The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-12-09
MORE INDEPENDENT.
Why Miss HIIda Thomas Left Comic
Opera For Vaudeville.
Why She Entered Into a Partnership With
Mr.. Frank Barry, the Pianist.


Miss Hilda Thomas, who is making
week. Some performers have COM
planned because Providence audiences
were so cold but am sure find them
just the reverse, and there is no city in
the country where find the audiences
more quickly or more heartily respon-
sive to my efforts TO please. In fact,
am, and always have been, just i'm love
with Providence, whether IL is with me
or not"
AS TO the latter question. the fact that
Miss Thomas on Tuesday evening re-
ceived five recalls at the conclusion of
her act, and that the audience even
then seemed determined TO insist upon
an encore and forced her a sixth time
Ia appear and acknowledge its ovation,
may be accepted as indisputable evil
dence of its appreciation of her clever
ness. versatility and popularity. Since
Keith's New theatre was first opened
no artist has received such an ovation,
and IL is not surprising TO learn that
she and Mr.. Barry have been booked
for the Keith circuit again next spring.
How did come to leave comic opera
case, ii wasn't a bigger salary that
caught the fish SO much as it was that
the work is easter and affords a greater
scope for ones endeavors; and the life
is so much more independent, you
know. / am my own boss now, and,
you know, that's quite consideration
To woman.
And, by the way, / never told you
how i came to have Mr.. Frank Barry
for a partner and have my accompani-
ments played on piano on the stage.
i was playing in a small Massachu-
setts city and the orchestra was SIM
ply awful. Why, by the end OF the
week the only men In il who were even
trying to play my songs were the lead
err, the drummer and the trombone
tooter. Don't say word, but IL was
just enough TO drive a woman off the
stage. Mr.. Barry, who had been the
musical director for leading travelling
combinations, comiserated with me and
tried to help me out in getting that
orchestra into line, but all ia vain.
Then il occurred TO me that i might
have a sketch written around the parts
i was doing and utilize a good pianist
liRe Mr. Barry both In the sketch and
as an accompanist; and almost i'm the
twinkling of an eye the decision was
reached and the thine was depe, and
il was one of the best moves L ever
made.
"And speaking of orchestras reminds
me of an experience / had in Hyde u
Behman's theatre in Brooklyn. While
singing my first song. my attention
was attracted to the German clarinet
player. who was showing his instru-
ment to- the musician next 10 him. In
the midst OF nay second song he discon-
nected the piece and showed its differ
ent parts and distracted my attention
so much that 1 got angry. rushed
down the stage in his direction and
raised my voice, where the impersona-
tion would permit, trying 10 get his
attention. | raised my arms more
energetically and shook them at him
until l was afraid the audience would
think | was a fool. The German was
perfectly oblivioOs lost in explaining
the merits Of his instrument When. in
the middle of my third song, i heard
the other fellow say: i gif you tollar
for it, flesh and blood could stand IL no
longer, and l shouted: Give him two
dollars for il. and i will stand the diff
ference The audience searched in
vain for the Joke but my Teutonic
friend came back TO earth
Where do get my characters from
Well, i haven't copied them from any
thing | have seen on the stage, but /
have endeavoreG faithfully TO reproduce
some that ] have seen in real life. |
imagine that my society lady is q
type that is readily recognized. even
If its presentation is a little hard on
my sex; and my Bowery soubrette is
direct Importation. so to speak, from
the classic shades of that somewhat
famous thoroughfare. When i was in
Frank Daniels Little Puck company,
we laid off a week in New York; and a
party OF us went down on the Bowery
TO see the sights. We happened into
a dime museum on amateur night:.
end there / saw this character, which
struck me az so irresistibly funny that
( decided at once to reproduce it as
we'll as I could copying every detail
Of the wig. shoes. hat. and general
make up. This impersonation has been
talked about a good deal; but do you
know ] rather fancy that perhaps the
chief reason may be that everybody
Knows that no woman likes to hide
whatever good looks she may be lucky
enough to possess under "a grotesque
maKe=TIp Just for-tffe sake or making
other people laugh"
Miss Thomas work possesses AN in
dividuality and originality that places
il In, a class by itself; but If COMPARE
sons were possible. il might be said that
Nav Irwin and Marie Dressler resem-
BILE her more in their methods than do
any others. In private life she is the
same vivacious jolly woman seen on
the stage. bubbling over with merri-
ment In fact. the mirth and liveliness
OF her stage assumptions are not stage
creations. but an actual presentation
Of the real nature OF the woman herself.
She IL a charming conversationalist.
adapting herself readily to the tastes
of those she meets. and never fails 10
leave upon an interviewer that kind OF
delightful impression that begets a de-
sire to renew the acquaintance at the
earliest opportunity though there Is no
artfulness. conceit or effusiveness I'm her
manner which is simply that Of the re-
fined. intelligent unassuming but well.
| informed lady OF the world.
II am going TO Choicago for eight
weeks soon after leaving Providence -
said Miss Thomas. I'm closing the i'm
terview: "and next spring will come a
| most delightful experience. for I am
| booked To go over the Keith circuit
again--my 18th trip over IL. you know
| Then next summer want to so abroad
| lust for pleasure and perhaps | may
| nick up a. fcw new odd characters to
reproduCc on my return i'm the fan"