The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-11
keIth's New Theatre.

atre last week was far from being the
best OF the season, / all the more cheer
fully commend that OF the present week
as one OF the most entertaining, and one
of the most successful I'm laugh pro-
voking and applause winning qualities.
with which the public has been IA
vored; and II it's popularity and the
likelihood of its crowding the theatre
during the week may be judged from
the enthusiasm with which yesterday
audiences broke through the ice OF
Providence conservatism into hiariJy
and hand clapping, IL is "all right"
Like refreshing breath from tho
green fields, laden with the sweet per-
fume OF flowers, is the atmosphere OF
Back Home" the new sketch in which
Mr.. and Mrs Arthur Sidman appear;
and like quiet rural landscape, I'm
which the autumn sun tips with bill
liant tints the mountain tops and
| blends in glorious harmony the rich
| hues Of the turning foliage In the val
ley below, Is the charming stage pic
ture which this "Old Homestead OF
vaudeville presents. For artless sim
plicity fidelity TO nature, perfection of
detail, life-like naturalness and genuine
artistic qualities, this bit of real life"
which Mr.. Sidman aptly describes as
"a few restful moments" has not, 10
my mind, been equalled in vaudeville.
In IL Mr.. Sidman has given us the very
essence of those peculiar qualities
which have made the "Old Homestead"
and Shore Acres so dear TO every
heart that responds TO true sentiment
and refinement OF taste. Its bright dia-
logue has no resort 10 the tricks OF the
professional joke writer its humor is
genuine and natural there are no here
iswhere-y you u-ought-to-applaud appeals,
and it's wholesome, clean and restful
character make IL a gem OF purest ray
all the more appreciated because OF the
contrast afforded by it's setting in the
characteristic surroundings of vaude-
Vile. Few actors could with so little
action, with such entire simplicity of
method and by such artless means hold
the attention OF an audience for half
an hour as does Mr. Sdman, whose re-
serve and repose challenge the admira-
tion and thought alike of the intelli-
gent student OF the drama and of the
average theatre goer; and scarcely less
is to be said in commendation OF Mrs.
Sidmans impersonation OF the city girl
in the country home. The explanation
OF their success lies i'm the fact that
they attempt only 10 present "A faithful
portrayal of New England character
that at once is recognized as real. and
that they give to their act a stage set
ting as nearly perfect in reproduction
of the original as The =aHt=of= =tAe=stag4=
carpenter and property man and the
scenic artist can make it, overlooking
not the slightest details, many Of
which undoubtedly are not noticed by
the average auditor, so successfully do
the actors themselves engross the at
tention. If you wish TO see and enjoy
something that will appeal TO the best
that is in human nature, see the Sid
mans in Back Home.
The fact that the sunlight was not
shining brightly and directly upon the
objects photographed seems somewhat
to have impaired the effect of the bio
graph pictures of the arrival of the
Providence Pets" at Fox Point and
marching up Broadway; but they are,
nevertheless, full of interest and ami
nation, and the Broadway picture is
especially satisfying, with Deputy Egan
and the mounted police. Reeves band
and Col. Abbott and staff heading the
line. Another picture that touches
a responsive chord and is full of senti-
ment is that of the search for bodies in
the ruins OF the Windsor Hotel; and
one or two others are notably good.
though the funny man" of the bio
graph company has broken loose again
with another evidence of Watery humor.
Ezra Kendall. despite his reputation,
did not strike me last week as being
surrounded with an atmosphere in
which caloric abounded; but / confess
that this week he is funny and enter
tanning enough to owarrant the use of ad
jectives in the superlative degree. His
local stories, the recital of his expert
ences with the fearfully and wonder
fully made street car system OF Provi-
dence and vicinity, his droll humor and
quaint conceits and his amusing man.
ner are simply irresistible. and only
deaf man or woman can possibly keep
"A straight fact while he is on the stage.
He says his songs are worthless; and
his honesty i'm this respect undoubted-
ly goes far 20 keep his auditors in good
humor. No monologue entertainer
Providence has heard ever received the
applause and calls or ever provoked
the uproarious laughter ttat Kendall
did yesterday. and I admit now that he
is just as good as he claims 10 be.-
Judged by the amount of applause
and laughter with which they were
greeted. and the insistent calls for their
return To the stage that followed their
act. the Reed family made one of the
great big popular hits Of the evening.
Their sketch itself. while good can
make no claim To originality or remark
able cleverness; but they present il in
n manner that realizes every possibil-
ity, there is considerable diversity OF
entertainments i'm the act there are
many bright points I'm il and Freddie
Reeds coon" songs and dances and
the chorus work of the family make
good" most Enthusiastically and the
purpose of amusing and pleasing is
successfully fulfilled
No one who loves doCs-and personal.
ly have my opinion OF those who do
not-can fail greatly TO enjoy the bio
graph picture OF Frank J. Gould's mag
nificent champion ST. Bernards; and
the exhibition by the finely trained
Kreisel dogs is not less pleasing. They
do some things that are entirely new
here many that are remarkable in
deed: and they contrive TO AFFORD no lit
tie excuse for laughter by methods
quite unlike those Of the hackneyed
go-around-t e-ladder clown. As a fea-
ture for the special entertainment Of
children. no better has been offered
here.
ZaZclle and Vernon. i'm their very
clever exhibition ON the horizontal bars
I'm which they Introduce a good deal OF
comedy we'll worthy of the name. were
strong favorites at this house several
weeks ago: and they are TO be credited
again with making a hit with big ~.