The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-04-07

AULDLANG SYNE
Historic Festival at PrOyi-
dence Opera House.
Youth and Beauty in a Back
Century Setting.
Big Production That Will Delight
Folks all the Week.

TO view a bit of English country, across
which, in the course OF the action, Master
Roger Williams noated. When the red
curtain came down it shut off stageful
of soldier boys just back from civil war,
AMI stage and audience were singing
sAmericap in grand chorus to the in
struments OF Reeves American Band.
This represents the chronological and
historical scope OF the "Days OF Auld
Lang Syne," the impressive production
which Is put on at the Providence this
week under the auspices Of the Colonial
Danes and Daughters of the American
Revolution of this State, all directed by
Miss Margaret McLaren Eager. The scenes,
tableaux and dances for the opening
night were as follows: "English Village
and Youth of Roger Williams" EN-
trance OF the State and Landing OF Roger
Williams, "Signing the Deed from the
Indians to Williams" "Conspiracy to
burn the Gaspee," lies Vivsndieres'
(dance), sRochambeau Ball." "Flag
Dance Three scenes in the Civil War.
The auditorium was gay with bunting,
coats OF arms, and historical hangings OF
various kind. The proscenium arch was
hung with red, white and blue with the
shield OF Rhode Islandsat the topmost
point. On either side, covering the pill
asters, were plausible columns upon which
hung the arms OF the IL other original
states. Gallery fronts were luxuriantly
draped. At the back OF the auditorium
were uniquely designed ard elAborately
constructed booths-an army and navy
ship ssConstitution, the "Old IrUnsides"
OF history and the school reader, ths
former an "a" tent, OF very military APP
pearance; exquisitely decorated mower
and s'literary" booths and mighty cute
candy booth. The fringe of gay booths,
with their bouquets of fair faces filling
their windows, the richly hung galleries
and an audience brilliantly gowned and
bonnetted must have made the auditorium
interest and attractive TO the folk on
the farther side of the footlights.
There Is another "boorh," too. II Is
q country store established in the ladies'
waiting room. Here you may buy every
thing from plog tobacco, dried apples,
-taclss. fat green pickles and sausages, to
barrel of -four. Up stairs Is colonial
tavern where you may lunch frugaliy or
otherwise at a big deal table set with
candles and old china.
The ladies In the store are prim
QuaKers and In the tavern there are
quaint old costumes with the men rugged
out in Frenchy looking caps, coats and
aprons.
The chips bsll in the navy booth had
Btruck sseight bells'n some time before
Mr.. Reeves raised his baton and the big
orchestra struck into the opening over
ture OF patriotic themes. The orchestra
is q grand affair, the American and
Opera House players being banded to-
gether with Wendelschaefer, Church, and
Padley and Spary and all the favorite
soloists in the combination. The curtain
slid up on an English village scene with
the villagers engaged in singing and
Williams IN supposed to have romped and
Master Davis @. Arnold was a sturdy speci-
men of what Roger may have been sup
posed to be like In the early days OF The
seventeenth century. With the exit OF
the festive dancers the curtain came down
and rose again on an allegorical tabieaux,
= the sEntrance of the State" the State
being Rhode Island and ten maids in
tinsel-sprinkled white gowns, with
big anchor, represented Rhode Island,
the posing being followed by a dainty
dance and q tableau from the city seal
and common tradition representing the
landing OF Roger Williams. Professor
Alouxo Williams, a descendant of the
founder OF Rhode Island, represented
Roger, and following this tableau was
another representing the .'signing OF the
Arthur knight posed as Canonicus and
Mr.. William Eddy as Miantonomi.
These scenes were warmly applauded
but when the next rise of the curtain dis
closed drop, on which was painted the
old SABINE tayern, Just as 1t appeared ON
who planned the burning Of the
tiGsree gathered, the house came
down tumultously. This scene
was notable for the lofty frank and
eminence OF the cast, which included
emo Sears, DIR. Field, Amasa nj.
Eaton, Esq, and other well known men
who made terrifying conspirators, indeed,
about the most bIcod-thirsty looking OF
men that the stage had seen in all its
history. Mr.. James A. Kipgman was
the 'sbell man" whose call assembled
the sons of liberty in the tavern.
There was an interlude i'm the
way OF pretty dance of Vivandieres, and
then came the most luxurant scene OF
the entire evening. IL represented the
hochambeau ball at Newport, and the
ball was danced in inagnifcently dec
Grated room, from the ceiling of which
swung glittering crystal chandelier, and
about the broad floor OF which were rare
old pieces OF furniture, candelebra and
palms. Almost everybody recognized
the Count de Rochambeau and General
Washington as they strobe down
stage together. Colonel John q. Wyman
made a fine counterfeit presentment of
the gallant Frenchman, while Mr.. III. l..
Smith looked near enough like the father
OF his country to have stepped from the
frame about the Stuart portrait that
hangs ON the State House wall. mrs.
Neil Barrows as Margaret Champlin
might well have made the fair Margaret
herself envious, and Miss Sallie Rhodes
Dennis, who impersonated Polly Wan
ton, was enough TO create n longing 10
wager that rolly herself was never
fairer or so divine dancer, while Mrs.
Wyman as Polly Lawton, the gentle
Quakeress, who inspired the Baron de
Segur TO write that to her he woul
cheerfully have "offered hand and heart
had hand and heart been free" was quite
charming enough TO have prompted the
Baron's gallantry and TO have had the
gallantry excusable in the eyes OF the
faronness. Mr.. Frsncis Pratt was De
SeRur.
beautiful flag dance, with Miss Dem
mis- as central figure. was one OF the
prettiest stage pictures OF the evening,
end after that little Miss lola Virginia
dodge created sensation with a couple
OF her marvellous recitations. IL there
hadn't been q rule prohibiting bouquets,
little Miss Dodge would have been loa ded
down with them.
The last scenes in the spectacle were the
marching Of the Rhode Island trt OPS 10