The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-05-10
KElTH'S THEATRE.

NLIIUO IULH UIs
The large audience which crowded
Keiths last evening will doubtless not
soon forget the superb production to
whieh they were treated by the Albee
Stock company Of Bronson Howards
stirring military play. Shenandoah" II
Ia not saying too much 70 say that no
production ever given on q local stage
could equal this splendid production. The
audience rose TO a degree OF enthusiasm
rarely, II ever, before seen In this city.
and their applause was spontsAeous and
persistent in It's demand for curtain calls.
The play itself. as Is an accepted fact,
is the best war play ever produced In
America
The play " a stupendous one TO present
adequately and even those who are
familiar with the Alhee oompany's ability
to cope with any production set before
them were inclined TO be skeptical: but
last evening even the most biase theatre
goers swoke and appianded vigorously
what was certainly an effort OF which the
management should be justly proud.
Nothing tho popular stock organization
has ever done to compare with IL, and 10
miss II Will be TO lose one OF the biggest
| treats, not only of the season, but OF the
history OF the local stage, II was evil
dent that no expense or trouble had been
1 spared 10 make tie pIOQuCtlOn u n1OSt
| nota BILE one The theatre was in military
attire, handsomely and lavishy decorated
with flags and bunting. and tie ushers
| and attaches wore tiny silk nags upon
| their uniforms.
band concert by the American band
| preceded the play, at the conclusion of
| which concert an officer in uniform
summoned the delinquent theatregoers
! from the lobby by bugle calls. Inside
the theatre more elaborate military
decorations were to be seen. and the
| orchestral program was composed largely
| OF military airs. The company, which
was specially augmented for this pro-
duction. was uniformly good. and de-
served Individual and extended praise did
not space prevent. Special recognition
must. however, be given 10 that member
Of the company who, above all others.
contributed so largely to the excellence
| OF the production. yet who was not seen
by the audience. Stage Director Percy
| Winter. Mr.. Winter has made many
notable productions. but none which will
reflect more credit upon him than that OF
last evening. II was a splendid achieve
ment and showed the work OF a mastery
hand. No detail. however minute. was
| overlooked. and the general smoothness
and vim which characterized the entire
| evenings entertainment was nothing
short Of wonderful. even without con-
sidering the fact that Il was the opening
| night and that there had been but one
! weeks rehearsals for the gigantic pro-
| duction.
A large share OF the evenings honors
rightfully belong to Mr.. Winter. and IL
is likely that many were reminded Of the
rnisauoted Man behind the man behind
the gun" One of the especially praise
worthy features OF the performance
which showed Mr. Winters rkilful hand
wa hA Aot~
earnest manner In which the large corps
OF sipernumeries worked II was par
ticularly noticeable In the big battle
scene. when the Union army IL retreating
before Winchester and Sheridsn's ap-
pearance on the scene, after his famous
so-mie ride' saves the day. The men.
one and all. moved with the precision OF
picture realistic TO a degree seldom wit
messed, and must be seen TO be realized
| at all
When, at the finish ot this act, the en-
tire force OF Union soldiers. surrounding
Sheridan on horseback together with the
principal characters OF that scene as
sembled on the stage. the tableaux was
given seven distinct curtain calls. To see
that one scene alone would be we'll worth
the price asked by the mana cement to see
the entire performance. Mr.. Craig gave
an excellent portrayal of the manly SOL
der, Lieut.. Kerchival West and the Gen.
Haverhill of Mr.. Losee was dignied. ar
tistic effort Miss Lawrence made
charming Gertrude Ellingham. the impet-
uous lovable Southern girl. while Miss
Rivers was delightful as Madeline West.
One of the excellent pieces OF acting of
the evening was that given by AR. Mean
der as Lieut. Bedloe, his scene in the third
act, when he dictates the letter TO his
young wife, being a most pathetic one.
III -.
act. but instead OF erring in this direc-
ton Mr. Nicanders work was so lifeliks
that IL awoke an answering chord OF
sympathy In sery spectator present.
Mr. Byrna gave a well-coAteived and
finished depletion OF Captaip Hesrtsea@e.
showing under his exterior or csfmness
his deep love for his country and his
fearlessnecs In the face OF danger. Miss
Ingram ae the dashng colder girl. Jenny
Bucl1t horn was the same vivacious little
artistic Providence people have come to
hold IN such high esteem. One of the
decided successes Of the performance
must be credited to Mr.. Turner who ap-
peared as Sergeant Barket and did an
exceptionally praiseworthy piece OF char
acter acting
He was excellent throughout. never once
coming out Of the character, and his de-
scriptive battle scene In the last act
was highly amusing. Miss Young made q
very womanly and sweet Mrs. Haverill
and Miss Love deserved the applause
given her for her very intelligent and
clever work as Mrs. Edith Haverill Miss
Reimsr was. as always excellent In
small role as Margery. and Mr.. Owens
General Buokthorn was ore OF tho treats
Of the evening.
Mr.. Fisher played Major Hardwick with
sincere earnestness. and Mr. Henry Dug
gan and Mr.. Walter Hill. both OF the lat
ter Of the Pawtucket Albee Stock COM
pany. proved themselves admirable addi-
tons 10 the cast and scored marked
success IN their respective roles. This
play will Ne repeated throughout the
week, with matinees daily. and everyone
in and around Providence should by all
means see IL at least once. At least three
results are certain from this weeks un-
eoualled production, further strengthen
,s -. AiAnn conopanv's pop,ilarity