The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-09-25
THE THEATERS.
Farce, MeIo-Drama, Comedy
and Vaudeville.
lustinian BabbItt. Professor OF -Aneie


4irs. Zantippc Babbitt.,.... Mrs, q. II. Gilbert
risoe; % iss s eIus snson
Susan. Miss Catherine Lewis
Marc .;f..y Miss Kathleen hiil
.t.................-.... ...Mi. hehry biAVS
The cast shows that a certain sec
tion OF Days company, minus the great
ones, with the exception of James Lewis
and Mrs. G. III. Gilbert, favored the city
with their presence in the Providence
Opera House last evening. The balance
Of the famous aggregation was in Boston,
at the same time, with the charming
actress, Ada Rehan, rs Days star.
Providence, however, can't md mucn
fault IL the best wasn't provided, because
that furnished was far above the drama
tic food generally dished out hereabouts.
Evidently the population was on TO the
fact that the New York papers knew
where Days company was when they
announced Sunday that Daly's company
left New York that evening TO open In
Boston in "The Last Word" They
Neglected to say that Providence was also
s favored with that part of Daly's company
not needed in Boston.
Well, il we did have the left over part,
those who knew that the visitors were in
town felt repaid for their time and money
in the theater. The play was Days farce
adapted from the German, entitled "a
Night on" Adonis Dixey tried to make
il burlesque, but the restraining power
of that capital comedian and veteran,
James Lewis, and that delightful
and superb actress, Mrs. q. ii. Gilbert,
kept the farce from falling TO mere horse
play for the purpose of making the in
3udicious laugh. Dixey has much to
learn and he can begin easily in his scene
with Mrs. Gilbert where the fine actress
holds him in check. Marcus Brutus is
taken for the uncle OF that poor girl"
aud the situation is amusing and sugges-
tive enough without making faces and
antics to apprise the spectators of the
mistake. A line scene was nearly spoiled
ut this point.
Comedian Lewis, without a peer on the
American stage, was constant delight
and Catherine Lewis was refreshing and
amusing even If prone TO Dixey's fault
broad exaggeration. The others IN the
cast were players of the capacity seen in
similar companies of pretense. Days
a"7-20-S" will be seen this evening.
IL. II. Keith's Opera House.
q Darkest Russia " does for the Russian
style OF melodrama what the later Irish
plays accomplished for Irish drama. The
latter, while making free use of the "Irish
question:" have come TO be SO constructed
rs not TO have the interest in them de-
pendent upon sympathy with the Irish
cause; and, in the same way, the new
utilizes the eminently dramatic material
Afforded by Nihilism without demanding
I of the audience that IL must concede ali the
virtues TO the bomb throwers and all the
heavy villainy to the soldiers OF the Gar.
In fact, the chief figure of " Darkest
Russia" is noble and his companion is an
advanced republican who believes in
books as means TO freedom rather than
bombs and the plot thickens on a COM
bination Of circumstances and an aggre-
cation of sentiments which utilizes the
popular idea of the Russian situation sim
ply as means to an end.
III. Grattan Donnelly is a trained con-
Gtructor OF popular melodrama, and
. Darkest Russia" is elaborately pic tied,
without being too intricate TO see through
as you 60 along, and comprises an abund-
ance Of situations and climaxes, with n
grateful supply OF documents in the
last act to clear things up rapidly
and smoothly after interest has reached
its ultimate climax. The tabeaux
of "Darkest Russia" are a conspicuous and
pleasing feature. The company is splen-
didiy trained and effective stage pictures
are produced frequently and rapidly. The
theme of the drama makes possible rich
array OF costumes and the fou- acts fur
nish five sets of handsomely designed and
olaborately executed scenery, all which
contribute large share to the attractive
ness Of the ever shifting panorama and
Mr. Williams s. Harkins is at the head of
the company which produces Darkest
Russia" Mr.. Harkins is young actor OF
Inherited talents and his emphatic style
and robust figure make him effective as
the central figure OF q melodrama of this
character. Besides he is personally popu-
lar in Providence. Keith's audiences
know him and they gave him a warm re-
ception last evening. HE gave a manly,
vigorous and consistent impersonation
OF an heroic part and was ably
supported by Mr.. M. j. Jordan, Mr. Benia-
min Horning, Mr.. Frank T.. Aiken, Mr.
8. s. Wiltsis, Miss Selma Herman, Miss
Eva Byron, Miss Carina Jordan, Miss
Margaret Owen and the rest of the large
company. The audience that packed the
pretty theater expressed their appreoia-
tion of persons and events as portrayed by
the progress of the piece, in the good old
fashioned way of tumultuous applause for
the innocent victims of oppression and
hearty hisses for the oppressors.
Charlie Tovenbtrg-s Orchestra filed the
time between curtains most acceptsbly
with new music including their leaders
own descriptive composition the advent
cf Spring"
Darkest Russia" will FIJI the week
With matinees, today, Thursday and
saturday.
Lothrop's Opera House.
NC WIN GQWlO
Is the star, Is the attraction At Lothrop's
Opera House this week, and drew good
sized audiences yesterday afternoon and
evening. "The Shamrock is an Irish com
edy-drama, and tells the story of jockey
who Is to ride for a wealthy stable owner,
but is approached by an unprincipled
villain, who tries to induce him to throw
the race. This he refuses TO do, and the
villain hires fellow 90 shoot the horse
during the race. The bullet hits and kills
the owner OF the horse. The murder is
not discovered until after the race, when
The son of the man who has been shot is
accused OF the crime, and circumstantial
evidence points strongly against him. He
leaves Ireland and goes 10 London, where
he Is employed by Hebrew storekeeper
who, It aiterward turns out, was an eye-
witness OF the murder, but remained quiet
\ not wishing TO be detained as a witness
The jockeys fsister Is abducted by the
villain and all turn up in London. Here
the storekeeper acknowledges that he
knows the real murderer and all return to
Ireland where the crime ia fastened on
fhc guilty one and the curtain drops on
- A..