The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-05-04
A FINE entertainment.
What Miss Irving Thinks Of This
Weeks Bill al Keith's.
Dog and Cat Troupe a Marvel Splendid
r. Work BY Cohans and Others.

Theatre, one performer sympathetically
was kind enough To suggest that dys-
pepsia was annoying me a trine more
than ordinary; but the trouble was cer-
tainly not on my side OF the fence, and
/ venture TO repeat that IL was dread
fully unsatisfactory show.
On the other hand, my dyspepsia is,
as a matter OF fast, more self-assertive
this week than last; but 1 have rarely
enjoyed a vaudeville entertainment
more thoroughly from beginning 10 end
than that which, If one may judge by
the size OF the audiences and the heart
mess and frequency of the applause, is
impressing everybody else as IL did me
this week. Which only goes TO show
that everybody else" has precious
good judgment.
/ don't mean to invoke any invidious
comparisons or 10 do the very clever
Cohans any injustice when i put Leon
idas dogs and cats at the top OF the
bunch; but l do love dogs and cats.
and / can't help admiring such noble
specimens of he=fafmee and slch-cun
ming creatures as the latter, and when
did ever anybody see such really mar
velous exhibition az they give? To
say nothing of the great variety and
the remarkable nature of their tricks,
it's worth going just to see the beauti-
full pictures OF animal life they present.
pictures that well may challenge the
effort of an artist, pictures that appeal
directly to the heart OF every lover Of
animals with irresistible charm. No
wonder the little ones clap their hands
with delight and the femme portion OF
the audience go into ecstacies and such
words as "cute," cunning" and sweet
are heard on all sides; and then we go
home and marvel at the patience and
time and effort that must have been eX-
pended 10 accomplish such wonderful
results even with animals naturally
more than ordinarily tractable and do
mestic.
OF course. though, the Cohans arc
really the 'headliners. and we'll have
they earned the distinction on the Keith
circuit, for all their work is marked
by notably intelligent comprehension OF
the tastes Of theatre-goers and of the
requirements and limitations of the pe-'
Culiar field i'm which their labors are
exerted. Ii is a remarkable family, in
" hich the true dramatic instinct is evi-
IDENTIFY innate: and with due recognition
Of the fact that the purpose of vaude-
WIG is 10 entertain anu anu
OF the further fact that that purpose
may be attained better by the employ
ment OF the fullest measure OF their
abilities than by mere horseplay. they
have simply earned the place TO which
their talents and conscentiously intel
iigent efrorts entitle them. All things
they probably have the best
sketches in vaudeville today and from
the viewpoint of the great masses of
, hAt ssaf,r h..
lar taste than any other performers in
the same line Of work. But. being
Providence product, why shouldn't this
be so?
AS an illustration OF how little IL
takes sometimes TO set an audience
roaring, the act of Emerson and Ono
go twhy didn't they call themselves
Alpha and Omego while they were
about IT'D lis TO the point. With but the
oriefest skeleton of either plot or dial
)gue, simply by the skillful utilization
" rather old but now unusual idea.
and an appeal only to the eye rather
han TO the mind. they get about as
many laughs TO the minute as anybody.
rhe fact is, the average theatre-goer is |
easy" IL you tickle his risibilities a
ust the right point bat there seems to I
)e a different point for each performer !
guessing pretty hard to find IL, and |
wen then sometimes they touch il too |
1ard and pierce IT, and then the bub- |
Die bursts.
Harry Boyd revels in black face |
and coon dialect so good |
hat it seems he ought 70 be clever |
enough to find some hilarity material /
lot so much i'm the sere and wellow !
Of hic inlxas The ati
iiences laugh at them? oh. yes. Of |
curse; but wouldn't there be more sat
sfaction i'm the fact II he knew that his /
un making wasn't stalking around in /
plumage that didn't need to |
lave the feathers curled 10 give IL an /
appearance of adolescence Harry ia
'eally rather funny though.
Delightfully."- artistic and charming IL
hat dainty novelty presented by the !
Dresden Trio. Smith and Sloane's oper- |
,tta. THE Queens Fan" It's success |
how popular would be an |
lct from some favorite opera IL pre- |
ented i'm vaudeville by n small compa- ]
" of good singers and actors with the (
dvantage Of a picturesque scenic set 1
ing. The idea OF this little fantasie is |
n itself rather novel and very pretty. |
he stage picture is certainly the most |
,rtistically pleasing Providence audi !
noes have seen in vaudeville ana the !
whole act is so strongly i'm contrast |
With the ordinary characteristics OF !
'audeVille as TO he Ike "A refreshing |
lraught on hot summer dav. The /
elaborate and beautiful costumes of tho !
.ouis XIV period are a genuine treat /
q femme eyes. the music is generally /
uneful. graceful andf sufficiently /
fright. and the three comely young la I
lies. especially she who plays the /
,age's part give 10 the operetta a 1
lalnty grace and refinement and an /
Idequate presentation that deserves its /
reed of applause.
I was going to say something about |
hose wonderful acrobats. the Three |
poIos. who perform such startling and |
hitherto unseen feats: but my early /
raining in acrobatics was neglected. /!
NY acrobatic vocabulary never got a /
rood start. and | am powerless To say !
nore than that the equal of this act has I
'et TO be seen here and | wouldn't have /
missed IL for a supper at the Roger |
Williams Park Casino.
There are n lot OF other good things. |
ome not quite go good. and some not |
~