The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1891-11-10
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
A Very Successful Performance ci
"The Soudan" Last Night.
A STORY OF ANNIE PlXLEy'
"Our Angel" Well Received at Lothrop's.
The Fourth Promenade CoDcert-Inter-
esting Notes From the Dramatic Fioid
and Comments oa Plays and Players.

AlInOuRH Il nt Ipouhdi II w 'NNNPJ
the stage of the Providence Opera House
all week and is deserving of "A profitable
sojourn, it is hardly possible that it will
play to a larger audience than was pres
ent last night. Annually the Theatrical
Mechanics Association has benefit per-
formance of some first-class attraction
in this city, and the funds gathered IN
this manner are distributed among such
members as may need aid. The society
this year selected 1.-THE Soudan and
last night their friends turned out in
goodly numbers and packed the theatre
until there was scarcely vacant seat 10
be found.
Between act l. and act II. members of
the society gave an interesting exhibit
ton of striking and setting of scenes
and the remarkably sudden and accurate
transformation from the boudoir of the
heroine to the lawyers Office, was fol-
lowed with keen interest on the part of
the audience and evoked loud applause.
The committee Of arrangements for the
evening were William +. Doolen, chair
man John j. Bowen, secretary; Harry
Gould. Treasurer Charles |. Luther,
James w. Nolan, George f. Myers,
Alexander Powers, Joseph Cantwell,
George III. Carr, Frank Barker and
James Fox. and the officers of the
association for 1891 are James
=. Sullivan, president; Arthur
s. Josselyn, vice president
John j. Bowen, recording secretary;
Harry w. Calender, treasurer; Joseph
II. G.. Liscomb, financial secretary;
Roland Bernardini, assistant financial
secretary; Patrick Bowen, John L.
Rogers. Charles A. Dunlap, trustees;
Frank Barker, sergeant-at.arm George
A. Brug, M. d., physician.
The name of the author of "The Sou
dan does not appear in the announce
ments, which the public-theatre-go going
public-regrets for by the introduction
of the military features he has infused
the spark of vitality TO an old melo-
drama theme and caused it to bubble
with new interest from beginning TO
end The story is that of faithful
wife, whose husband is captain in the
British army, and who, during his alb
sence. has become friends with former
lover of the captains. OF course this
friend still loves the officer and plots TO
cause separation and divorce. In this
she is aided by an admirer of the cap
tain's wife, Frenchman i'll the Egyp-
tian service.
The schemers are successful at first
and succeed in estranging the happy
pair. They have son to whom distant
relative has left a large sum of money in
trust, TO be divided at his Death between
Capt. Temple and his cousin, Matthew
Hawker, solicitor. Capt. Temple is
called to join his regiment in Egypt and
leaves his affairs i'm the hands of his
cousin. A plot is concocted by the law
yer to put the boy out of the way, and
he is abducted and taken TO an old rook-
cry in the suburbs of London. Here he
finally traced by his mother and res
cued. The pursuit follows, and she is dis
covered bnt by this time she has met
with friends who protect her. In the
meantime the husband is fighting the
Mahdi in the Soudan. and there he meets,
after one Of his battles, Paul de Vigne,
the man who caused all the trouble in
his family affairs. An accounting is
had, and the husband hears from the
dying man that his wife is more sinned
against than SHINING The campaign in
Egypt is over, and the soldiers return
home. After all explanations are made
and justice meted out, in order to make
the proper ending the captain and his
family are again united.
fOrreSI TODlflSOn was lnITuSutu WlIn
the part of Capt Temple, and his hand
ling of the lines received applause often
and hearty. Horace Lewis played Mat
thew Hawker, the solicitor. Patton Gibbs
was capital Frenchman in Paul de
Vigne. The comedy side of the play
was principally furnished by Charles j.
jackson as Horatio Spofl1ins, a law clerk.
Miss Maud Banks played captains wife
and Miss Maud Horsford played Cora
Gray, her friend. These two ladies
were instructed with good dramatic
parts and We're faultless in their
execution of them. Miss Portia
Albee as Maggie Wilkins did much to
amuse, and Joseph G. Callahan aud Mrs.
Henry Vandenhoff as Mr.. and Mrs.
Lambkins the keepers of the home for
children acted their parts well. There
Were many others in the cast who de-
serve notice but the persons who came in
for the greatest applause of the evening
We're Miss Allie Hunt as the captains
son and Master Walter Lewis. "A found
ling. The amusing conversation held by
these two in the door yard of Lambkins
hovel was so natural and childlike that
the audience lost itself completely and
would not be satisfied until they made
their bow before the curtain.