The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-03-21
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l funh1 SoHNuAdHS anu everything dpSO-
lutely bright. iaughable and brilliant. =.
The funniest cosiedians a. the world.
eight or them headed by Primrose and
Dockstader are enlisted in the latter g
great minstrel company which appear at
tie Providence Opera House for three
nights and matinee commencing to-
night. And another thing in everything
which this happy octette does. no re-
minder OF the past Is given. Each song.
joke and feature Is absolutely new.
Thousands OF dollars have been spent In
providing elaborate scenery for this sea-
sons interesting program. The great
company appear attired in rich orange
suits and dispersed In way that daz-
zles the eyes.
They are set In frame OF exquisite
beauty which must be seen TO be appre-
ciated. Mr.. Primrose introduces a new
act that demands the employment OF
three extravagant scenes that delight
the vision. One represents n lonely bayou
with sunken steamer reminding of by
gone days. i'm the foreground, covered
with a splendor OF wild growths; anoth-
er OF cotton field i'm full bloom, and
the last typical southern cabin resting
peacefully beneath the shadows OF
spreading oaks.
These successfully pass In review with
sunrise. sunset and moonlight effects, all
amazingly beautiful and TRANQUILITY pict-
uresque. The Danan troupe OF acrobats is
highly sensational and daring acts inter-
est all who see them. Everything from
start 10 finish Is new, dazzling. funny,
bright and captivating. See the show and
more than realize the truth OF these
sta tatemcnts.
William Gillette. the celebrated actor
author, who will appear in his latest
success Sherlock Holmes" at the Prov
ldence Opera House next week. consid-
ers curtain calls as inartistic and prom
ises some reformation IN this direction. In
referring TO the subject recently he said:
IF l ever write another play (and
mind you / don't say that shalD IL will
be on the promise that.no act calls are
to be given while 1t is being played. When
the curtain goes down that viii be the
end. IL Will not be raised again aud II
am acting in the play / will not show
myself before the curtain.
"Of course. could attain that result
with certainty by writing a bad play;
and in that case, / would he worrying
about other things than theories But se-
cuse for curtain calls, and trust audi
ences will some day take the same view.
L might say thar there is more artistic
excuse for them than there is for Incl
dental music I'm my present play. But
that music was put there i'm my case for
reason far more practical than an iliu-
sion. There are many pauses I'm the play
inserted in part 10 give realism and I'm
part for force and poise
From Secret Service which had n
few of these pauses, learned that the
audience took advantage OF the silence TO
cough. rustic programs and move I'm their
seats, doing 80 involuntarily no doubt,
owing to the fact that these pauses have
a way OF happening when the interest II
very great so i concluded, rather brutal
ly, perhaps. that II there must be noises,
! would make them myself Hence the
music which has been charged with be-
ing employed to cajole the senses"
Full houses at every performance tell
the story of the success of the big spec
tacular production at Keith's. There is
no false claim made that its marvelousiy
pleasing features are so elaborate and
pretentious as those that require months
OF preparation, but they certainly con-
stitute a pleasing novelty In the midst OF
the regular vaudeville entertainment:
and the production. with its beautiful
colors. varied groupings OF young women
and patriotic tableaus, is notable be-
cause OF the remarkable proficiency Of
the participants in their marching and
graceful dancing and posing. The stir
ring and splendid music furnished by the
Banda Napoii also contributes a very
generous share TO the popularity and sue
cess OF the spectacle.
One OF the big hits OF the week at
Keith's is made by the one-act farce,
THE New Coachman." IL is thoroughly
absurd from beginning to end. and the
mix-up of passengers, clothes bags, etc,
gives opportunity for hilariously funny
dialogue and situations. II is played
finely by Louis A. Simon and his little
company, who keep the house in a roar
of merriment.
Maude Courtney's singing of the old
songs--and OF some very pretty modern
ones. too-at Keith's affords a fine illus
tration of that art which is so simple
and 40 true that IL seems absolutely art
less: and she is scoring success that is
as richly merited as il is exceptional.
Pretty nttle loreS 1flmm, one OF the
cleverest and most entertaining juvenile
performers yet seen here, is one OF the
greatest favoritcs OF the current weeks
bill at Keith's; and the ladies and chill
dren rave" over his "cute" ways and his
irresistible humor as story-teller
Those who are familiar with the tech
nique of military drill in the manual of
arms find I'm the act of the Three Roose-
velts at Keiths an interesting feature.
The muskets are manipulated with adj
mirable precision; and there is an air
OF novelty and just touch of patriotic
sentiment in the act that make IL pecu-