The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-05-22

play. Ii is conyersationally fetching.
Its plot is as new as plot can we'll be.
Shakespeare, in the Tanning of the
Shrew," treated somewhat the same
theme as between the principal charac-
ters TO it, but he was not the first as
Jerome will not be the last.
Miss Hobbs is "A modern shrew--a
new woman" shrew. She not only has
little use for man herself but she does
her best to reform such OF her young
women acquaintances as have become
addicted 10 the man habit either as
wives or sweethearts. The former she
undertakes TO separate from their hus-
bands. The latter she tries TO save
from marriage. And her residence is
a sort of refuge for the young women
whom she is making unhappy with the
disinterested purpose of making them
happier in their independence.
How Miss Hobbs is herself nagged
and bullied into love Is the Jerome story
told In the Jerome fashion. One may
fancy in advance just about how Je-
rome would revel In such "a tneme and
a sitting before the four acts OF Miss
Hobbs would fully realize the most
exuberant fancy. Ii is delicious.
Miss Annie Russell is the Miss Hobbs.
Since Miss Russell entered upon her
second stage life she has won thous-
and of admirers OF, her delicate art and
her winsome self. She must have been
in her teens when she charmed audi
ences with "Esmeralda' "Es-
meralda" that would seem such a faded
thing If produced during season OF
the modern dramatic sort of work. The
comparison would not be tiattering to
"Esmeralda" We guess we would like
Miss Russell just the same though. as
we did when she was in her teens and
the "Esmeralda" sort was the proper
III. ..tt txfh hn m II a u
art of whatever she undertakes. She
has never appeared 10 better advantage
than as Miss Hobbs. Her performance
is delightful.
Mrs. q. IA. Gilbert is in the cast OF
Miss Hobbs. she has part that Is
foil to Miss Hobbs. AS Miss Susan
Abbey. Mrs. Gilbert is an old old mad
as Miss Hobbs is young old maid. Aunt
Susan has no false notions. III she ever
had them her experiences, which Miss
Hobbs Is too young to have had, has
dissipated them. so her function Is TO
br ng together the young folks whom
NJ IS Hobbs would separate, including
Miss Hobbs and the man who loves her
and whom she loves. 1t is altogether
a charming part for which Mrs. Gilbert
is cast and, of course, she does Ii
charmingly. There is only one Mrs.
Gilbert Long may she live to grace the
stage,
Nr. Charles Richman heads the men
OF the company. Mr.. Richman was the
latest of the leading actors developed
by Augustin DAILY. He was seen here
as Cyrano de Bergerac in the Daily
version. His versatility is illustrated
by the contrast between such a per-
fornnance and that OF the leading man
OF the Miss Hobbs" company Rich
man is capital.
The balance OF the cast is. in degree
and according TO the lesser demands.
quite as satisfactory as the principals
in Miss Hobbs" Nothing that has been
presented at the local house this sea-
son has been performed with more fin
ish TO the smallest part, than Miss
Hobbs"
A large audience. one OF the largest
OF the season. attended the opening
performance. And appreciation was tes-
tilted warmly.
The engagement closes tomorrow
evening. There is a matinee tomorrow,
also
on Friday night T.. III. Sothern and
his company will begin return en-
gagement OF three performances OF
'aThe Kings Musketeer."