The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-12-26
AT THE THEATRES
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE


Miss Lena Ashwell in Mrs. Danes De-
fense." supported by Mr.. Guy Standing.
scored a tremendous success at the Opera
house last evening and the same piece
viii again be presented tonight instead
OF "The shulamlte," as had been pub
lished.
This play Is A story OF English life writ
ten by Henry Arthur Jones and gives
both Miss Ashwell and Mr.. Standing, es-
pecially the former, a far better oppor-
tunity to display their unquestioned his
trionic ability In the first place the play
IS a powerful one-the plot IL it can be
termed SUCH while not deep. has a human
touch 20 IL that will appeal To the aver
age audience. and in the hands of such a
capable company IL becomes almost a
reality. It's problem play beyond
question. some will wish II ended differ
entity, many will uphold the way the story
works itself out. but in any case an audi
ence win find enjoyment in II and It GER
tainly will form a subject for mental
hguring. as 10 the right or wrong Of IT,
1t tells of the love affairs OF Mrs
Dane" and Lionel Carteret. adopted son
OF Sir Daniel Carteret Mrs. Dane has
had past In which she has made one
great misstep, but Ike any woman IN the
same position endeavors 10 hide II from
the world. Her love for young Carteret
is sincere and honest, as is his for her
Rmors soon arise and are famed by a
scandal monger, one Mrs. Bulsom Porter
Events follow one another rapidly. Mrs
Dane seeks in every way TO protect her
self and succeeds In btaining the
good will and help of Sir Daniel who. in
his judicial way. seeks all the testimony
10 clear her name. Under his rapid-fire
cross-questioning. however. Mrs. Dane
finally breaks down and tells the truth
III. Al.
engagement between her and young Car
terlet. she going out into the world broken
hearted and the young man remaining at
hcme.
This is the problem part of the piece
whether or not the woman's former sin
justifes the last action. for she has re-
sought 10 do good, and her love
for Carterlet is sincere, or whether the
marriage should have been allowed TO
take place-that's a question for every one
who sees the piece 10 figure out for him
self or herself.
To great extent the success OF a play
OF this sort depends upon the manner in
which the principles interpret their differ
ent parts. Miss Ashwell is the creator
OF the role OF Mrs Dane, the play having
been first produced In London about six
years ago. One can hardly imagine how
the Interpretation as given by Miss Ash
While taking the part OF woman who
has made a great mistake, she reaches
the hearts OF the audience right from the
start and holds them. She is magnetic,
her voice Is appealing-in fact she appears
to be a composite OF Mrs. Fiske and Miss
Margaret Anglin, having TO some degree
the stuccato-like enunciation OF the
former and the depth of emotional feeling
OF the latter. Her face. while not par
mobile, however records truth
fully her feelings in the various situations
of the play and her acting, especially in
the cross-examination scene, in the third
act where she breaks down i'm a pitiful
is a most convincing piece OF
work and displaying her really wonderful
emotional strength.
Mr.. Standing as Sir Daniel was. like
Miss Ashwel. seen to better advantage
I'm this play than in "The Sulamite" At
times he appeared to be a bit too careless
or nonchalent. but this is matter of
individual Interpretation. that's all. In
the stronger lines of the piece and where
the action was most intense he arose
to the occasion. and his emotion
al work was splendid Mr.. Darrell stand
ing as Canon Bonsey the curate, did
very clever bit OF acting. and Mr. Guy
Coombs as Lionel Carteret in difficult
part which might have been made "A very
foolish one II less well done. was well
placed. Miss Maud Granger as Mrs. Bull
som Porter was quite satisfactory.
All I'm all Mrs. Danes Defense" is
play we'll worth seeing and will be repeat
cd tonight.
THE SHULAMITE."
on Monday evening Miss Ashwell ap-
peared in "rhe Shulamite." by Claude
Asken and Edward knoblauch.
IL is rather deplorable that this talented
actre>s and having associated with her
such sincere actor as Mr. Standing,
should waste, in sense. the DRAMATIC
ability which she is possessed OF beyond
question upon a play of the kind and con-
struction. "The Shulamite" IL a tragedy,
one might say, OF Boer life, and from the
very beginning 10 the end II lie dreary.
heavy. sorrowful, has a depressing effect
upon the audience and is absolutely de-
void Of one single line Of comedy.
Unquestionably, however. there are sew
eral strong situations but somehow or
other the lines do not bring out their full,
although the principals do their very best
TO get as much out Of them as Is possi-
BILE. seemingly.
The story is one OF South African life,
the action laid in that country, and CEN
tres about three characters. Simeon Kril-
let. a Boer farmer his young wife Deb
orah. and a young Englishman, Richard
Waring. who is foreman for Krillet
most peculiar character. arrogant,
stubborn. loves his young wife, but thinks
the whip Is the means to show his power
I'm his own house, He uses IL upon the
wife. which CRATES harshly upon the Eng
lishman. who has grown to love Deborah,
and eventually makes her promise him
never TO again allow Krilet to whip her
The Beers temper subsequently gets the
better OF him and in dire distress as TO
how TO prevent the lashing. Deborah lies
and tells him she is enciente. This fact
changes the temperament OF the husband
and he becomes all kindness. The Eng.
lishman leaves on a short journey and
Krlllet finds his diary which discloses 10
him Warnings love for his wife and even
tually that she has lied TO him about her
condition. scene follows between tho
husband and Deborah and he resolves 20
kill her. Waring returns, having met
with an accident in which his horse Is
killed and wagon demolished. She tells
him OF the disclosure and OF her coming
fate. He goes in search OF Krillet. Two
shots are heard, and the wife knows not
which Is the victim.
Waring however. has killed the hus-
band To save themselves they give IL out
that Krlllet has been killed by bolt OF
lightning. and tho smashed wagon and
dead horse Is silent evidence Warng Is
taken with the fever and upon conval-
escence reads his English mail. which
contains a letter from his wife. Remorse
overcomes him. lie decides to return to
her In the subsequent action the sister
OF Krilet worms the truth from Debo-
Of H..