Barfoot as Simon In
got repeated the excellent work I'm those
roles which they have given heretofore
and Mr. Edmunds was good as Dick
Chivv
Tonight MIR Willard will be seen IN that
old favorite The Middleman." tomorrow
/ night IN "A Pair ~ Spcctaclcs" SATURDAY.
/ afternoon in The professor's love
story. and Saturday niFht In Tom
| Pinch"