The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-06
q M THEATRES


with Miss Rose Coghlan's Between
Matinee and Night" either as regards
the dramatic sketch Itself or the excel
lence OF its presentation. Within the
limits OF a half hour playlet Miss Cogh-
IAN has condensed material enough to
sufflce for very strong play. covering
almost every phase OF human emotion,
ana yet without any sacrifice OF
smoothness or dramatic consistency of
| force. Ii relates very pretty story
OF great actress estranged from her
husband through no fault of her own.
| ana the victim or a western divorce
which gave him the custody of their
child who unwittingly visits her
mother and is later taken away by the
stern father who persuades the broken
hearted mother that ii is best for the
| child that she shall return with him
without knowing her mother as such;
and after making this sacrifice. the
mother is forced swiftly to repress her
tears and make her entry on the stage
in a -light-hearted- and frivolous part.
| In her assumption OF the role OF the
actress Miss Coghlan is enabled to give
the public an insight into the realities
OF life behind the scenes that should
accomplish no little good in its way.
and at the same time Is afforded an
opportunity to display at its best the
breadth and depth of her art, its ex-
quisite refinement and delicacy and its
intelligence and power; and IL rs doubt
full IL I'm any play in which she has
been seen I'm Providence has she been
able so effectually and charmingly TO
demonstrate her complete mastery of
her art and her versatility in the por-
trayal OF varying emotions. Mr.. John
L. Sullivan plays with a reserve and
finish and quiet force quite in keeping
with an intelligent conception or his
role. Msss Daisy Lowering makes
pretty. graceful and thoroughly inter-
esting daughter and Miss Won Traut-
man, as the maid, Goes her little Wen.
The very favorable impression made
by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Sidman in
their recent appearance here was in
creased yesterday, when they presented
again Back Home" which Mr.. Sid
man has styled "a few restful mo-
ments." Simple. unpretentious. with
scarcely the suggestion of story to
tell. this little sketch breathes the re-
freshing. restful air of rural life in its
brightest and most pleasing aspects;
and il Is a wonderfully realistic por-
trayal worthy of taking rank NTH the
best in dramatic presentation OF home
scenes in the country. Its humor is
quiet, but none the less quaint and
pointed, its action is smooth and nat
ural. and its picturesque scenic setting
and simple charm. he same -ehaFae-
teristics are to be found in Mr.. Sid
mans thoroughly sincere and artistic
impersonation OF the country squire
and postmaster which has no superior
of its kind and is one or the best char
acter creations vaudeville has produced.
Pretty Mrs. Sidman. too, enters most
intelligently into the atmosphere OF the
playlet. and contributes a quiet. nat
ural and charming portrayal OF the city
girl affording picturesque contrast TO
the work of Mr.. Sidman and playing no
important part in the general result.
Amid the customary variety sur
roundings of many other vaudeville
acts. Back Home" provides restful.
refreshing change that Is as wholesome
and delightful as breath of air from
the country fields in summer time; and
no one can see Ii without feeling more
repaid. unless his nature be absolutely
unresponsive to sentiment and beauty
and poetry.
Miss fftfda Thomas, the piauante and
versatile singing protean comedienne, is
an old favorite. and justly so, with
Providence audiences, who recognize In
her one of the most artistic performers
in a strictly vaudeville style OF sketch
that this branch of the profession
boasts Indeed. her work is marked by
such strong individuality that she can
be said TO have no rival. Her vocal
abilities are quite sufficient in them
selves to bring success: but she sub
ordinates them to the display of her
other gifts. and by her quick grasp
of the humorous possibilities OF the
various types of character she pres
ents so effectively and faithfully. COM
bined with the dash and spirit of all
her work she easily wins recognition
as ''headliner'' whose success has
tiGti ie
present sketch is new here, and is fully
as good as the other offered last winter;
and in il Mr.. Frank Barry's clever
ness as musician and his marked
ability as an accompanist are utilized
with the same admirable results. They
were both given a very hearty recep-
ton yesterday, and Miss Thomas fully
maintained her record for curtain calls
at the conclusion of their -act--
The work on the flying rings
by the Marinellas has never been
equaled here i'm its way, and is dis
tinct feature of the bill: and Anderson
and Engeton are to be credited with
something of a novelty, which Is pres
ented i'm a manner evincing conscient-
ious work and Intelligent effort. AS
usual, Gaffney Brown scores hit in
the old act OF Brown, Harrison and
Brown. and many laughs greeted the
whole team who seem TO enjoy large
share OF popular favor.
The sketch presented by Charles
Leonard Fletcher and Irene Young, is
one of the really good things in a good
bill, Mr.. Fletcher's limitations of Rich
ard Mansfield being perhaps the best
thing OF the kind that has been pres
ented I'm this house, and being greeted
with the very liberal applause that they
richly merited.
The musical act OF the Whitney
Brothers is decided novelty in it's line.
and scores well on this account entirely
aside from its undoubted merit other
wise; and their applause was thorough
ly earned.
Curtis G.. Morse tells some amusing
stories. some OF which have lost their
edge by having been told here by Frank
Bush, and proves a most pleasing en-
tertainer: AMI I'D. Leonard sings and
dances In black-face. while Widden. the
juggler, and the Mcdonald Brothers.
dialect comedians. complete the bill ex-
cept the Biograph which shows some
more than ordinarily pleasing notion
pictures.
Today another notable Biograph pic
ture is added. shown little baby Mar
ion Clarke. the victim OF the New York
md har f,,ot her Tho tfttIa