The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-05-17
AT THE PLAyHOUSES.


comedies produced at the Providence
Opera House during the season that Will
close on Wednesday evening Miss
Helyett" deserves the most praise. The
music is charming, the dialogue refresh
ing, the dancing attractive There Is a
central idea of Quaker maiden meeting
with an awkward accident, and being
rescued by some one who carries her to
place of safety and goes away without see
ing her face In the second and third acts
she keeps up search for this unknown
man. Strict Quaker notions imbues the
maiden with the idea that she must
marry her rescuer. His identity Is not
disclosed until the last moment. Many
complications arise which give opportu-
nifty for excellent comedy, dancing and
singing. Miss Helyett" Is one OF those
exquisite, care-diverting entertainments
that we often long for and seldom get.
IL is hard to say where the charm of the
performance ends. SO sudden Is II start
ed before the curtain is half up that the
attention is arrested at once and it Is held
until they sing good night" song. The
success Is not due TO any one in particu-
lar. Ia the large cast are the names OF
all the popular professionals who have
made the comedy u success In New York
and Boston.
The scenery used was painted especially
for Miss Helyett," and consequently she
is set in handsome and becoming frame.
Louise Leslie Carter as Miss Helvett,
Kate Davis as La Sonora Torguemada,
Laura Clement as Manuela, Mark smith
as Paul Graham, M. A. Kennedy as Tod
der Bunnythorne, Harry Harwood as
Obadiah Smithson, all received gener-
Gus recognition from the audience. The
chorus work was excellent, and several
numbers had to be repeated A perform
ance OF Miss Helyett" will be given
and tomorrow night. 1t will repay any
body who journeys to the Opera Hoase to
become acquainted with Miss Helyett."
Gaiety Opera House.
The Fire Patrol" by James w. Har-
kins, Jr., the author of 1.-The Midnight
Alarm, is filling weeks engagement
at the Gaiety Opera House.. The plot is
OF an exciting nature, but Is pleasantly
lacking in those wild and fiery ideas
characteriZing SO many other produc-
tions of a sensational nature. Opening
up in the West at Deadwood, the story Is
slowly developed, the betrayal of a woman
leading To the murder of n mine owner.
An innocent party Is suspected OF both
crimes, and an oath of vengeance is regis
tered by the heir to track the murderer
to his death. At this point the scene is
shifted TO New York city, where the inno-
cent and the guilty are engaged In the
working up of the plot The sus-
pected party is now shown as the
captain of fire patrol company and
his friends from harm. The mechanical
effects, which tend to increase the interest
in the production, are wonderful and
realistic.
In the second act, that of the interior of
stamping mill, the scene Is SO realistic
as to make one marvel at the ingenuity
of the stage mechanic. Every detail in
the huge and intricate machinery of
such a mill is faithfully reproduced.
w. w. Bittner, as Jacob Dallas, the hero,
possesses a strong personality and imi-
tates the character with life aud activ-
Margaret Hatch, as Nellie Latimer. and
Afterwards Harry -Norcross.- a West
Point Cadet, is beyond criticism. In the
difficult passages she rose superior to the
occasion and by her strong method and
passionate enunciation, gave able support
to the title role.
Triple Bill mt Lothrop's.
A triple bill of bright, sparkling comedy
was presented mt Lothrop's Providence
Museum yesterday afternoon and evening
to audiences completely filling the spa
cious auditorium. The performances
opened with decidedly funny farce, en-
titled HE Took Poison" during the ac-
tion of which the audience was worked
up to hig state OF merriment. Then fol-
Woman" burletta brimming DER with
amusing speeches and ludicrous situa-
tions. The concluding piece was the
amusing farce-comedy in three acts, en-
titled "My Awful Dad, made famous by
that sterling actor, the late Lester Wal
lack. The play is full of bright comedy.
III. Percy Meldon in the leading role OF
Adonis Evergreen, "my awful dad" was
extremely funny, and In the scenes with
Mrs. Wedagain. dashing young widow,
splendidly played by Miss Ethel Tucker,
and his son Richard, a sedate young man
~. tta~a ha<.A
decidedly mixed at times that the audi
ence fairly roared with laughter. Matt
nees occur at this theatre every afternoon.
The Westminster.
The Fay Foster Burlesque Company
holds forth at the Westminster theatre,
and it is an old saying that coming events
cast their shadows before, for large
houses greeted both performances yester-
day. There is u decided novelty about
the many features presented, and the
entire company possess the faculties Of
pleasing TO remarkable degree. The
songs are new and catchy, the acting
good, and the girls who comprise the olio
most attractive. During this week the
beautiful purlesque company will be
seen, to be followed next week by Gussie
Bellwood.
At Talma Theatre.
The Talma Club gave n dramatic per-
formance last night for the benefit Of the
Rhode Island Nursery for Homeless In
faats, in Dramatic Hall which was we'll
filled by good sized audience.
The performance consisted of two one
act plays, "St. Martins Summer and
"a Thumping Legacy"
Following is the cast Of first named
play
NJ Briquevc c......,..................Mr Carpenter
Mime lebteton Miss Richards
Adrienne Mrs. Stenert
Each of the several parts was well rem
dered, aud great credio is due the partici-
pants