The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-11-26
|: .:'....1heatres ~. =.

A very interesting member Of Charles
Frohmans Empire Theatre company, who
appears in THE Wilderness" at the
Providence Opera House this week. is Mrs
w. c. Jones. She is nearly so years OF age
and her stage experience covers nearly
half a century. This includes an associa-
tion with the most active dramatic forces
in the history Of the American stage. She
has in her time played many parts. rang
ing from Shakespeare's classical heroines
to characters I'm the lighter forms OF the
drama. Her last appearance here was as
the nurse In Maude Adams production or
Romeo and Juliet" Despite her years,
she is in spnedid physical health. Is ex-
ceedingiy active and possesses a voice OF
remarkable clearness and power.
sss
Another estimable old actress In this
company is Mrs. Thomas Whiffen. She
by no means can be classed In the age
with Mrs. Jones Her career on the
American stage has been a very long and
very creditable one. For years she has
been associated with the best stock com
panies. notably with Daniel Frohman's
Lyceum theatre company. She is thor
ough artistic and has created many com
edy roles which are matters OF pleasant
memory The dean OF the male part OF
the company is that fine old actor. w.
ii. Crompton. whose fine polish and
charming method M a comedian might
serve as a very excellent and valuable
example 10 the younger members OF ,ne
profession He has been under Charles
Frohmans management for very many
wears and his presence IN any play is al
WAYS a certain sign that there viii be al
least one thoroughly artistic and agree
able performance in the play
one OF the most amusing and thorough
~ wholesome plays that have been witt
ten I'm many years is "A Message from
Mars" which ran for over two years IN
London all last season at the 6africk
theatre in New York, and recently for
seven weeks in Boston. Our theatregoers
are 20 see this play at the Provinence
Opera House next week and Mr hawtrey
and his clever English company snouiu
be greeted by a large and representative
audience.
"A Message from Mars tells the story
OF Horace Parker a selfish young man
who. though he does not deserve H. pos
sesses the affection OF Minnie Temper
parker.s selishness even makes him III
hred He refuses TO accompany his nan
Gee TO n party because there Ia snow up
on the ground and he wants TO stay AT
home and read an astronomical arucle IN
r. scientific review.
Minnie is so disgusted with his esopsm
that she breaks of their engagement. and
she and her aunt go OF To the dance.
Then Horace sinks TO sleep in his arm
chair and dreams that he is visited oy
an inhabitant of the planet Mars VINO,
having committed a certain crime. is sent
10 earth 10 reform the most selnsh man
on that planet The process Is drastic
one Overawing Horace by the dynamic
power which he has at his disposal, the
Martian forces him to perform severai
acts Of benevolence.
These, however. go against the grain
and Il is not until Parker Is actually re-
duced TO beggary by the failure OF bank
that he feels his kinship with the rest or
the human race. His reform has been as
sisted by a series of object lessons
given 10 him by the Martians magic
In the last act Horace Is awake again.
hut the impression left by his dream rs
deep one. A fire breaks oW In some cheap
lodging houses near by. and Parker hur-
ries out and brings In the homeless out
casts whom he regales with soup. Min
ME and her aunt returning are agreeably
surprised 10 hear OF his kindness, and
there is a happy ending. There are many
startling mechanical and scenic devices In
the presentation.
Monday evening. December 18th. will be
a merry one at the providence opera
fun makers. the Rogers Brothers. Gus
and Max will be seen. appearing In john
J. McNally's latest vaudeville farce, The
Rogers Brothers I'm Harvard" In the way
of humorous comedy, quaint dialogue and
side-splitting fun. the Rogers Brothers
occupy a top position all by themselves
The Rogers Brothers In Harvard" has
such a rapid gait OF incessant fun that
Il is called a 'whirlwind OF vaudeville
farce" 1t is said that John ]. McNally
never wrote better nor more entertain
ing book and that Maurice Lewis music
is delightfully."- catchy, and there is
string of capital lyrics by j. Cheever
Goodwin and Ed. GARDENER. As usual the
Rogers Brothers have been surrounded
by Messrs. Klaw and Erlanger with
large and brilliantly attractive company
embracing a host OF favorite and versa
tile entertainers.
The BOYS are certain TO find an excep-
tionally great amount of pleasure In
this weeks bill at keith's. for there are
several numbers on the capital program
| admirably calculated to please the youths.
No better exhibition OF bag punching
could be desired than that given by the
Keeley Brothers. They punch the bags
with their hands. their elbows. their
feet, their knees, their head, with an
ease that must make the youthful aspir-
ant envious and wins the hearty ap-
plause OF all parts OF the audience, even
| the feminine portion of It. Then there Is
the novelty rope Juggling and lassoo
work done by the Chamberllns. which In
terests everyone, but particularly the
boys.
These performers appear In the usual
| Western costume. and demonstrate how
| animals and human beings are caught out
| West. They also give demonstrations of
| difficult trick lassooing and rope Juggling.
| The simple, yet clear. descriptions OF
| each feat given by MIR. Chamberlin help
| one To Understand what is being attempt
| ed and adds much interest to the act. The
act OF Wenona and Frank particularly
| appeals To the boys. their expert rife
| shooting eliciting the hearty applause.
| With their back turned and their guns
| or revolvers (they use BOTH placed In diff
| fcut positions they shoot small balls
| with unfailing exactness, never missing
| the target They do other wonderful
| work, until one feels that no better act
OF the kind could possibly be given.