The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-04-15
A Threatened Invasion Of Actors from
Strange Foreign Lands.
THE CHINESE COMING IN FORCE.
A Dozen Years Old. but still New story
OF Henry Lacy-stags kissing ut
whoiesale--A Now Tragedian-Gossip
OF the Stage.


taste for Shakespeare aud other subjects
have furnished rexts upon which to base
sanctum ser ons TO tho effect that the
American Stage with cap. A and 81 10
going to the dogs" What new Walls OF
wrath thev can discover will be spilled
when It IL known th.t we are 10 be in
vaded by the forei IA actor. Much has
I e.n said in the past against artists from
across the water who have sought TO
corral the American shekel. But now IL
is no single star OF however great magni-
dread. Nor In il a duo OF histrionic
comets that we must apprehend. The
sad truth is that ZOO Chinese actors
have LETT Shanghai for Chicago to play
during the fair.
TO experience : Are we to be invaded
by stage tire aders from everv cline Will
Comedians from Lapland, tragedi ans
from Patagonia. song and dance artists
from Kamschatka, skirt dancers from
Van Diemen's Land, serio comics from
will each nationality come 900 strQng ?
But the mind fails to compass the possl-
bilities.
Harry Lacy. who comes TO Providence
as a star next week in "The Planters
w nus Won COubluoTdDlo
rs an heroic actor In the last few years.
He Is best known to the average theatre
goer as the hero OF the "Still Alarm" /
had view of him some years ago that
many are not privileged TO witness.
l. was in the latter part
attended a performance OF the self same
Planters wife" at the Windsor theatre
in Boston. now a dime museum con-
trolled by George +. Lothrop. Maude
Granger was the star and her leading
man was also interested In the business
he'was missing. There was no one to
play his part and on an hours notice
Harry Ley was called upon to assume
the role, very trying one.
-.
The usual plea for mercy was offered
to the audience before the curtin, but
the young man did not at first seem to
need 1t. The first acts he played ad-
mirably, considering the circumstances.
but during the last acts he was COMPEL, d
TO read his part from the prompt book.
He did 1t SO we'll and acted so effectively
despite his handicap that he won NOR
applause than the best work without
the book could have secured him. The
next night ne was letter perfect.
e..
It strikes me as strange that theatri-
cat ,,nanagers are SO careless OF their
patrons comfort. A case In Doiut oc-
son." now playing &C Kelth's. The log
jam goes down stream TO the accompa-
niment OF the crashing of logs. which
sounds much like the rapid explosion Of
firearms and amid a blaze OF red fire. All
this il very realistic and thrilling, and
the audie ice Is much enthused. But
when the curtain rises IN the third act
they wish IL had never happened. A
pungent odor OF smoke floats out and
assails their nostrils and an epidemic OF
coughing spreads like q wave over the
house and continues till nearly the close
noying to the actors as IL certainly is to
the audience. Could not some device be
employed that would do away with the
nuisancef
Miss Maud Haslam OF the "Incog"
company is the most be-kissed actress l
ever knew Of. Several Of the male mem
bers of the company are called upon by
the exigencies OF the farce TO kiss her at
regular and rapid intervals. They have
no reason to regret the fact, for Miss Has
lam Is a very pretty girl aud presents
very kissable mouth when made ready
Tor action. 1 wonder, though, what she
uses to keep her lips from chapping.
~.
Ramsay Morris, whose Joseph" CON-
pany will be seen here next week. has
sounded all the depths and shadows of
theatrical life. At alternate periods he
has been an actor, an advance agent, a
press agent, n stage manager, a dramatic
instructor aud playwright. He is now
the manager of his own company. The
variety OF his earlier experiences DUAL.
ifies him particularly well for this final
Office. He is not only versed in hos a
play ought TO be STAGED, but the ex,ct
manner IN which its merits are to be
brought out in performances.
~.
share the general interest felt by all
Mr. keith's friends in the opening o. his
new venture in New York. the y lion
Square theatre. To bring ira. edian
out of the W est seemed q risky thing 10
do, aud the critics, while anxious to pass
judgment on the young mans efforts, ex-
pected at most TO witness q breezy and
novel production of Hamlet" Walker
Whitesde, however, made such q favor
able impression that IL Is within the
range of posi- bilities for him to become
the leading interpreter Of Shakespeare la
this country.
Mr.. Whiteside is about 80 years OF age,
and previous TO this New York engage
menJ met wi h success In the West. play
ing boys parts first aud later leading
parts. he IOiloWS Liwrence barrett as
a model when there Is any simi arity
noticed, but he is often novel in his de-
parture from traditional situations As
an instance, he gives the soliloQuy seated
in an inconspicuous part of the stage aud
listens 10 the ghosts story KIN .eling. Civ
ing the stage TO the ghost This Is Ger.
tai ly new, but no good reason can be
advanced why IL is not an intelligent
conception Of the situation.
e..
On wednesday evening he appeared
as Richelieu, and the favorable impress
sion made on the opening night was re-
newed. The supporting company does
not come in for much praise, but Mr..
Keith Is being congratulated on his
''hnd," and 1t is probable that next sea-
60 Mr.. Whiteside will be toured thro ugh
New England, In which case Provide nee
will have a chance to see ana hear the
tragedian who, it is now expected. will
fill the place left vacant by Barrett's
death and Bootn's retire uent.
Wonders will never cease. "The
Black Crook " has been severely "roast-
ed" by the Chicago critics and the
French "spiit" dancers regarded ns