The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-01
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In making his production OF "Old LINER
lex Town." the coming attraction at the
Providence Opera House the last half OF
this week Chauncey Olcott has paid great
attention to the details pertaining TO the
furniture and other accessories.
The grass in the first act is a study in
itself, and It Is said to be the most ex-
pensive "gress mat" ever used in an Am
erican production Sarah Bernhardt
brought similar grass mats to this
country on her last tour. This grass COW
ers the stage with a fine carpet OF green
tufted sod, so il looks like a well kept
lawn. II In real In so far as appearance
goes. The women trail their gowns over II
and the blades bend as they sweep across
the ground. The men step on II and their
feet apparently sink into the soft earth
The Illusion Is as nearly perfect as IL can
reasonably be expected TO be IN a stage
representation OF out-of-door life.
Another bit of transplanted nature" in
"Old Limerick Town Is the rippling wa
ter OF the river Shannon, il flows over
the falls of Doonas The light seems TO
catch the water as II rolls over the rocks
OF the gentle declivity or leaps TO EN-
brace some vagrant rock. The pictSre is
as effective as a bit OF poetry. There In
movement in the water. but 1t In so sub
dued II does not disturb the action OF the
play. It does not interrupt the pretty
love scene nor interfere with Mr.. Olcotts
singing of a ballad. The scene suggests a
lovers tryst, and IL becomes one.
s~s
John Drew will appear at the Provi-
dence Opera House for three nights ana
Wednesday matinee, commencing Mon
day April 9Th, presenting The Mummy
and The Humming Bird" from the pen OF
Isaac Henderson. This piece crowded the
Empire Theatre. New York. for three
months. and IL Is claimed that Mr.. Drew
has never had a more successful vehicle,
nor has he ever done better work. His
impersonation OF Lord Lumley. the sci
ence-absorbed husband. who temporarily
neglects his young wife, Is. at all points,
a splendid and human achievement, the
sentimental side OF which Is given espe-
cial emphasis IN the love scenes which
Mr.. Drew has Another interesting feat
ure OF the performance is the scene In the
first act between Mr. Drew and an organ
grinder who has come to London 10 seek
the betrayer Of his wife.
sss
As was anticipated by everyone who had
heard of the marvellous Culver Bicycle
Loop this act Is drawing capacity houses
to Keith's this week. and before the week
has ended thousands will have seen II
and hundreds will have been unable to
get even standing room. The act is un-
questionably an amazing one, and even
the most blase theatregoer. who is often
heard to declare that there is nothing now
m rhaatricals admit that II is not only
decidedly new. but an Interesting and truly
phenomenal accomplishment on the part
of the daring riders. Charles r.. Culver.
the brainy little man. who Is responsible
for this latest novelty. has been connected
with bicycle matters for many years, and
his name Is familiar 20 everyone interest
cd I'm that sport lie was for several
wears connected with the Worcester track
and the Charles River park track. and
was last seen I'm Providence at Keith's.
when he introduced a novel bicycle race
on rollers between Mile-A Minute Murphy
and Tom Butler.
His present riders arc Tom Butler and
Frank Caldwell. both riders Of regulations.
and show quantity OF medals and lau-
rels, several Of which have been won at
the Hills Grove races and other local
AFFAIRS. The experience undergone by
these two plucky men Is one which over
50 experienced riders have tried without
success. and several have been hurt.
Others who have tried have had sufficient
courage and muscle. but when they reach
the top Of the loop. with their heads
hanging and their wheels clinsing 30 the
track directly above them. the tremendous
fright causes them invariably 80 lose con-
trol Of their muscles and OF their wheels.
Both Butler and Caldwell have frequently
been examined by leading physicians. who
predict extreme cases Of heart failure for
the men II they persist In their daring
feat and Il has been found that on an
average their heart action is three times
a second. that is lSO a minute. while they
breathe eo times a minute. or once sec
ond When first practicing on the loop