The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-01-12
KEITH'S THEATRE.

A vaudeville program OF extraordinary
merit Is offered at Kelth's this week. and
the program Il likely TO rank as among
the very best OF the entire vaudeville sea
son. II the hearty applause and laughter
which alternated throughout the evening
Is any sign Of the enjoyment of the large
audience that was present last evening
There are an abundance of really funny
comedy acts. and one who enjoys a good
hearty laugh may have plenty by visiting
keith's this week In order TO see everv-
thing worth seeing on The bill the visi-
tor must 80 early and remain through the
very last picture OF the Blograph. Mr..
John Craig, the distinguished legitimate o
actor, who for many years has been iden-
tined as leading man with Ada Rehan.
Mrs. Minnie Maddern Fiske Mary Man
nering and the Augustin Daily companies.
made his local vaudeville debut. and was
received with rouslng ovation which
testified to The appreciation Of vaudeville
audiences ~ MY Craig's calibre
lie was supported by Miss Mary Young,
q charming comedlenne from the legiti-
mate field, and MIR. Louis Bishop, and
for his vaudeville Offering Mr. craig and
his little company offered one OF the very
best one-act comedies that has ever been
seen on the local Keith stage This Is
The Doctor from the pen Of the ceIe-
brated w $. Gilbert. II tells a charming
little story of a young dramatic author.
who has promised his mother to marry
but is 'girl-shy." None Of the girls Of
his acquaintance quite satisfy him. so
he advertises In a materimonial paper for
wife. He receives hundreds OF
letters but chooses one signed Re
unda. who Is supposed to be a pretty
young lady She sends him her photo
graph, bur by mistake sends one OF her
grandmother instead of herself Previous
10 this, the young man has proposed To
her 10y mail. bur before she accepts him.
she determines TO see what he Is like She
calls at his apartments, and pretends To
fall in a faint.
While ministering to her the young au-
thor falls In love with her. and to de-
tain her after he has brought her hack
TO consciousness, he tells her he ia doc
tor and she must obey his orders She
remains little longer. and he Is lust
about 10 tell her OF his love- when he re-
members his proposal 10 the unknown
Belinda She leases him a bit and fin-
ally makes herself known TO him. the
curtain falling on the pair united Too
much cannot he said I'm praise OF this little
sketch. nor Of its presentation by Mr.
Craig and hts company
But Mr. Craig and his company we've
by no means the only g")d thing on the
bill. ON the contrary. there were SO
many that they all seemed 20 vie with
each other for topline position one of
the biggest laughing hits OF the bin were
the Three keatons. or more especially,
little Buster kcaton From the very mo-
ment this clever midget comedian who
Is unauestionably the funniest chap Of
his size ever seen I'm vaudeville appeared
upon the stage tho audience was I'm an
uproar. lt is impossible to describe the
convulslngly funny antics OF the little fol.
low. but everything he said or did brought
out vociferous round ~ applause or
laughter.
His father Is an excellent acrobat and
his mother n graceful dancer and good
musician. out 60 Buster belongs fhe
laughing honors Of an act which alone
will repay the Keith visitor this week The
Watson. Hutchngs and Edwards com
pany were also favorite funmakers. their
clever satlrical comedy being heartily ap-
preciated by everyone
Miss Hutchings gave n number ~ clever
Characterization. and Harry Watson was
very amusing Hans The act H. 'ull
OF ginger. and scored one ~ the dlstinc.
hits Of the bill VIII W Murphy who
is one OF the very few truly funny come
dians I'm vaudeville. and his talented part-
ner Blanche Nichols. offered their inimit.
ably funny comedy novelty. The Bicir-