The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-12-31
.'.Ghe Gheatre5...

As ] entered the stage door. having
gone around after the curtain had fallen
on the very pretty little tableaux OF "A
Prize Biscuit" / colllded with smart
and dignified looking coachman. who
jumped down from a private carriage and
inquired or the stage doorkeeper II Mrs.
Williams was ready yet The stage
docrkeeper. ever willing To oblige. replied
courteously that he would inquire. but
when the call boy appeared In answer TO
bis summons, handed him my card and
softly asked him 20 hurry with IL TO Mrs.
Williams. You see. knew that Mrs. VIII
liams Is being entertained very much this
week. and feared she would be carried
away In this stylish carriage before l
could gain the Interview so earnestly de-
sired and had so long anticipated; ! have
Williams many times, and a pleasure II
really was. for I'm an ardent admirer of
his. but / had never had the good FOR
tune TO meet his fascinatin little wife.
wondered IL she would he as cordial TO
me as he had always been, and II she
would be as nice AS he. but OF course she
would he. else he--at this point the call
boy returned. saying that Miss Radcliffe
would be pleased 10 receive me- and would
be so kind as TO come direct to her
dressing room.
I followed him, with alacrity. and when
the maid opened the door. I'm answer 10
his knock. Miss Radcliffe advanced with
outstretched hand 10 make me welcome.
She made me- comfortable In a large arm
chair. and turned for n moment 10 give
some instructions to her maid. / saw
that she had removed her makeup. but
had not had time TO dress for the street.
She had however, discarded the hand
some blue satin gown she wears In the
last part OF her little sketch. and had
thrown on "a perfectly bewitching little
kimona OF blue silk. with Persian and
gold trimming She made a decidedly
dish gold hair TO her dainty feet. and L.
who adore pretty woman. made up my
mind | was truly glad had come. As
I reached this decision. she turned her
glorious big brown cor were they blueD
eyes TO me. and flashed frank, unaf-
fected smile upon me as she said: i m
really very glad TO meet YOU. In fact
I'm glad TO meet anyone and everyone In
this dear little city You all have been
SO very worry kind to Mr.. Williams the
past three summers that really love you
all for II. Much OF the tine that Mr.
Williams has played here during the past
few years | nave spent here with him,
and ! have for some time wanted an op-
portunity to appear before such delight
fully appreciative and intelligent people
as Providence theatregoers have proved
themselves to be"
But Providence people are so cold
murmured hypocriticaliy. for 7 really did
not mean IL. and said II merely to hear
what answer | would provoke cold?
CYes. | was sure they were brown. almost
black. for her beautiful eyes opened wide
as IN she could hardly credit anyone max
ing such an accusation seriouslyD oh,
don't say that. They are undemonstra-
tive. but never cold. They never fail TO
respond. and they are 40 discriminating.
And when once one has become estab-
lished hrmly I'm the good graces OF Provi-
dence theatreRoers. how loyal they are,
Just YOU attend an Albee Stock company
opening night and hear how their favor
ties are welcomed upon their return. and
then never more call Providence theatre
goers cold" She paused for a moment
70 caress Fuzzy Mr., Williams. tiny
little dog who accompanied her 10 Provi-
dence, and then continued I'm less We
hcment tones, and speaking tenderly as IL
almost forgotten Of my presence, And
they have been SO nice 10 me this week
thus far
They gave me such warm welcome
that feel at home at once and want To
shake hands with every one OF them.
They really are dears, and only hope
they like me one half as much as | like
them. But IL Is so hard 90 get acauaint-
I'd with me in 20 minutes. In three-act
play the audience gets a chance to know
us, but in vaudeville we are here one mo-
ment and gone the next. and rarely does
the character one plays get DEFINITE
grasp upon the audience. This is my
hrst attempt I'm vaudeville. and although
have given leading support TO such ia
nous actors as Sol Smith Russell. James
. Neil and Joseph Jefferson. and have
played leading business I'm several promi-
learned more than | ever before did I'm
the same length Of time. An experience
In vaudeville is valuable lesson TO a
legitimate actor or actress. In vaudeville
the time allotted a player Is so short that
she must score every point and must
leave out every line or action that does
not score, while I'm three or four-act
play one can work gradually up 10 a cli-
max Vaudeville teaches one TO value
every line. and make the most Of IT, III
you have never tired both. you can't real
ize the vast difference. ! have been very
fortunate. ] think in securing such 4
good sketch. but more fortunate I'm having
had Mr.. Williams stage IL for me. He
changed and added 10 IL. considerably.
and after md what vaudeville AUDIENCE
want I will make even more changes
under his direction.
Does Mr.. Williams intend joining you
in vaudeville, ! asked.
mo, at least not at present" she re-
piled. regretfully. He is under contract
to stay I'm New York until spring"
And them" | interrupted
"Oh, that's long time Oft. she said.
am especially lucky To have secured such
a sterling actor as MIR. Wiegel. who plays
Baron Won Frederick. OF course II would
have been very nice TO have had Mr.. VIII
liams with me. but since this was impos-
sible ] couldn't have found a better man
than Mr.. Wiegel. How Mr.. Williams did
envy me my opportunity 10 get TO Provi-
dence. Almost the last thing he said To
me when he was putting me on the train
was. Give my best wishes To everyone
and everything I'm the dear old place.
At this moment the call boy Knocked In !
announce that the coachman was getting
impatient. and reminding Miss Radcliffe
that she would be late for the dinner
party TO which she was going. I rose 10 !
allow her IN dress. although I was reluct- |
ant To leave the NiVacious. magnetic and
altogether charming little woman. The
sunny smile she gave me made me almost |
TO the scowl OF the impatient |