The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-12-10
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE

THE Rose of the Rancho" by David
Belasco and Richard Walton TuJly, one
of the big successes of the day. is the
Offering at the Providence Opera House
for the first four nights OF this week with
a matinee on Wednesday. Last evening
this play representing the Mexican war
time received a great reception at the
hands of a large audience. There were
MANY curtain calls at the close of every
certainly made many new friends by her
work as Juanita, the heroine of this very
Western play. one has to note the fact
that the representative pictures of West
ern life that came near being true ones
were late I'm reaching the stage Not but
we had the wilder scenes I'm the
making of new states portrayed
early enough with here and there a touch
of sentiment as a relief, but for such pic
lures as that of 'The Rose OF the
Rancho" and a few others we had to
wait long "The Rose of the Rancho is in
many respects a beautiful piece and yet
big London paper found Limericks
by Scott, Browning and a few others of
like prominence in the poetic field: that IS
why perhaps a Spanish padre OF the
Mexican war time uses such slang as
to admire the beauties of Scott Brown
ing or Byron, however because some
over attentive person has found foolish
lines i'm those favorities.
There are many beautiful scenes in
"The Rose of the Rancho" and most OF
the language is worthy of that land OF
flowers-California Some OF the portray
ais OF Spanish character are well drawn
and no one who has the pleasure to see
the piece but will admire its full meas
ure OF humor that I'm most instances is
of the clean and wholesome sort
It is a pretty true picture OF the old
Spanish Mexican life and ii deals some-
what with incidents i'm our national life
not highly creditable. If both Mexican
and United states folks are a bit roughly
drawn at times there may be no very
important deviation from historic truth
1t is a love story i'm the main and sweet,
fresh and strong one at that
The play Is splendidly mounted. Sell
dom have richer pictures of nature i'm her
the stage than Mr.. Belasco furnishes us
with in THE Rose of the Rancho" There
everything is I'm keeping. We have rich
and beautiful costumes, serenaders and
the old Spanish dance.
As for the company. 1t is all that could
be desired. If any criticism might be
made IL would be that certain members
ideals of the old Spanish than the play
wrights seem by their language to have
deemed necessary. The old mission
churches and the religious opinions and
customs of the people are treated as rev.
erently as can be expected on the stage.
Miss starr Is certainly delightful as
Juanita She seems TO thoroughly COM
prehend all the many requirements os
this difficult part. Juanita as the daugh-
ter OF a man from the United States and
the sweetheart of United states govern
ment representative who yet hates the
country that is oppressive, makes n
strange character. Miss Starr enters into
all these varying phases with earnestness
and discretion and she gives US too a
picture of what Is more difficult even
than the author has made his chief char
actcr. a woman whose heart is lighting
even herself for loves sake.
Charles Richman as Kearney. tho gov
ernment man. does the part I'm the same
finished way that has won such a high
place I'm the esteem OF theatregoers. The
part I'm some ways Is strong enough and
IN certainly is interesting but one can't
help thinking there is something miss
ing. though Mr.. Richman Is not of course
responsible for such a thought.
Frank I,osee makes, on the whole n
good Spanish padre. Yet one Is apt TO
have different ideas about character OF
this sort trained I'm all the gracos OF
Spanish society than the playwrights and
Il Is certainly not MIR Losee's fault that
he has 20 cover a few weak spots I'm what
IS on the whole an admirable play.
As Kinkaid. the land jumper. from
Beaver. Nebraska. John w. Cope gives
an excellent bit OF character work. A.
Hamilton Revclc gives an adequate por-
travail Of wcll-to-do Spaniard. or. at
least as good n ono as tho playwrlghts
permit. All the others In the cast do their
FUN share TO make the pictures beautiful
and :he movemenis are graceful and
charming while one can imagine more
poetic and possibly truer portrayal OF