The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-04-27
Providence Opera House.

The Introduction OF a puppet show in
the Russian fair scene OF Sousa's new
comic opera. "rhe Charlatan," to be
presented at the Providence Opera
House tonight, Friday and Saturday
nights. takes us back to the early days
OF the drama when this species OF en-
tertainment was in great favor. Then
the puppet show was an institution;
the puppet Snowman travelled from
town TO town just theatrical COM
panies do today. He was especially
prominent at country fairs and on race
courses. In all the old prints of mixed
public gatherings the puppet show al
ways holds a conspicuous position. 1t
was during these entertainments that
the old time "out-purse" piled his
trade.
The librettist OF "The Charlatan" IN
showing that in early times the pup
pet show attracted crowds away from
serious entertainments. is historically
accurate. No less authority than the
great Colley Cibber youches for the
truth OF this fact. Dilating upon the
fickleness OF public taste during the
early part of the last century he says:
Taste and fashion with us have al
ways had wings, and fly from one pub
lie spectacle TO another so wantonly
that / have been informed by those who
remember IL. that "a famous puppe:
show in Salisbury Change so far dis
tressed the two celebrated companies
then appearing in London, that they
were reduced 10 petition the king for
relief against IT," That the puppet show
held favor at even an earlier time 10
proven by the prologue TO THE Emu
peror OF the Moon" 1857. i'm which this
line occurs: There is nothing lasting
but the puppet show"
1t would appear. too, that the man
ayers OF these performances keenly en-
joyed the trouble they gave the best
actors OF The time. Betterton's biog
rapher tells how that great actor. who
was a contemporary of Addison, Steele
and Cibber went one day TO witness a
performance of a puppet show, and how
furious he was when the manager of
the show discovered him, and from his
stool cried out: Make way for the
great Mr.. Betterton. We charge no ad-
mission TO a fellow player"
"A fellow player. indeed" roared the
mighty tragedian. as he turned on his
heel and walked away.
Julia Arthurs first annual appear
ance next week at the Providence Opera
House will undoubtedly be a matter Of
pleasure 10 tIe BeHefdl lnedlTt-ROtT loE
few attractions visiting Providence
have received the advance praise as
Miss Arthur and her production of "A
Lady of Quality" Miss Arthur's per-
Torrance of Clorinda Wildairs has now
take rank as one of the strongest inn
presentations given on the stage OF re-
cent years by an actress and her sump-
tucus production OF Mrs. Burnetts play
made her performance one OF the most
artistic and complete ones OF the entire
season In addition 10 this she will
also present her elaborate production OF
"As You Like IT. in which she will ap-
pear i'm the character Of Rosalind. Miss
Arthur will also give a double bill. in
which she will appear In two widely
differing characters that or Galatea in
w. s. Gilbert's mythological comedy Of
"Pygmalion and Galatea" 10 be fol-
lowed by her famous impersonation Of
Mercedes in Thomas Bailey Aldrich's
play Of that name. Miss Arthur's ar
rangement Of plays for next week are:
Monday. Tuesday. Thursday and Fri
day nights and Saturday matinee "A
Lady of Quality; Wednesday nighs.
"As You Like IT.; Saturday night. the
double bill. "Pygmalion and Galatea"
and Mercedes" Seats on sale tomor-
row morning.