The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-12

man and headed by Mr.. John Mason
and Miss Hilda Spong.
The comedy IL the work of r. c.
Carton. who is the author of "The
Algy" and other dramatic works ex-
hibfting social problems in VI not toe
heavy vein.
Wheels Within Wheels is exceed
ingly hight and while its theme re-
wolves around a prospective scandal Il
is treated I'm a quite harmless fashion
and furnishes only a background for
the leading characters.
The plot of Wheels Within
Wheels is clever rather than deep and
ingenious IL not novel as TO its main
features.
AS a diversion from common usage
woman plays the role of the mutual
friend whose mission is TO keep other
folks from getting into scrapes and is
minded TO sacrifice herself to save
them.
In plays and novels such part usu-
ally falls TO a man.
The woman in this case undertakes
To save her brothers wife from suf-
fering at the hands OF man who
makes use OF love letter she has
written him. the wife meanwhile hav-
ing repented of her folly even If she
3 has not wholly gotten over her infatu-
alton.
The devoted sister-in-law steals the
compromising letter from the mans
apartments, being caught at 1t by the
hero Of the play. And as she is like
wise found i'm possession OF the key 10
the apartment she risks being compro-
missed i'm the hero's eyes.
AS appears also the fact OF the let
ter being missing. drives the wife into
an elopement with her lover as she
fears that her husband has been spy
ing upon her and has secured posses
sion OF the letter.
The sister-in-law thereupon further
sacrihces herself by undertaking 10
make 1t appear that she il is and
not the wife, who is about to elope
and she spirits the wife safely back
10 her husbands arms before the af-
fair has reached the stage of certain
exposure.
All this is very deftly worked out
The sister-in-law Is "a bright and
. clever woman of society, widow, and
she faces the most embarrassing sit
uations and the most appalling social
difficulties. with a breezy abandon and
q fertility OF resource that rob th-ni
much of their seriousness for the au-
dience and convinces the latter. at the
outset of her various enterprises, that
everything is sure TO come out all
right.
To this part Miss Hlda Spong
~
ure, three elaborate and exquisite
gowns and sufficient talent. altogether
producing charming Interpretation
OF n fetching role.
She is delightful in her gay moods
and the underlying vein of seriousness
Is admirably expressed
Mr.. Mason. always a painstaking
and finished artist. fits most accepta-
bly, 10 the part Of. the man of the world
who suddenly finds himself sharing
,conspicuously i'm complications which
he has not sought and I'm love with a
woman whom he first meets while she
is stealing the letter i'm his friends
apartment and whom he consistently
refuses 10 condemn in the compromis-
ing positions i'm which she is placing
herself for the sake OF her sister-in-
law until the mystery Is cleared up,
the whee.< within wheels are made
clear. and all ends happily.
IL is "a very remarkable company
throughout. the men and the women
I'm a being every one OF the talented
sort that the metropolis has only with
I'm recent years allowed TO get out OF
town.
They give a performance that is
most delightful in It's finish.
Indeed. only I'm the hands OF the best
Of society" actors could such COM
cdy as Wheels Within Wheels go, for
their are very few opportunities Tor