The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-06-07
MANY,-SIOED ART.
Il Is Displayed in This Weeks Bill
at Ksith's New Theatre.
Miss Irving Charmed By Delightful Perform
ance Of Rose Coghlan.


That art is many -sded is well demon
strated In the entertainment at Keith's
this week-in many respects the best
vaudeville ever offered thse. No one
would place the art 5f Rose Coghlan,
the art OF Arthur Sidman, the art of
Hilda Thomas, the art OF Charles Leon
ard Fletcher and the art of the Marin
elias in the same category. Each
stands i'm a class by itself, but each is,
all things considered, the best of it's
individual type. And when ever before
was so much and such pleasing and
edifying art displayed i'm one entertain
ment even Within the comprehensive
scope OF Keith vaudeville?
In such bill, even good must seem
inferior; and when one stops to think
OF what must be the immense cost of
such an entertainment the wonder is
| that so good an average is maintained.
Take the act OF Anderson and Engle-
ton, for instance. In its surroundings,
inevitably ii must suffer; and yet who
shall say that in their presentation OF
scene from "Virginius" there is not
some real art, perhaps crude but none
the less evincing, honest and intelligent
endeaYor that IL is safe TO say yet
will raise them above their present po-
sition. Under existing conditions, tfrts
act may seem inferior; but judged by
it's own standard Ii is good and credit
able.
One cannot held wondering, however,
what grudge Worcester has against
Providence, unless Ii be the present
base ball struggle, to induce IL to send
us Widden the juggler. for a more
senseless attempt TO be funny, accom-
panied by some amateur cleverness at
juggling and crayon sketching, has not
been exhibited at our expense, not even
forgetting Hilton of last weeks mem-
ory.
Some fine performances on the flying
rings have been afforded us. but none
in all aspects quite so meritorious as
that of the Marinellas and those who
do not wait to see them certainly miss
one OF the many good things of the
programme; but the Mcdonald Broth
ers take some desperate chances, in "A
state where law is respected, of being
prosecuted 10 its fullest extent for the
most cruel exhibition of killing time
that so far has escaped the seachlight
of publicity and they should certainly
so armed.
Ed. Leonard is magnanimous enough
10 save Arthur Sullivan Beethoven and
other little luminaries from an unjust
suspicion by announcing that the song
he attempts TO sing is original with
himself and his rag time" songs with
Jim Morton still green i'm our memoir
les, is a pretty daring proposition. He
let's himself out partially, however. by
doing some clever dancing. though he
should learn that too much of good
thing is heavy burden Tor the White
man in these days of soaring mer
curry.
Harry Brown will say that / am
crank when | express a poor opinion of
the act OF Brown, Harrison and Brown
as a whole and some wonder that IL
should be here for second time this
season, as we'll as when l reiterate that
young Gaffney comes pretty near being
sit" IN this act. Harry is a thoroughly
good fellow. with praiseworthy conf
dence in his own ability; and L give
him full credit for getting lot of the
heartiest laughs in the bill. l am SIM
ply the twelfth juror who won't agree
with the other eleven. That's all; and
i suppose it's my misfortune.
For genuine novelty and all-round
cleverness, as we'll as pleasing manner,
the Whitney Brothers are certainly
stars; and, all in all. their musical act
Is dHit,>-the- -eaHai-ef that have
been offered TO us. Curt" Morse. too,
has the making OF a good story-telle.
and general entertainer; but that does
mt excuse his ill-bred f,ings at the
audience when they happen to see fit To
laugh only at the bright stories that
Frank Bush has narrated much better
before him. More attention TO ms own
work and less reaching out for the
glad hand" will make him performer
who Will get plenty Of applause because
he earns il hOnpstly
Charles Leonard Fletcher's imita-
tions of Richard Mansfield are artist.
cally realistic and accurate. and con-
stitute one of the best bits in the bill:
and he has the good sense to brighten
up his sketch by comedy touches thar
set forth his heavier work most delight
fully. And he finds ample evidence that
Providence knows a good thing when II
sees it.
No one who has once seen Hilda
Inomas needs any key to her popular
ity. There are many who may be com
pared with her. but still there remains
but Hilda Thomas as by far the best
and most versatile of singing -rUn1erft=1
ennes: and no other has her cleverness
in character delineation OF a genuinely
humorous nature. There is n daintiness
OF touch in all her work, a thorough
comprehension OF the possibilities of
the parts she plays and an equally
complete understanding OF herself.
which enable. her to score big points
without the least appearance OF effort.
and her personal magnetism the quick.
ness with which she places her audi
ence en- rapport with herself and her
overflowing animal spirits easily ex-
plain her artistic success. To sum II
all up, she is an exceptionally clever
woman, and Frank Barry seems to be
just adapted TO make her work thor
oughly satisfying.
Arthur Sidman's Back Home" gems
TO supply the zone touch OF nature
that appeals irresistibly 10 every soul
I'm which there is the slightest appreoi-
alton of genuine sentiment and OF the
picturesque: and I'm this little piayIct