The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-13
FROM THE PROMPT SIDE.
PARSIMONY VERY BAD POLICY.
Remarkable Success Of the Troubadors-
The Old Howard and Fox heater
still stands = Gossip About Well

gho6u
The large audiences which witnessed
the performance of the Pauline Hall
Comic Opera company during the first
half Of the week are proof. IL any were,
needed that the theater-goine people OF
the city can always be depended upon to
give their support to worthy entertain
ments. Some years ago. and prior to
the lime Robert Morrow took the man
agement of the opera house the audien-
ces were. as "A rule. so small that it Is not
probable that more til an ten or a dozen
companies attracted paying hons Is dur
ing the season. Thus Providence was
given n very bad name among the trav-
cling and re Ally meri torious companies
were not at all anxious to risk even a
tbree-niQht stand here. But this was
not the fault OF the the~ater-goers. 1t
was the result OF the short-siRhted anu
narrow policy pursued Ivy the image
ment-a policy which forced on the In
telligent patrons OF the DIR am, compa-
mics that shoul not ave ben admltte I to
aJhird rate theater. Occasionally to break
the monotony OF dreary rot and rubbis !
a really meritorious performance WAS
given, but the public had been decei we'd
so often that it could not be Induced to
extend it's patronage. The inevitable
came. The parsimonious management
gave place to one animated by more lib
eral ideas and the people, quickly recog-
nizing and approaching the change have
given hearty support to tn, many de-
serving attr actions that have held the
boards during Mr.. Morrow's regime.
So
That comic opera has a firm hold upon
Providence theater-goers has been re-
L.A -. -
OF the best kind: No such inane drivel
as Uncle sam" which Henry Laurent
years ago tried to foist on a patient
people will DE tolerated. Nor will n
good opera with "A Door company fare
any better. Excellence in both piece
aud player is a prerequisite 70 success
here. and IL Is because Miss Hall and her
company met all of these conditions that
she aud they were given such a cordial
reception.
Spe liking OF companies hat have been
particularly successful here it will be re-
called by those interested in the the sub
ject that Salisbury's Troubadors made n
distinct hit here ana thai tn pop ularity
bright little band Of players outlive this
organization in which hey first ap-
peared. Nellie McHenry with her infec-
tious laugh and merry warblint is still
recalled with pleasure, and. Nate Sails
bury, in his clever character sketches
and rotations, John Webster, John
Gourlay INT Helen Onion. all finished
artists In their lines, have not been for
gotten, even after the lapse or SO may
years.
Nearly or quite two generations ago a
coterie of players equally as clever as
Mr.. Salisbury's company, furnishe
amusement for thousands of the staid
citizens OF Providence. Up in Cleveland
hall on North Main street was tn popu-
lar Howard aud Fox theater, tbs mere
mention of which will. even at this late
day, ~conjure up a food OF pleas INT
memories in the minds OF those who
were boys half a century ago. The old
hall still stands with It's pilasters and
ornamental sconces, but the songs of the
plantation darkies have given place to
the click of the upholsterer's ham .ner
and raspfng OF the ablne makers saw.
~*4
1t is not at all surprising that Stuart
Robson has made a hit as Tony Lump
kin in Goldsmiths old but char ming
comedy, She Stops to Conquer" Mr..
Robson is one of the most pleasing com
edians on the American stage, and no
one is better fitted than he to give an adj.
equate portrayal of Mr.. Hardcastle's
bluff, rollicking, do~G-loving nephew.
-.
IL is not very flattering evidence of the
taste of the puplic that Prize Fighter
Corbett has made more money with his
theatrical company this season thar "A
maj Jrity of the high class combinations.
bruisers in buskins must have their day,
however, but there Is cheering evidence
that its ED is not far off.
~.
Mrs. Fanny Barnum Kellerd, who is
quite well known In this city, secured "A
divorce mt St Louis, May 5, from John
T.. kellerd. She uset to be an actress.
and married Mr.. Kellerd when they
were playing In "The Professor in 1885.
The ground of divorce was deseriion.
Mrs. Kellerd gets the custody of their
son., VIII is now 6 years Ole. Mr.. Kellerd
did not oppose the decree.
Pauline Mark ham who half a generasion
age, was regarded as one of the beautiful
women or the stage. has a lawsuit on
hand which, had 1t happened u couple of
decades ago, would have given her much
valuable advertising gratis. She fell
a hole In a sidewalk IN Louis
Vile, KY, the other day and broke one of
her leAs. Now she proposes to get heavy
damages from the municipality.
Ex
1t Is reported that when Henry Irvi ne
visits this country again the price OF
seats In the orchestra circle will b.. lou
bled in all the theaters In which he ap
pears. Americans appreciate Mr.. Irv-
talent as an actor, but it is to be
ed whether they do SO to the ex-
tent of paying double price TO see him.
-.
The following named persons have
closed the season with Manager &. Il.
Lothrop: Edwin Barry. Joseph Il. Fla -
hin, who goes to Philadelphia. j.. Or
mande and Julia Porter.
-.
Manager G. r. Lothrop is considering
the advisable y of leasing a theater in
phia. He was approached re-
by parties in New Bedford to open
u u eater Ia that city.
e..
Manager G. f.. Lothrop was hand.
somely entertained during his recent
visit to Denver, Col, by II. Percy Meldon.