The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-13
PROVIDENCE OPERA HOUSE.


John Martin. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. David Miles
Bert ...............,.......B Bertram Nost
loIu fafquar. s..........C Charles j. Btu
Budge Matthews s............S. >. Nlltsle
Dandy Harding .......... John AHoenich
Howard Long. g.......... Robert A. Thorne
Signor Estrada. John w. Dugan
Mr. lattrom. m................J. i. OBrien
F1reWater Pete. william III. Rippard
Texas Thompson. ........ Charles Newton
Jennings .................Ch Charles Zellner
BARTENDER .................. Martin Healy
Ben Martin ........... Franklin Woodruff
At the Providence Opera house for the
balance OF the week with a matinee to-
morrow, Mr.. Franklin Woodruff in Ben
OF Broken Bow" an original American
comedy in four acts by Mrs. Edith Ella
Baker.
Star. play and playwright crept into
town last night from a preliminary try
out In the darkest Attleboros and re-
gions toward the farthest north, with no
blare OF trumpets and only the most
routine OF announcements In the regular
order OF the bookings OF the Providence
Opera house. The audience that wit
messed what was practically first per
I
left the theatre with a strong convic-
tion that Ben OF Broken Bow was
pretty good stun. that Mr. Woodruff was
a mighty attractive romantic actor. with
a facial look and physical carriage sug-
gestive Of Henry Miller. but subsequently
developing an individuality that is wholly
his own and that Miss Baker has written
a clever. sincere and interesting play.
The opening scene of Ben or Broken
Bow" suggested that the East was 10 be
treated TO n dose OF its own medicine In
the way OF the bucolic play which II has
stood for itself, for many seasons and
has doubtless sent into the West 10
amaze and delight the prairie folks with
what, in New England drama. counts for
the real thing in hayseed heroism. We
OF the East have provided ourselves and
have doubtless duly delivered the same
10 our Western cousins at successive sea-
sons line OF dramas of high life in
Swansea and Skowhegan. Way Down
Easts." SKY Farms" and the like one
after the other. If the West has re-
sponded in kind by presenting behind the
footlights the realism OF it's oath-and -po-
ker-swept prairies. only scarce repre-
sentative OF anything OF the sort has
forged its way to the East In this re-
spect. then. the account doesn't balance
We have been given the ranges much To-
cal color OF the New England grocery
debt OF the West to respond. or retaliate
Is a considerable one. The "Hoorah" in
dicated that payment, long overdue. is
about 10 be made with interest and Ben
OF Broken Bow" is a further guarantee
OF a purpose TO liquidate the long stand
ing obligation
The play opens with a scene at n cattle
ranch where Ben Martin. a young fellow
with an Eastern-that is, mebbe as far
east as Characterization but taste FOR
the Wild life is discovered running his
fathers cattle business with shipments
or thousand head year or SO 4 girl
from New York touring the country
switches Bens mind from beef on the
hoof TO the straight Tenderloin OF the
metropolis. The first act reveals cow
punchers and the local color OF Nebra ska
country life, big shooting irons. one or
two Of which ''go Off" and the colloduial
dialogue and strong language OF the prai-
rles all set of by contrast TO the girl from
New York. and her travelling companions
As this act developed the audience settled
down 10 the enjoyment OF a genuine bit
OF play writing and acting of an uncom-
mon kind and began To relish the produc-
tion nightly.
The story is simple and It Is told with
marked simplicity. Ben OF Broken Bow
goes 10 New York in pursuit OF the girl
who has stolen his heart from the cat
tic on the rage. He continues 10 pursue
the object of his devotion with the ear
nestness of a man trained to danger and
contemptuous OF obstacles. In the course
or following the trail, he runs up against
certain chaps OF n stamp that he IS more
NJ home with than New York society,"
a pair OF gambling sharps-and rescues
his uncle from their clutches at the cli-
max OF a mighty thrilling poker game.
Thereafter, he restores the fortune of the
girl OF his affections which his uncle. her
guardian, has lost 10 the card sberos
Then he decides that the air of A great
city Is too sitting for his broad mn.s
ana back he goes to the range and the
boys to get over II and make n now for
tune.
But as the girl follows after. az e,ds
happily.
Mr.. Woodruff is n mighty engaging fell
low as cowboy hero an actor OF sim
pie and direct methods strictly OF the
modern school OF realism. He is sun
ported by an excellent company tina. fine
~ tnterprets some refreshing character
studies, OF which the kit Baxter" ~
Miss Rawson and the "Budge Matthew'S
or Mr. Wiltsie are especially fine exam
pies. The play itself has the charm OF
dcfniteness OF purpose in demonstratin:
the principal character and its manifesto
uons I'm contrasting environments the
love and sentiment Of n young fellow with
no b'god nonsense about him who makes
love I'm the same direct way that ne cuts
out and ropes his cattle, but with rather
less display of courage and OF ths scv-
eral individual types OF character which
are sketched deftly into tho picture. II
is pretty story. prettily told and 4 gree
ably acted
NOTES FROM STAGElAND.
Ia I'll