The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-02-18

an actress that has proved her right to
the title of the most profitable piece of
theatrical property in America.
Unlike misfortune. good plays rarely
come in threes.
Secondly, IL is up 10 some rural drama
sooner or later to demonstrate to an
expectant public that the limit has been
reached in the real things from country
life.
Time was when a stage showing barn.
plain New England barn with cob
webs on It. was a novelty that inspired
the imagination far more than could be
possible with the finest examples of stage
art dealing with medieval castle or the
drawing room in the Dukes mansion.
A husking bee was positive sensa-
ton.
Country rakes were relief from the
kind grown commonplace in the society
drama.
Local color that dealt with milk pals
and cowhide boots was In strong demand
on rising market.
But IL is not ever thus
Ii may fairly be said that to the most
unsophisticated theatergoer a pile OF
cornstalks. row OF milk pals and In
try style, would not now be novelty
and would stand small chance of afford
ing tremor of pleasure valued at the
price OF admission unless they were very
remarkable In their class.
And In no class, perhaps, Is II more diff
fcult for ingenuity TO devise anything
now remarkable. III there is anything
that is much the same thing any way you
can fix It. 1t Is the things OF the simple
country life OF course.
Simplicity exaggerated quickly ceases to
be simplicity.
Now Quincy Adams Sawyer" presents
nothing new I'm the way OF scenery, as
indeed IT could hardly be expected TO.
considering how many sets OF real coun-
try scenes have been presented on the
stage this season.
1t Is a long row indeed between the
earliest conner and last weeks huge rural
success. And however the case may be
behind the footlights, In front of. them
competition Is not so fierce as IL was
The market for rurals Is dull so TO speak
and only barely steady. There has been
a good deal of loading and receipts are
larger than expected. Nothing but
something very phenomenal in the way
of the rural drama could be looked for to
stimulate the situation.
Aside from all the circumstances In
separable from the conditions or the stage
rural, we would wish many OF the people
who act I'm this most recent OF it's class
a better play 10 act i'm. II Is an exceed
ingly talky sort is Quincy Adams Saw
YER" There In even less action than is
ordinary TO the rural drama which, save
for exceptional instances has been con-
tent TO run along as plotlessly. II not as
lifelessly as the places and folks they as
sumo 10 interpret.
The leading victim OF misfortune. with
out which no truly rural drama would be
offered. Is In this weeks play. beautiful
blind girl 10 IL done by Miss Helaine
Hadley and II is done very nicely al
though indeed IL is only n sort Of plain
tive thinking part. Mr.. Ellis Gray, who
Is the leading actor OF the company will
turn UP some day considerably more TO
his advantage. He Is a capital actor OF
the free and easy role OF the hero of Mr..
Charles FELTON, Pidgin's novel And then
are several others in the east who could
do better things II better things were
doing.
Mr. Pidgins novel was dramatized by !
Austin Adams. The novel is believed TO |
be good reading but Is seems TO have Of |
fered less excuse than common for trans-
lation 10 the stage.