The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1897-12-31
CRANES NEW PLAY.
Seen at the Providence Opera House Last
Evening.


William ". Crane Is a very successful
comedian. He knows tho value of en-
tertainment. Long aQo he became "a
master Of the art OF keeping people coed
humored and the people appreciated that
fact and they kept nlling the theaters
where ho appeared. until today William x
purse is as long, perhaps, as any of the
popular players of the past % years. lie
has paid goodlv sums for material TO
keep his admirers In an excellent state
OF mind and he has encouraged native
talent In playwritiDg as much as any
American actor. He Is not an imperson.
ator of character; he Is William III. Crane
and he bestows upon the several parts he
assumes great deal OF his personality
and spontaneous humor. He has had
ambition to he one Of tho great come
dians. but few efforts in the line OF
Shakespearian character and parts in
standard comedies convinced him that
there was other and better material for
his use.
The general public likes him I'm parts
that suit his personality and along that
line he las made for himself position in
thu front rank of entertainers. HIS new
play seen in this city for the first time at
the Providence Opera House last evening,
attracted one OF the finest audiences II
the season. and everyone in the theat
hal "a good time "A Virginia Court
plays IL seems TO contain touch of
nearly everything Mr. Crane has done for
the past generation. The au 5hor admits
that he tried 10 follow models made
familiar in old comedies ana which are
destined 10 live as long as 1.-THE English
language is spoken.
This IL n costume play. IL represents
Virginia life early in the century and
Its story ls Of courtship on n general scale.
All the principal characters have affairs
of the heart on hand Most of them are
ssupu, superficial and unreal They are
for the most part colorless people. hut
they excite curiosity, and the interest is
kept sustained almost wholly through
curiosity. .The.plan.is simple from the
beginning, ana the ouly real surprise Is
where the son of the planter comes In
with the girl he loves ana whom every
one but the villain wants him TO marry,
and announces that they ure man ana
wife.
Mr.. Crane impersonated the hot tom
y red major In "A delightful way. His
lJve-making was funny II it did lack the
element Of sincerity anO his reh earsai In
pantomimo In the second act was capital
He was smooth and even anl filled the
stage completely.
Miss Annie Irish was an able second 20
the star and contributed literally TO the
general pleasure OF the polite and good
hammered play. Mar. Putnam was exceed
/ sgly. 'apable as the villain ana was uis-
liked because OF his sincerity. This part
kept the interest sustained. Miss Has
well was charming and sweet and the
other ladies were graceful in speech and
action. Indeed, all the Iarts In the may
are what players term Fat And each
part had competent player. Mr.. Cranes
company Il well balanced and the indi-
vidual mem bers barmUnizs with the work
they have In hand. The scenery is also
agreesble and pleasant 10 the eye. Ths
u espeoially true of the interior OF the
Virginia mansion.
Mr. Crane, his tne company aud hi.
new play will be- at the opera house this
evening anu tomorrow Afternoon and
evening