The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-11-17

| People like it ana their like is greatly TO
I their credit.
"ihe sporting Duchess" had splen-
| did east AMI it returned TO New York af
| ter its Providence engagement for run.
| Thus far the theatr icals OF the town don b
| seem so slow do they? Then came 1.-The
| Girl From Paris" with practically its
metropolitan cast and it was new last
| season. IL went 10 Boston from here, and
standing room only was frequently dis
| played In the lobby. 1t wasn't Ham
| let" but IL was the best of its kind.
| Right on tbs heals of this came 'Ihe
| Coat OF Many Colors" fresh from New
| York, with Herbert Kelcey and Ellie
| Shannon in the cast. 1t was "A charming
| performance. Even the Journal Thought
| So
| The next attraction was James O'Neil
| and the theatre had remunerative pat
| ronage. 1t was quite evident that large
| number of persons were pleased with the
visit. Mr.. O'Neil has PLAYED an annual
engagement at thig theatre for the last 10
years. and he will probably have the
same privilege for the next 10. II he is
able TO please the public. Mr. MORROW
| does not forget his old friends.
| Joseph jefferson, best beloved of all,
! appeared next.
! Chauncey Olcott was an unknown
| quantity, put he pleased good many
! persons. lie was, however, in the wrong
4
| take by the management. The first one OF
| the season The Lyceum Theatre Com
| pany followed in 1.-The Prisoner OF
| Zenda" The journal kicked because
this wasn't something else, but it was the
best the company hau. lt was no expert
ment, and It vas one of the finest. The
Geezer" was che first outrage of the
season. 1t ought to have gone TO one of
the popular priced houses. Manager Nor
row admits hc was taken in on this
stuff
"Shore Acres" which has made its
way into all hearts was the next attrac-
ton 1.-The Founding" and Cissy fitz
gerald followed. and Ii was scored 10y
The News. The Journal. however,
praised il. and IL was the worst exhibit
tion of the season. a person, after read
ing the waller might be excused If he ex-
claimed Where am atY'
At this stage or the season Maude
Adams was booked for the Opera House,
but she was making such wonderful
| success in 1.-The Little Minister in New
York that Manager Morrow bad to forego
the pleasure of presenting her to his pat
rons because the sudden breaking of of
the New York engagement would have
been harmful to the gifted little lady.
| She will come later on. however.
Joseph Murphy came and the theatre
| was crowded. For II years he has been n
visitor here, and there is large class of
| citizens who like the big and successful
| Irish comedien IL is quite evident he Is
| liked elsewhere for he is one of the most
| wealthy players on the American stage
| and he earned his wealth playing.
Roland Reed is here today with his
| bright farce ana his capable company,
and tomorrow evening one OF the sweet
est of American plays, Alabama" will
] be presented. Now you come To look at
| it, what Is all this fuss about theatrical
| syndicates riding rough shod over local
| managers and the public for? is there
! cat in the meal bagy
| Poor shows will occasionally get ip, but
if they do the local manager is the great
est sufferer; don't forget that.
On the average there Is not City in
! the lana that gets better theatrical nour-
| ishment than Providence. Any we'll in
| formed theatrical man or individual
posted in such matters will make affi-
/ davit TO that effect. There Is one
| popularity about the business that the
public takes no heed of. 1t is this. The
| theatre may be filed every night and yet
| the local manager may lose money. Why?
Because the company want such big
| pcrcentage of the receipts that the man.
| aoer doesn have enough left To pay his
exper ses That Is a frequent occurrence
| and one OF the OBJECTS Of the syndicate is
Co correct this so that both the company
| and the manager may have chance to
live. The arrangement does not affect the
| public or the quality of the entertain
! ment. The objection is all on the part OF
the com bination that howls over the re
| duction in the revenue, There are some
hogs in the show business and the syndi-
cate assisted by the local managers, are
endeavoring to drive them down steep
| place.
There has been no interference with the
| revenue of the best attractions and none
| is contemplated. The whole idea Is ID
foster the best and to give every ons a
| living chance. No fair minded person
oan find fault with such "A proposition.
Now let us turn to the kickers once
| more This illustration is paraded. Mrs
Minnie Maddern tiskc, we know her best
| a. Minnie MadderD, that was before she
| was the wife uf the editor of the New
| York Dramatic Mirror, cannot play in
this city at the leading theatre because
sho is not controlled by the syndicate
| Why il she not i'm the syndicate? Simply
because they will not agree To give MRS.
Fiske 81 per cent of the receipts. They
cannot afford to. limo was and not
! long ago, either, when Mrs. Fiske was
glaI 10 get in at 90 per cent. rate.
! That was before tne boom of Tess of
| the ID D'Urberviiles, dramatization of
! the popular novel in which Mrs. Fske is
| paradcd in all the papers n being one of
! the stars in the dramatic armament.
! Perhaps she Ia. The News rejoices in her
! prosperity, but 10 doesn believe that the
| dramatic shop will be shut up because
! less does not come TO town. Local play
4 goors can afford 10 wait. Mrs. Fiske
| will b. here in due time. Tess may be n
| lie older, but she Will keen until the
80 per cent drops a triile. Francis Wilson
only charges 10 per cent.
And that reminds Us that the Journal
! wail made some reference TO Francis
| Yes be was here last season i'm Half
| King" lie came for 20 per cepT of the
| receipts. lie lost money and Manager
Morrow lost money. The public didn {
seem to care for . Half a King at any
! price, and he won't play In this theatre
this season for good and sufficient reason.
lie is not wanted even nj the regular
! price. The management cannot afford 90
have him for the qualification of the few.
They can see Francis in his Imitators at
the cheaper houses
Fanny Davenport was booked to appear
i'm this theatre In her new play before the
kick was ever thought OF I'm the Office of
the morning paper. The same can b. said