The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1895-02-23

GEcSS Z NS
A wonderful bi. of character portrayal
will be seen next Monday, Tuesday and
"Wednesday evenings at the Providence
Opera House. when he popular comedian,
Mr.. Sol Smith Russell, will appear as the
poor inventor In the comedy by
f. e. Kidder, "a Poor Relation Mr..
RusselPs work il constantly suggestive OF
the right hs has 10 undertake the old
comedy as the legitimate successor OF Mr..
jefferson. All Of Mr.. Russell's work has
delicncy, mc.lowness and finish and is
singuiarly delightful in those elusive at
tributes which lind their best expression
Al the quietesi scenes. Mr.. Russell has
achieved 'riumph in his new play,
peaceful Valley" which will have its
initial performance in Providence on
Tuesday evening. 1t Is founded
on the actors personal observa-
t;ons OF that class OF typical Americans
from which Lincoln, Webster, Greedy,
Garfield and Others have sprung. AT the
Wednesday matinee "a Poor Rela tion"
will be repeated, and for the closing per-
Torrance, "Wednesday evening, Mr.. Rus
sell will be seon in the cassie old English
comedy, ''The Heir at Law" for the first
time In Providence. 1t is said Tint In the
hands OF Mr.. Russell DR.. Pangloss is a
creation.
Next Thursday evening at the Provi-
a=nce Opera House merriment will reign
supreme, the occasion being he presenta-
tion OF Hoyt's success. "A Black Sheep"
This il the latest work of this popular
playwright, and 1t IL the unani-
nous verdict of critics everywhere
that OF all the many farces that Charles
Hoyt has produced "a Black Sheep is by
oil odds his best wcrk, and has already
proven Ais greatest financial success.
The production of "A Black Sheep" is a
sumptuous one. All the scenery, OF which
there will be three scenes, has been es-
pecially painted by the celebrated scenic
artist, Arthur Voegtlin. The piece is a
farce-comedy written in Hoyt's best vein,
rcpletc with spirited, catchy music. wit
ty dialogue, ridiculously funny situa-
tions and host of vaudeville features
that are distinctly new and of a novel
nature. The cast Is the strongest ever or
ganized by Mr.. Hoyt and is headed by
Ola Harlan, who as a clever versatile
comedian ranks among the best, and
whose admirers are numbered by the
thousands
"A Black Sheep" comes new to this city
direct from its Boston run.
A new play in the hands of old and as
sured favorites will be produced at b. f.
Keith's Opera House next week, COM
nencing Monday, February 20. The play
10 entitled "Ups and Downs of Life"
written by F. A. Scudamore, the favori;e
English author, and the players are Mr..
and Mrs. Oliver Byron and their clever
company OF painstaking actors and
actresses. The piece is attractively named
and carries a strong suggestion OF the
character Of the play. 1t Is melodrama
- English melodrama = with a most
decided flavor OF comedy permeatng 1t
throughout. Even though an altogether
untried piece Ia these parts, "Ups and
Downs OF Life" has been the subject OF
unusually complimentary critiques from
the Iens OF the best dramatic reviewers in
the country. II is play of genuine and
spontaneous nature ard pathos, that is
really intense and always interesting.
Summarized briefly, the plot is as follows:
Vivian Ransome, en- architect, in separ-
ated from his wife through the villany of
rejected suitor for his wife's hand. Ran
some Is led TO believe by this
discarded admirer, that his wife
is surIeptitiou ily meeting an old
lover. The husband is directed to
rendezvous and discovers tho two to-
gether. lie thereupon leaves his home.
Afterward he meets the supposed lover,
shoots him and then the discovery Is
made TINT the iran IS his wife's brother
not her lover. Shs had been meeting him
frequently In 49, effort 10 reform his
ways, he being irunkard and a convict
The husband II seek ks to find the villain
and pursues hii broad and wreaks his
vengeance upon him and next the curtain
is rung down on scene OF complete do
nestle reconciliation. The story is full OF
interest and It is rendered realistically
and naturally, by the able arrangement OF
scopes and by the excellent language in
which IL Is told II Is pure and healthy
story, brightly and nicely tr,a ed and is
sure 10 be apprec iated when seen. fine
vein OF comedy extends throughout the
piece and In supplied by Kate Byron as
Judkins. a servant and Fred Warren,
as Smith, grocer's clerk. who are
discovered masquerading as q duchess and
an English lord respectively. The com
edy Is uproarlous and quite plenty OF H..
too, but so cleverly is IL arranged and 80
well Is IL done that 10 does not grow tire
some and indeed it impresses the audi
ence more aud more as the play pro-
Eresses.
A characteristic Southern play, "Down
In Dixie" will be presented by Davis and
Keogn mt Keiths Opera House for the
week commencing Monday, March 4.
There are plenty Of enlivening features In
this newest OF plays treating OF life I'm
tho baimy mellow South The picka-
ninny band Is a big feature, but there are
others just as good. II ought 10 he n
worthy successor TO "In Old Kentucky"
A return engagement st Keith's Opera