The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-09-11

All the cunning devices OF the modern
theatre were employed at the Providence
Opera House last evening. I'm the attempt
TO make an absorbing love story out OF a
young girl and an old man. II II is a
risky thing TO try to mate May and De-
cember in real life, 30 much more OF "A
venture is II I'm that realm OF youth and
beauty, romance and dreaming-the stage.
StilI, with its homely pictures OF life
among the longshoremen OF a New Eng
land hamlet, simply shown. as MIR. Herne
has taught us, and with It's unusually
skilIful acting and notably picturesque
scenery. "Calcb West may win its way.
The rough sea toll OF them that lay
blocks of stone beneath deep water as the
foundation of lighthouse is shown in
the opening scene. The derricks, the
rocks, Bill Lacey, In the person OF the
handsome young Malcolm Williams, scat
ed turning the crank that pumps air TO
the driver at work, and Captain Bob, Of
the Cape Ann sioop, huIking about Then
one sees Carleton, the government in
spector. and the city folk: Frank Lander
as the engineer, a little oyerbearing 20 his
men. but a good-looking wooer, and the
majestic figure of Ysobcl Haskins as
Mrs. Leroy. who INSPIRED him, marvellous
An very new and very distinguished gowns.
which, strange TO say, did not put out of
her head notably distinct and intelligent
utterance.
There was excitement on the ledge.
and after an upset OF the sloop In
"a heavy sea, Captain Joe came
along with the pump for which
he had dived without a helmeD af-
ter the capsizing. and STROBE next the lean
and long Lonny BowieS.
Captain Joe Is George Fawcett, rolling
and Jolly rich In humor and salt I'm ac-
cent, a perfect cnrockment OF sturdy
courage and cold grit. Lonny Bowles is
the gaunt Elmer Grandin, dry and droll
as he is large.
Now a nutter and Capt. Joe runs off TO
carry Betty into sight, revealed in a pair
OF her husbands long rubber boots which
reach away above her waist and give her
"A comic appearance new 10 the stage.
This Is May Buckley. a sweet little girl
with wild curls and thoughtful face OF
quaint beauty, who talked something like
Maud Adams I'm 1.-The Little Minister. I"
with the addition OF a longshore accent.
She has come TO the ledge because she
is lonely at the cottage. In minute
Caleb. the diver, signals 10 be drawn up
and appears over the rigging I'm his puffy
suit and bulky helmet. IT is Edwin Ar
den. srizzled and bearded and about 81
and talking and moving with all the easy
drawing grace Nat Goodwin would lend
to such a part. Betty is into his arms
for a hug.
But Bill Lacey and the Inspector Carle-
ton. are making eyes at Betty, and she
prelers Bill.
some adjustment OF derrick requires
Bill Lacey TO SHIN up one of the poles,
which falls over with him. and he is east
haf N
is not seen at the moment. for instead OF
bringing him up and laying MIN at the
footlights badly hurt. the stage manager
has spread darkness over the deep and
given his curtain calls TO series OF as
tonishinglv real storm effects with vivid
flashes OF lightning. so that the act ends
without any apparent meaning
What the meaning is develops In the
second act Bin has been taken home py
Caleb and Is seen being nnrsed by betty.
caleb going off to get forty winks, Bill
makes love 10 Betty She resents II visit
fully. He decides 10 go away. sick as ne
is and persuades her to go with him az
Far as the boat In order TO help his feeble
steps. -,
caleb Is visited by his amiable neigh
tars the sninster-fend, Miss Tart by
Irmilv Wakeman. who Is lively ana
natural pantomimist with her face; the
tiny school ma'am, by Ida Gilman "hV
Is feet 6 TO the 6 feet of Lonny' wnoW
she woes. and whose chubby race pulses
like a Brownies. and Auntie Bell, Captain
Joek "old woman" honestly ana teef
inrly PLAYED by Kate Denim wilson
"Where's Betty?''
. Caleb doesn't know, and when II is
established by the butcher and the school
ma am that she has gone away with Bili'
and Captain Joe has vowed TO bring he-
back, Caleb is left alone TO close ms
door and pull his curtains and fondie
Betty's poke bonnet and stare silently
into the fire i'm a slow, sad curtain, such
as James A. Herne delights in
In Hopkinson Smiths novel Betty ran
away with Bill Lacey because she was so
lonely. her husband being twice her age
and more than half the time away, and
also because she liked Bill. There was
no doubt about her deliberate elopement,
or about their having been together sew
eral DAYS before she left him. That Is
TO say. she was really guilty. BY some
unaccountarble mental reasoning which
similarly misled the author of Way
Down East" Michael Morton.t the adapter,
thought II was nicer and would make
a more appealing heroine 10 attribute
the fall from grace To trick. She was
abducted against her Will swooned, and
on coming 10 fled from him.
OF course this makes the uncharitable-
ness Of the village gossips mere padding.
and reduces the two-year sulk of Caleb
West. the wronged husband who wasn't
wronged. to nonsense. III an audience
gets itself settled TO be tolerant and
Christian toward "A girl who has been
imprudent and is sorry, II is a Jolt to
learn presently that the condescension
was unnecessary.
Hence the attempt to pump tears at the
end of the third act. by means OF Betty's
pathetic appeal to Auntie Bell not TO
cast her off, when she hasn't done any
thing, and Auntie Bell knows IL. may
strike water from the lachrymals OF some
OF the easily flooded. and did start some
sobs last night: but we who gladly weep
when the occasion is genuine. found our
selves suffering acutely from the arid eye
The last act has the triumph OF tho
young engineer. with his completed light
house, over the Inspector. who has tried,
without motive. To- spoil it for him. and,
on being reprimanded by just republic.
went out. got drunk. insulted Betty, and
was choked by Caleb. who was not far
on
It may be suggested TO Mr.. Morton that
there Is no vital necessity OF retaining
Caleb's middle age. or his gray hairs. The
loneliness is enough. With a stalwart
young diver. rough as you please and