The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-11-30
He THEATRES

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company and production. under the direc-
tion OF James X. Hackett. No play in
recent years has won for itself 80 warm
a welcome as THE Secret OF Polichi-
nellie"
This is not difficult 10 understand. for
the comedy is one OF the home. The plot
! is so simple as 10 be almost no plot at
| all but the incidents through which the
/ story OF the play IL unfolded are so true
| TO life. so instinct with Wit and humor
1 and human nature that the auditor is
| won AT once. almost before one realizes
/ that one is being carried away by the
| homely picture spread before one
! There Is little doubt that much OF the
/ success OF the comedy Is due 10 the bril-
! liant manner in which II is played. To
! insure this Mr.. James X. Hackett under
whose direction the comedy is presented
has retained William ". Thompson and
what is practically the original company.
! or which the New York critics said last
! year: There has never been seen on
Broadway a better comedy than this"
Miss Chrystal Herne has achieved
veritsble dramatic triumph at keith's
| this week in her dainty dramatic offer
| ing. Between the Acts" for II is con-
| ceded that no prettier one-act play has
been seen on the vaudeville stage this
season. nor one that has been so splendid
| ~ presented. As Hida Narians, the
actress. Miss IIerne has an uncommonly
| fine opportunity TO display her emotional
powers Miss Herne has been leading
woman with several prominent stars and
she is recognized as one OF the cleverest
OF the Younger leading women OF, the
stage. For some time past vaudeville
agents had tried TO persuade Miss Herne
TO enter vaudeville, but. although her
offers were very nattering. she declined
because she could fnd no suitable vehicle
One evening after a prominent booking
agent had called upon her 20 repeat his
Inducements Miss Hernes sister. Miss
Julia A. Herne. now with Klaw and
Erlangers production OF Home Folks
sat down and mapped out a scenario for
a one-act play nodded upon a character
such as Miss Herne had frequently ex-
pressed wish 70 play. She then pro-
ceeded to write the entire little play. Be
tween the Acts" being the result. Miss
Herne was at frat fearful that the theme
OF the little play was too serious for
| vaudeville. but when she produced 1t at
Keith's Union square theatre. New York.
week before last. it met with rousing
and genuinely successful welcome and is
these clever young women inherit much
OF the talent OF their famous father. the
late James A. Herne. but from whom does
Miss Herne inherit her beautiful flower
like face and her gloriously modulated
voice?
Many old theatregoers will recall with
pleasure the famous old minstrel. Joseph
Norcross or, as he IL better known.
-
Keith theatre this week and being given
rousing welcomes. Norcross has been
before the public for ~ years, being now
Sc years old. He will be remembered by
Pawtucket theatregoers as formerly
prominent as bass singer with the famous
Cotton and Murphy's Ministries. organized
and managed by Ben Cotton and the
Murphy OF Kerry Cow fame. He was
also identified for many years with such
famous minstrel troupes as j. H. Haver-
ly's. Christy's. Dan Bryants. the San
Francisco minstrels. Bill Emerson's, the
Buckley Serenades and several other OF
the leading minstrel organizations OF the
country Mr.. Norcross IL one OF the
charter members OF the Order of EIks.
being the eighth member installed In the
order. and one OF the two only living
charter members today. His certificate
dates from Feb. Q 1858. He is also a Mason
20 years. great many local Elks and
Masons are attending the performances
at the Keith theatre this week to see
the veteran minstrel
90
The musical score OF Tho Tenderfoot'
In which Richard Carle will be seen at
the Providence Opera House tomorrow
night. is by II. l.. Hearth. already known
as the composer OF the score OF Miss
Simplicity" etc. The score OF The Ten
derfoot' IL remarkable for its large per-
centage OF tuneful and mclodious num-
bers Indeed. one Of the songs, my Ala
mo Love" has arrived the distinction
OF being included I'm the repertoire Of the
Italian populat tion whose musical bent
prompts them 10 grind out melodies by
the aid OF n barrel organ. This In y con-
summation devoutly aspired TO by all
writer's 81 popular music.
The - young singers who are the flower
maidens IN Henry W Savage's produc-
tion in English OF "Parsifal" which will
be presented At the Providence Opera
House for three nights and q matinee.
Dec s. and & are all OF them Ameri-
cans and many Of them are on the stage
for the first time. They are what is left
OF tho 1900 young women who applied
for the coveted places. From the 1900
80 were chosen professionally. and these
70 rehearsed every day through the hot
weeks Of July and August The final task
OF selection fell To Conductor Walter IT,
Rofhwei. II took him a long time 10 de-
eide
Never" he has since said. have
heard so many beautiful voices that have
had sound training. This chorus is not
only wonderful illustration OF the vast
vocal wealth OF this country. but " IL a
splendid tribute TO the honesty and abil-
ity or American voice teachers In Berlin
and Vienna I doubt much that such
group OF young singers could be found.
The task OF making the final selection
was one OF the most difficult have ever
undertaken. II really came 10 question
OF personal appearance. and that was
harder even than choosing the voices.
There was little choice in the voices. and
almost az little choice I'm the looks"
Personal attractiveness I'm women IL not
generally thought Of I'm connection with
grand opera. but n IL doubtful n any
musical comedy whose chief stock in
trade IL beautiful women came make such
showing as these flower maidens As
for their singing both Boston and New
York have hesn loud in unsnimous
praises
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