The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-18

VAUDEVILLE STAGE.
A Wise Guy The Funniest Vaudeville
Sketch Ever Seen In Providence.

they must keep eyerlastingly at IL and
advance. or else they are sure to fail
behind i'm the race. They seem to think
it's themselves i'm whom the public is
interested. The dear public doesn't
care a rap for the performers. What
IL is after is simply it's moneys worth
in what they offer for its entertain
ment. and If the public doesn't get that
it's very ready TO consign the perform
ers TO the same fate as Vanderbilt did
the public. No vaudeville performer
yet has made so big a dent In the path
way OF time that the next wind that
blows can't fill 1t up.
The experience OF nearly whole sea-
son with the best vaudeville entertain
ments that ever have been given i'm
Providence. and as good as any city in
the country has enjoyed, moves me 10
these reflections Now there's Gus Will
liams, who is at Keith's this week. He
has long been. and is today. one Of the
most capable and most amusing and
unctious German comedians on the
stage and great popular fdvorite. Just
the same. it's what he has TO say and
not Gus Williams that scores strike"
when performer whom everybody
knows 10 be bright ana original enough
TO produce a new and highly amusing
act every month comes round for the
second time In a season with the same
old act. though the public laughs and
applauds for Old times sake, IL has
that tired feeling just the same. He
realizes that the public is bright
enough 10 know that the war Is over,
and so has been forced TO produce some
new megaphone dispatches; and that
only serves to emphasize his apparent
presumption and Indifference in trus~
ing 10 his popularity 10 lug the rest of
his act through on It's shoulders.
Milton Mobiles stands out by contrast.
Although the act he presented here
earlier IN the season Is undoubtedly the
best i'm his repertory, he brings no chest
nuts to market and puts no burden on
his unquestioned popularity here, but
gives us something fresh: and though
IL is not the best Of his productions, he
reaps the Just rewards of the respect
he shows for the public and gets laughs
and applause enough TO amply prove
the correctness OF all | have said Mrs.
Mobiles charming little song is also a
delightful and welcome little novelty.
Jack Bernard looks so much like his
favor is thereby rendered so much the
easier. He is an excellent comedian,
with evident ability above the average
level; and that is what renders al 1.-THE
more saddening his cruelty in driving
out OF well earned rest a lot OF jokes
that have been on crutches for some
time. The hearty enjoyment the audi
ence finds in the work OF himself and
his wife only goes 10 prove what
splendid success they could score with
better material worthy OF their efforts.
1t needn't be thought from these OBJ
servations that the show as a whole
isn't "all right" Ii is emphatically
so. and one of the best of the 'all right
kind i'm which, despite the truth of all
I've said Williams and Bernard are by
no means not lin it," And the little
end of the program hold up its own
exceptionally well. Iavens and An
drews display undeniable talent and no
little versatility. and deserve a much
better vehicle i'm which TO win the place
that belongs TO them. He has pleas
ing voice and their solos and duets are
evidently liked: but one does after "A
time get to feel altogether too well ac-
quainted with that party" which
seems TO be of the continuous order
and from which some four hundred ard
fifty-seyen performers have already
sisters have some excellent intentions,
but could cut their act in two without
the half being missed. Campbell and
Caufeld certainly work hard, but need
better material to realize the POSSIBLE
tiles OF which they are capable. though
they get lot of hearty laughs. Waldo
Whipple, too, could cut a wider swath
were his jokes keener-edged; and his
manner doesn't indicate any great con-
fidence i'm them on his own part though
the audience is likewise good TO him.
"A Wise Guy" as done by Hayes and
Lytton, is, beyond all cavil, the fun
niest vaudeville sketch ever seen in
Providence. The sketch itself is funny:
and Hayes is much more SO. His part
is a dangerous one, because II offers
such temptations TO ovedo IL and make
il repulsive and coarse; in his avoid
ance OF these pitfalls he proves himself
one of the most capable actors, as well
as perhaps the most amusing. that
Keith audiences have seen. Miss Lyt-
tons graceful presence and pleasing
personality just TT her part. which she
plays with admirable taste and fine
appreciation of it's humor; and the in
dividual who wouldn't be convulsed
with laughter by these clever players
is frozen up in the centre OF an ice
berg. IL Keith's is packed all this
three words-Hayes and Lytton.
Only shade less laughable are the
antics of Caron and Herbert whose act
has been greatly improved and who do
some OF the finest acrobatic work ever
seen; and they win merit their reputa-
tion as the greatest of all comedy aero
bats. keeping the audience marveling
at their remarkable feats while at the
same time it is roaring at their comi-
calities.
William Rowe exhibits the perfection
OF clog dancing as it has been offered
here by no other performer His work
is all done from his ankle. with scarcely
n motion Of tho knee or leg: and the
clearness and distinctness OF each tap
the simply perfect.
Those Jolly monopedes. Conway ana
Leland. though they offer little that -
new. astouish as much ne ever with ac-
robatic work that would he wonder
fully clever for two-lcrged men and Is
noarlv marvellous for them: and their