The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-12-28

ALI these cities II has pleased the people
won The cordial commendation OF critics
and secured the endorsement Of some 700
prominent clergymen and teachers ~
has shown that a play may be intensely
funny without being vulgar and that sem
timent need not necessarily degenerate
into mawkishness.
When Manager Wendelschaefer saw
Lovers Lane" In Boston last autumn
he saw I'm Il an attraction appealing
strongly 10 women and children, and be-
lieving that the usual matinees would be
insufficient for q holiday week, he sue
ceeded after some difficulty, in arranging
for q series Of matinees every day except
Monday For these the popular prices Of
twenty-five cents and atty cents will pre-
vail.
And as graceful New Years courtesy
souvenirs Of value and artistic beauty, ere
% be given to the ladies attending the
opening performance Monday night.
Lovers Lane" IS radical innovation
for CLYDE Fitch just now regarded as the
most amazingly prolific and successful OF
American dramatists. There is no other
native author who has so many plays be-
fore the public or whose range is so
wonderfully varied, covering as ~ does
romantic drama. society PLAYS musical
comedy, and the purely pastoral Of
which Lovers Lane" is his first exam
pie
This play depicts social conditions In
typical New England town. For the lead
ing character there Is young minister OF
liberal views. who stirs up ferment by the
unconventionalty Of the methods which
he employs I'm the performance OF good
work He has 20 combat prejudice, AFRO
gance. small iealousies and all the weak
nesses Of human nature 10 be encountered
in tho average city or village congrega-
tion.
There are many opportunities for ch r.
acteristic types i'm this play, including
droll eccentric who manages an opera
lAuse. posts bills. leads the orchestra and
has been an actor, although he confesses
that he never reached Saturday night in
a single town: an octagenarian couple
who are pensioners upon the clergyman
bounty and who decide 10 marry so that
ne may have the use OF another room:
waif. who has been turned In disgrace
from the country orphanage, together
with the general storekeeper, an old
maid school teacher; the choir singers;
the local Purity Brigade, and a brood or
school children who play London
Bridge and sing their childish songs at
recess m front OF the old district school
The scenes depicted are the parsonage.
the main street Of the village, and very
beautiful view of an apple orchard at
harvest time and again In fun spring
blossom. The beauty Of scenery and light
ing effects is considered remarkable. even
in these days OF up-to-date stage realism.
VIM A. Brady, a past master az pro-
ducing rural plays-as proven In his vital
and virile presentation OF way Down
East"-cherishes Lovers Lane" as tho
most valued Of his many attractions lie
sends tho original company 10 Providence.
including Ernest Hastings. as the young
Clergyman; Blanche Hall in the lngenue
role OF Mary Larkin: Mllie James
daughter OF Louis James the tragedianD
who has created sensation by her per-
sonation OF q little girl OF eleven. togeth-
er with many others who have been
presenting this comedy every week. but
one, since the beginning OF last February.