The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-03-13
THE THEATER's ROUND.
Attractive Entertainments at All the
PIayhouses.
"The Isle OF Champagne" "The
White slave" "The Boy Tramp"
and " The Creolesp the Bills Given.

Thomas @. Seabrooke's appearance In
the Providence Opera House last evening
was something OF novelty, and con-
sidering he was stranger to
nearly every one in the theater
his reception was most cordial. The
desire to see him and bis whimsical ex-
travaganza, "The Isle OF Champagne" was
widespread, as the large and fashionable
audience bore testimony. Seabrooke 10
superior TO the material he has to
work with. He is one OF the
funniest of the group of comedians who
are now upon the stage in what Is COM
monty called comic opera. He has car
rying voice and his asides come clear and
distinct, making the always welcome
feeling that some one is not striving to be
funny. He never distresses the
more than superficial observer
by constant playing to the house,
and in figure and gesture is attractive
from mirthful viewpoint. He is versa.
tile comedian, frequently giving flashes
OF talent that the more seri-
ously inclined, perhaps, would like to see
employed in something giving scope to
ability apparently superior to horse play,
no matter how skilfully 1t may be toned
down. "The Isle of Champagne" Is some
what out of the beaten track OF up-to- date
comic opera. The principal part is that
OF the comedian, therefore the star is
much in evidence. No one finds fault
with this, because Seabrooke saves the
day. He is always entertaining and
frequently irresistibly funny. There
are few comedians who can keep an
intelligent audience laughing immod-
erately, simply with comic
song and horse play on three string di-
lapidated bass viol. And the number is
not large in the ranks Of players that can
use threadbare material and make
it appear fresh from the loom.
The theme Of "The Isle of Champagne"
is particularly well adapted to extrava-
ganza, and 1t affords large and tuneful
chorus and well selected company much
latitude. The principals are competent
players and vocalists ands Miss Catherine
Lingsrd and Miss Rosa Cooke are nicely
cast. ''The "'will remain until We'd
nesday evening.
"The White Slave" at Keiths.
"The White Slave' at Keith's Opera
House last night was warmly welcomed
by large audience and no familiar melo-
drama of the present day retains its hold
upon the theater-going public more than
this creation of Bartley Campbell. The
company now presenting 1t Is large one
and the leading parts are strongly played
The colored quartet In the equal of any
that has ever appeared in this city, and
the comedy element was we'll cared for
by Charles Webster and Miss Barlow.
Miss Mary Anderson, % Lisa, the White
Slave, was full Of life and grace.
She gave to her lines all the
fire and restless energy that the part calls
for, winning In the emotional scenes
the admiration Of the audience. Her
voice sympathetic and fun OF
feeling. Edwin Walter, as her lover, was
fair, but he lost by comparison with Miss
Anderson. b. j. Murphy as the villain
was acceptable in an always
disagreeable part, and Frank Drew as the
lawyer convulsed the audicnce whenever
he sprung his comical bow, while his love
making was most stthoroughly appreciated.
The scenic effects were, as usual, good
noticeably SO, especially in the wreck
scene.
The one thing about the play that lends
to Il an added attraction and which un-
doubtedly contributes to its continued
popularity is the happy avoidance of the
usual flourish of firearms and stage fights
to be found in thes majority of melo-
dramas. II will be seen Gil the week.
Lothrop's Opera House.
The opening scene Of The Boy Tramp"
at Lothrop's Opera House gains attention
at once by its good arrangement and the
play itself starts in with snap and jim
gle. A murder Is arranged forthwith
and the boy tramp and Sally, the
maid annear iuat after the fearful