The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-02-10

the metropolis. II ha. the further dis
unction, tending to contribute 10 the pub
licity It enjoys. OF being the handwriting
OF Americas leading contemporary
| humorist and it's production IL In the
! hands of an extraordinarily successful
amusement director. whose versatility as
| producing manager IS indicated by the
range all the way from the Sultan of
Sulu" 10 "Parsifal-in- English"
Last nights audience found its prelimi-
nary snrcipstons realized and more. II
Witnessed breezy comedy OF the rural
drama type-strongly infused with the
fun OF politics, performer by company
or actors of exceptional talent and who.
moreover, are so well seasoned I'm their
parts. since most OF them nave been play
ing them from the opening night that
they are thoroughly blended into the at
mosphere OF the play and move about
with All extraordinarily convincing real
ism. But. more than all and what, more
than all. accounts for the very great sue
cess OF the play. THE County Chairman"
for all It's fun. rings true I'm respect OF
types and situations--for all its merri-
ment, is strong in sentiment-and II has
good red blood and warm heart in IT,
The scene OF the play is township in
Indiana. The period. the early eighties
when Chicago boasted buildings as tall as
six stories and Wont You Love Me-
Molly Darling" was all the rage with
the whistlers and on the melodeon. The
characters introduced are the mis-
cellaneous company that, with one speech
and manner or another slightly varying
may he found In any sound and simple
American community Of tho size Of
Antioch" Ind Through the political
theme there Is a love story interwined
but the best hit OF sentiment I'm the
Chairman" has 10 do not with this love
story. but with an old one that happened
20 years before and that affected the life
OF the County Chairman and also. as
appears. the career campaign that goes
on through the play.
IL Is a stage tradition that the political
play, unless reduced 10 a brief farce. Is
pretty sure 10 he n losing proposition. Rut
I'm The County Chairman" the political
theme is surely successful And this is
because Mr. AIDE. the author. and Mr.
Arbuckle, the actor have succeeded be-
tween than In creating n character that
Is sound and real and entertaining. and
that other characters and situations Of
much cleverness fairly crowd the scene
The political theme Is. after all. only the
vehicle
The Hon. Jim Hsckler, county chair
man. rings true as a character study He
is not mere dummy expressing q few
political platitudes or reeling of gags off
and al things political 20 make a laugh
He IL a genuine American type n $ sort
OF man. as well as a politician. as
warm -blooded human representative Of
conditions and environment that vary lust
enough between ono part of our country
and another 10 indicate distinction with
out much difference. lie Is rough but
not uncouth or coarse; shrewd. but not
small or mean: unscrupulnus only in
things political and that Is only an in
cident since. after election day, 81 Is all
over and people won't inquire as 20 the
methods used. but only "who wins"
Strong and sturdy and lkeable and
TO the bone. not wearing
his heart on bis sleeve, but big hearted 20
everybody that really gets close 10 him
In the character that Mr.. AIDE and Mr.
Arbucke have created IN Jim Hacker
the political strain and purpose are only
an incident: the character as an AmerI-
can type stands out In the front rank OF
the few vital American creations that the
stage has ofered-with Bardweil slote
and Mulberry Sellers and Josh whitcomb
for example. IL IL not 80 significant that
author and actor have made us laugh. or
have cleverly portrayed a rural political
boss, as ~ is that they have created for
the stage one more genuine American OF
the soil.
And how fine il the art and how thor.
ough and true the portrayal that Mr.. Ar
buckle offers. was attcstcd at the climax
of the third act when last nights audi
enCe. that had Dsen following the doings
OF the chsirman up 10 this point with all
N, Fl uninterrupted laughter, fell. on the
instant into the atmosphere OF surprising