The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-31
keIth's New Theatre.

standard; and IL appeals successfully
To the most intelligent and discriminat.
ing among theatre -goers. More thar
half OF the acts are certainly the besi
'of their respective kinds, while half OF
these are distinctly among the very
best things vaudeville has produced.
Rose Melville's presentation OF "Sis
Hopkins Visit is undeniably one OF
the best high-class features the Keith
programmes have offered. While the
type Of Hoosier country girl she pres
ents is not altogether new. IL is sur
rounded with an atmosphere OF such
quaintness and drollery and IL is mark
ed by so much that IN original I'm meth
od and such entire absence OF any sug-
sestion OF being overdone as to cause IL
10 stand out by itself apart from all
similar character creations: and il
stamps Miss Melville as one of the best
character delineators OF the day. The
playlet is unassuming i'm itself every
thing being subsidiary to the leading
character. and yet is bright and en-
tanning and well constructed; and
it has the advantage of very
pretty and picturesque spec
Lal setting and some musical features
lend an added charm. Miss Melyille's
iirst appearance creates one OF the
heartiest laughs OF the piece; and there
may be said 10 be a laugh in almost
every movement she makes; in almost
every utterance. every gawkish twist
and every sheepish look of the eye.
she is one OF the very few women who
are naturally funny; and her results
are accomplished by methods that seem
10 De so simple, so entirely artless, that
one does not at first fully appreciate
the real art that lies so cleyerly hid
beneath "a Oh
ing company is equal TO all the require
ments; and this one act is alone well
worth the time and cost involved In "A
visit TO Keith's this week.
Papntas second and last week prom
ises, IL one may judge by the favor with
winch her beautiful dances are received
10 De even. more successful than its
predecessor. The magnificent effects OF
lght ana color seen last week have
Deen amplified and changed this week
with startling effect; and IL NAV GER
talnly be said with no danger OF exae-
Serahon that nothing in the way OF
spectacular acts so gorgeously beauti-
ful, nothing so artistically CHARMING
mas ever before been presented No lii
tie or the fascination OF her act is due.
moreover. TO the charming grace and
beauty OF the dancer herself: and even
IN programme so strong as that OF
tHs week, her act stands out with
norus It's own high place in popular
favor.
MISS Idalene Cotton is to be credled
Win one or the artistic successes of
the entertainment. 1t requires not on
~ genuine ability and a rare gift of
iHitatlon, but courage. to invade the
held In which Johnstone Bennett and
Cissy LOTUS have won such success as
seeminglv almost TO monopolize il: but
MISS Cotton very evidently possessed
THESE requisites. and the result has am
ply justified the effort. Whle i'm some
respects perhaps lacking the finish of
.nose TWO protean condolences that is (
10 De acquired only by time, Miss Cot
ton certainly has proved herself ouite |
the equal or either OF them; and those |
among her auditors who are familiar !
with the work of the actresses whom |
she lmpersonates must instantly rec |
osnize the remarkable fidelity of de- |
tan, the accurate reproduction of the |
SMALLEST tricks OF manner and voice |
and gesture. that t-charaeterizes her i'm |
persatlons OF Anna Held. Mrs. Fiske. !
odse, fvette Guilbert and Johnstone
bennett. Mr.. Nick Long affords ex-
celient support. and incidentally dis
pays perhaps the best French dialect
mat mas Deen heard here; and the act
as whole. while appealing perhans
TO more limited number than the av-
srage vaudeville act, and requiring for
Its success an audience thoroughly pre |
pared for 1t is artistically one of the
best seen at this house
Ray L.. Royce. an old fayorite here
returns with his mimicry and impsr~
sonations in a somewhat altered and |
improved form. No other performer
IN MS line possesses his charm of per.
sonality and his grace of manner; few
are as versatile and IL is doubtful n
any is so much Of an artist. His work
always eminently pleasing. thor
1uShly entertaining and marked by re- i.
lnsment and delicacy and true humor:
ana he never fails to receive the gen |
srous reward that his efforts richly
merit
rake ana Semon return with the |
same act seen earlier i'm the season. but
lt Is so thoroughly good as TO bear
with no diminution OF the
'hJoyment * Affords. Aside from be-
ng musicians or real ability and no |
title versatility, they are probably the
BEST comedians in this line of work
has produced,-rrrri+ rrri+one
nay laugh heartily throughout their
ntertaining act without once feeling
nat the fun has been forced or sud-
lenly wondering what he has been
aughing at as too often is the case ,
With these acts.
Willis r. Sweatnam Is the same droll
comedian that he always
vas wheh Providence audiences en- 2
Dyed his work i'm mnstrelsy. and no ,
veil fufills his mission To excite hill
rity and keep the audience i'm the best q
7 humor. His manner Is peculiar TO ;
imsef and IL Is certainly so irresist-
bly, FUNNY that II seems TO matter lit ]
10 what he saws or whether his Jokes )
c new or familiar 4
John Kernel. the Irish philoso- x
her" n another old-timer OF marked b
Individuality. and he appears TO have
'st none OF his faculty OF provoking |
miles. even though he sometimes en- <
loys jokes that did him good service g
Nepty-nve years ago. His wit Ia
III Keen and his manner unctious.
nd the audience gets all the laughs Q
lat are coming To- it. o
Coulter and Starr. in n black face !:
nging and dancing turn, prove thcm- V
lives very clever dancers. and easily b
1T was almost miracle Burdock :,
lOod Bitters cured me of terrible | ;.