The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-09-28
he ThEATRES

Is the magnet which is attracting such
large and fashionable audiences TO
Keiths this week. when she was ap-
by the Matinee Girl in her
dressing room at that theatre last eve-
ming upon the subject which is agitating
newspaper theatrical writers and many
legitimate actors these days. With such
people in vaudeville at the present day
as Henry Clay Barnabee' Marguerite
sylvia. Robert Hllliard. Annie Irish,
Charles Hawtrey and Miss Milward the /
question naturally Is one or interest 10 /
everyone, and was decidedly curious 20 |
hear what Miss Millward would have 20 !
say on the subject Her opening words |
left no doubt in my mind as 10 her atti- !
tude. II was as clean-cut and forciole as
the charming actress admirably artistic
portrayal OF "The Masked Lady" in her
Intense dramatic one-act play. The
Queens Messenger" and as she said the
last moi" one pink palm came down
with emphasis upon her dainty dressing
table.
"Everywhere I'VE appeared since I
came into vaudeville" continued Miss
Millward, as she offered me a chair and
reciinsd gracefully In another herself.
I've been interviewed on this subject
Why. pray. should anyone lose caste by
few years ago. this might have been so,
but not today with vaudeville on the
plane to which Mr.. Keith has elevated It.
confess that vaudeville is revelation
to- me. All my friends and my manager
told mo what a bad theatrical season this
would be and urged me TO take an ex-
cursion into vaudeville. At first 1 de-
INJURED. but when such artists as Charles
Hawtrey. Annie Irish and others tried 1t.
\ hnua 70 Otu gi
But / was wary, and refused 10 book but
two weeks until I saw whether or not I
should like IL. Do you know, had never
been in a vaudeville theatre. even TO see
a performance until tho offer TO appear
in that field was made to me. and then.
from curiosity, I went 10 the New York
Keith theatre.
II was amazed. for had always
thought OF vaudeville as being a kind OF
fancy name for varieties I gladly con-
fessed my mistake. however. for vaude-
Vile and variety are widely apart, and
very meeky went home and signed con-
tracts for my first two weeks. Since then
I've been I'm vaudeville continually, and
| shall probably remain in IL until the holi-
days. i am positively delighted with it
In every way. The audiences are decided
ly high-olass and sympathetic. and
never before realized how many people
One secs the class OF people TO be found
IN the audience at Grand Opera. and
they are much more alert and keen to
catch a subtle point. And what theatres
| the vaudeville houses arel Everything Is
so business like and systematic, and the
! stage employees are at once deferental.
but attentive to business. And the sala-
ries---well frankly. that is vaudeville $
chief charm. The one thing do not like
| UQndavtlla tQ fUn facQ n
a day"
"Yes. but they are such short perform
ances." / murmured
But 1t keeps me In the theatre pretty
much OF the time" said Miss Milward
come 10 the theatre at certain time
take SO long TO dress, 80 minutes for my
little play. and by the time am dressed
for the street the Afternoon is almost
| II not entirely over II spoils all chance
for an afternoon drive. or any social
duties, unless IL IL small dinner after
the matinee or a little supper party after
| the evening performance. But, In Chi
cago few weeks ago. / played at two
theatres In one week. giving two per-
formances n day at each. had 10 hurry
from one 10 the other all In my evenins
dress and makeup in a cab, but Il was
very firing When / am on the stage
like to live the part am playing. and
1t takes energy to do that. found thai
by giving the same performance foul
times In one day I didn't have the spiri
or vim that like to feel"
At this moment, big box OF roses ar
rived for Miss Millward, and while the
charming actress bent over them ad-
miringly, j had an opportunity 70 take
In the pretty picture she and her sur
roundinss made. Unlike most actresses
who play in a theatre but one week. Miss
Millward had had her dressing room pret.
tily arranged, with dainty draperies or
the mirrors and dressing ia BILE silver
toilet articles, pictures and photogra phs
and beautiful lace soarfs and sofa pill
lows lending an air OF comfort and home
likeness to the scene. She herself wa.
hat Of dark brown. having just com,
from the street, which made capita
setting for her dark animated beauty
her reddlsh-brown hair and beautiful
teeth. An attentive maid stood read,
with a pretty kimona, doubtless impa
tient TO prepare her mistress for the mat
inee performance. As Miss Millward ca
ressinrly handed the roses to her mai,
, for attention. 1 asked, rs " true tha
you are 10 have this little play, I'm
. Queens Messenger, developed into
four-aot play, in which you are 70 starr
quite true" said Miss Nillward. MI
; Manners. tho author, submitted tho seen
Arlo 10 me couple or weeks ago and
!, was as delighted with IL as I was wit
the little one-act play when he first rea
!. II 10 ma. The frst act Is to be laid a
the fancy dress ball. at which the mask
ed lady speaks In the one-act play of hav
ing met the messenger. Leo. her lover
will be the leading role. and the mes
senger will probably be the heavy rol,
A little love interest In a comedy vel
! will bs added by the messengers swee,
heart the inEenue. Ny role will give m
}. some capital acting opportunities. an
J, there will be several strong scenes In IN
; play. II will be one OF the stronge'
d. dramatic roles I've played since IN
Countess Zicka IN Diplomacy, but ther
:. | will be very little comedy I'm II. In Ens
n land, I've played more emotional roles
. but In America I'm considered n come
: dienne. Mr.. Manners, being an Englisr
man. has written me strong drsmsti
= role. or course. the masked lady is resll
. not a sympathetic character. for sh
: robs the young English officer and a,
> coys him into a trap, but 1 cant hel
playing IL in q sympathetic manner. 10
| a.,srx -n,nsp would n thA aarna for IN