The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-05-18
......1heQfres ~. IN.

1
tonight. This musical comedy. as is gen
orally known. has enjoyed phenomenal
runs I'm London and New York, and is
said to be one OF the best of its class
Mr.. Wilson is credited with having the
best role since "Erminie" In Sammy Gigg.
the young English footman, VINO mas
| himself on the shores OF the Medlterra-
mean. and gets into all sorts OF ludicrons
troubles. In book. lyrics and music the
| piece is much praised by the critics MT
Wilson has a strong supporting company,
| together with a chorus OF more than the
average beauty and talent.
The stage hands at the Providence
Opera house are having strenuous
spring. They have just got rid of one
Tuesday they will have Richard Mans
| fields massive production and enormous
company OF several hundred in i'm, Julius Julius
have TO be made over. Extra dressing
rooms will have to be built for In add,
tion to the ll9 people on the Mansfield
pear in the mobs OF the market place,
the forum and the battle scenes OF Julius
Caesar" to bring the total OF those on
sanns Ss sase viii HP be TO nSused @ fsns n snd ass
| the train arrives bringing the distin-
guished artist everything will be off the
stage except the drop curtain and the 10
| sets OF lines TO manipulate the scenery.
| Mansfield comes by special train and
! caravan of baggage and scene wagons
will he at the depot 10 begin the work or
hauling TO the theatre at once. A switch
engine can dispose the cars containing the
| scenery, furniture, properties and armor.
A room adjoining the stage door has been
| secured to house the crates and boxes af-
| ter the costly paraphernalia has been put
! In place on the stage. IL will require con-
| slant work to ring the curtain up on a
perfectly prepared production on Monday
evening
The curtain on Julius Caesar" will rise
| promptly at o'clock The overture VIII
have been played before this hour. Il Is
for the first curtain, for though the
stage is radiant with light the auditorium
is dark. The story OF Julius Caesar"
begins at once, the pageant OF the Luper-
cal games is one OF the earliest incidents
and Mansfield as Brutus makes his en-
trance before the curtain has been up
eight minutes.
The Prize Play contest at Keths Is
| nearing a close, and all plays submitted
must be sent to Manager Lovenberg by
May 20. Within a few days after the close
OF the contest the name OF the successful
contestant with the name OF his or her
play will be announced. 1t is positively
asserted now that play worthy Of pro-
duction by the Albee company will be
chosen. two OF the plays submitted hav-
ing met with Manager Lovenbergs ap-
proval. No theatrical project OF recent
years mas attrhcted the attention anu in-
terest that Is manifested by local theatre
! goers In this contest and doubtlessly the
new play will attract thousands TO Keith s
| during the week OF June LIST. which is ths
date announced for Its presentation.
| 20
carload OF scenery and costumes ar
rived at Keiths theatre last week from
the Henry Il. Harris company OF New
| York. This ia the scenery and costumes
that are to be used in the elaborate pro-
duction of "A Royal Family" whicn is in
| preparation for the early future by the
Albee company. The scenery and cos
| tunes are exact duplicates OF those used
by Miss Annie Russell two seasons age
| In her starring tour In this play, and
were used last season by Miss Percy Has.
well.
Alabama" the Albee Stock company
| Offering for the current week was writer
in exactly three weeks. yet II brought
| fame and fortune TO its author and has
for twelve yesrs been constantly before
the public always winning great favor
wherever II has been produced Mr.
Thomas, Its author. is distinctly an Amer
lean playwright. and his plays are all o
American life. Among the best known o
these are "Edythas Burglar" little one
act play. which he later expanded int
THE Burglar" Colorado" Arizona
"ln Mlzzoura," Alabama" The CAPT
tol." The Earl or Pawtucket," and othe
well-known successes. Mr.. Thomas ca
reer has been an interesting one, embrac
ing positions as page in congress. a Law
student railroad man. a reporter, al
artist. an editor and eventually n play
wright He now divides his time betweel
writing new plays OF American life 70
American actors and American people
and farming at his big farm at New Ro
chelle.
No play OF recent years has taken tn
firm hold on the favor OF the theatrego
ing public OF two continents as has "Th
Royal Family" which Is To be the Albe
Stock company's Offering for May 25 Thi
play has only recently been released 70
; stock. and IL is well for "A stock play Tn
scenes " this beautiful romantic coined
are laid In Arcadia. an imaginary countr,
but the people are intensely human, an
the pretty little love story is devclope
with a delicate blending OF delicious sent
ment and wholesome humor. No pla
which the Albee Stock company has eve
produced has awakened quite the amour
OF enthusiastic anticipation as has Cap
Robert Marshall's famous play.
80
This week at Keith's Theatre Is notabl
for the fact that IL will introduce TO locs
playgoers one OF the foremost stock act
ors in America. This Is Mr.. VIM. II. Tur
ner who has this season been prominent
~ before the theatregoing public by rea
son of his excellent impersonation OF IN
title role OF David Harum." Mr.. Turner
reputation I'm the theatrical profession
too firmly established and too we'll know
10 need much discussion and he Is un
questionahly a valuable acquisition
what Is already the strongest Albee Stoc
company this city has ever known.
, sss
"A Royal Family" was originally pre-
duced at the Haymarket Theatre I'm Lon
don. where it's success was so phenomena
that II was produced in this country as
starring vehicle, for Annie Russell BE
sides Miss Russell there were In the orig
inal AmeTican cast Charles Richmar
Mrs. w. n Gilbert. VIM. "a. Thompson
Lawrence D'Orsay and other wcll-know
artists.
Both the Empire and the Park theatre
will reopen for their regular seasons. Il
August or early In September. Manage
Spitz has made n number ~ unusua
] bopkipge for each OF these thratres AM