The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-06-28
The Voice of
The People
A CRITIC cRITIzEp.


Eight years ago the writer came to
Providence to i've. having previously re-
sided in New York city. or nearby. and
from childhood thus ever enjoyed the
best in theatre. opeSa and criticism.
great grief not long after arrival kept
US from society. As time passed the To-
cal leading theatres and tho public II
brary, OF which later more anon. took
the place of society, old friends and home
Through these mediums we met. as time
passed, refined, educated. intelligent peo-
Pile; we formed a coterie OF comment and
criticism among ourselves. so firmly did
We become convinced OF the injustice of
certain theatrical critic that we were
used 10 repeat as standing Joke: "Ol
He needs course in some sanftarum
for dyspepsia. for he looks at plays and
players with jaundiced eyes" His style
Is unmstakablel
This season the Aibee Stock company
at Keiths theatre has been specially
raked over the coalsl The local man
ager has had his share. still 1t seems TO
as (who are entirely disinterested) that he
Is receiving additional blows over the
actors shoulders; not fair to the actors,
Miss Leigh. II was the concensus OF
opinion last season. was the strongest
no reason TO change that opinion. so
far this season she has had but one role
GSommen,surato with her ABILITY, III ~Iicks Ss
been lnmercifully pummslled by this
critic. IS a young man. yet he cape 10
the company from John Drew. which Is
Ills exuberance. 50 deprecated by this
critic, comes surely like wine TO weary
sGSs So wSes Sa0 that sH fS ssh Is hsr Mss
zini has &, the cause OF bread and
gain courage TO take up the burdens OF
This critio threw his usual arrow this
week Now, who are out OF the cfst IN
the" BriNton Burglary who are clsSsed
Mr.. Marsh and Miss Besley. both pleas
Ing that sterling actress, Miss Refmer;
that smooth ana competent heavy MT.
Humphrey and last, not least, Mr.. VIII
llams; as all except the last named have
received weekly praise the animus Is
MIR. Williams is the composer Of My
Ann Eliza" Nothing But Big hag
Doll" etc. He should make topical
song on this Criticism Of the Leading na star
The funny part OF this weeks criticism
may be enjoyed, when 1t is seen that the
three players who have been targets are
Inconsistency, thy name is woman
must go!
Of last week upon pronunciation was
such. but TO sweep an actor or known
and acknowledged merit TO the ground
with wholesome blame is just little
The critic may have set down his criti;;
cism in good faith and without persona!
bias but In the light OF these facts II
will be hard to convince a thinking pubs
lie OF his sincerity.
When Mr. Williams entered upon ms
regular season last fall Il was TO play
second Iead' with John Mason; Is Il
necessary further 10 state Mr.. Wiliiams
theatrical stsbndlng The STs MSrds sefs p. Sp Sp
pie ali OF the time and all OF the people
some OF the time. but you can't fool all
the people all of the time"
Criticism is one persons opinion. anq !,
may be good for any critic to know tnat ni.
there are those, as VIII read as himsef'
who criticise his criticisms.
We hear IL was a theatrical critic VINO
wrote the criticism upon an emploEie OF
cesca da Rimihi' happened not TO be IN
the library, and threw doubts upon the
employees ability and efficiency. ,
ing about rare and unusual works, has
ever found this employe rich IN genera
knowledge and very onnsinS we 8, notS ~
Those ever Of the craft know how easy
Il is to cram the book Df a play. ano az, al,
ter the performance write a profound
resume OF H. which will duly impress the
ratio of the audience, who cannot unoer-
stand the illusions!
"Pubiic taste is better than some per-
sons think" said the critic more than
sennight ago. Sure u,
cal playhouses which have received al
most unqualified weekly praise .s. IN
A company may be well balanced IN
opera cannot be criticised along the lines
of a stock company, and who OF us en-.
joying the fine. music and hner courtesy ,
house cares TO profrer even minor crit-
cism? 49, ,ho,
tne tnmaIe foStqn'SS chorus She should be nodded. TO
see the chorus girls in modern syening
dress in an rSgiaSa 0Pera IN while the s men are
fairly costumed in the. period, IL dis-
crepancy worthy OF criticism. Inc ABOVE
IS given 70 show, that that any H'cai company
oS1r1 That "nublio taste" does not err at
present Is proven. when we unreservealy
affirm that the largest aaa,sn sf eith's
Critics seem absolute; Famous geniuses,
however have. at times criticised 'ns
critics critics in vol ., of his citizen Of the
World'': But let US acquit them oi
malice and envy; critic is often guiaea
nv the same motives that direct MS au-
thor. The author endeavors TO persuade
us that he has written good pooh; Ine
critic is equally sollcitous 20 shvS nsSt
nroner A critic Is being possessed
Of all the vanity, but not the genius oi
a scholar" ,,, -, IT. .orN.
ole ITennyson) would observe that 'Crlt-
Toe re So exacting nowadays that they
not only expect poet-playrignt 70 oe
a Grst rate author. but ftrst rate man
sger-actor and audience, all In ons. he
said: 'They did not consider that re ore
conditions OF dramatic ART are 1ueh hot ~, l,ob he
SotrptA nIst rate historical playwright means
much more work than foImerigb ornS ne sselns eiass
sst ssstt Nance chronicles and that dram.
-, ot,st ,s esyected to be cognizant OF all
the newest phases OF ,, con,empprdsrY pppd
suppose sd nauseam
To conclude:
But words are things. and small drop
OF ink .xo,un+ nro.