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

A laugh for every minute tns Nui ~ii
was up was what most of the big audi
ence at the Empire theatre enjoyed last
night. while the balance OF the persons
present did not stop laughing at all and
Are You a Mason?" Leo DetrNhstein's
admiration from the German Of l.aufs
and Kratz, simply demonstrated Its right
10 the title OF 1.-The funniest farce FOR
many seasons"
A young husband and a gay old father
in law who. 10 cover their little MID
night escapsdes tell their wives tnes
have toined the Free Masons, are sud
denlv brought together without knowl-
edge Of the others hluff at being mi
tiatee into the mysteries Of Free Ma
sonry. and in the presence Of an admir-
ing coterie OF women who watch every
move the two are forced TO go through
a series Of grotesque gymnastics, which
p - supposed 10 be the secret signals or
the order
They are successful In deceiving the
women but each fails TO see the reason
why the other has not found out the
deception The introduction OF real
Mason. an aspiring candidate for admis-
sion 10 the order. a youthful flame OF
the gay old father lin law. and an actor
masquerading as daughter. or whose
existence the old man had not heard
complicate matters sufficiently TO suit
the most fastidious person and ludicrous
situations succeed each other so rapidly
that II may without exaggeration be
safely said that the play is just one iohs
hearty laugh
There certainly were no cases of the
blues anywhere out front last night. not
even in the box ONCE. for the audience
that assembled in spite Of the rain was
an unusually large one for the opening
night.
The company presented by Manager
Calm Is an excellent one. each member
OF which Is admirably adapted to farce
comedy work. and indeed II Is seldom
that n better balanced company than
this is seen.
Edward Kellie handles the part Of the
gay old deceiver from Illinois with an
ease that bespeakN long experience and
study OF this sort OF part. while the role
Of Frank Perry. the other fake" Mason
IL in the hands OF Thomas David. another
capable actor
George Fisher. former actor who has
become a stock broker. Is the part played
by William Robert DAILY. who in the
course Of the play assumes feminine
attire His representation OF the nct-
tious daughter is one of the richest
things In the performance
The stage manager OF the piece. Louis
r. Grisel, plays the part OF the former
farmer. John Halton. IN very accept
able manner. and Melville y. Brown
handles the part OF the real Mason we'll
Charles Kennedy appears as Hamilton
Travers. an usher In music hall In
heavy 10. 20. 40 tragedy get-up and his
little scene, in which he commences the
rehearsal Of q comedy sketch for an ex-
cuse 20 get at the whiskey bottle, Is
very funny
Miss Jessie Church imper.onates the
deep voiced matinet OF a wife that dom
mates tho whole family and Miss Ade-
laide Wise. Miss Georgie Hart and Miss
Mary Faber appear as her daughters Eva.
Annie and Lulu Mamie Johnstone ap-
pears "a the wise cook and does q very
good piece OF character work. as also
did Miss Vslbougr Hermann as Mrs.
Halton. The others were all adequs te
to their parts. This Is q play in which
the unities required by the French school
OF writing are strictly observed. for the
action all takes place In one room and
the time from noon till the next evening.
Next week Managers Spitz and Ma
thanson announce the opening OF the
summer season by the new stock COM
pany In Heart and sword romantic
drama OF the doublet and hose period.