The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-05-13
IMPERIAL THEATRE.

David Gsrrick" COMEDY in three ac'
I by Thomas W Robertson. will be the at
/ traction a the Imperial theatre next week
with Mr.. William Courtleigh in the title
role. and with Miss Rockwell and the
I other players OF the imperial Theatre
Stock company filing the otner principal
ro,es in the piece. II will be a welcome
and deserving addition 10 the list OF old
English comedies which have already been
seen at that popular playhouse. Though
In the comedy the story had no real foun-
dation In tho life OF David Garrick. who
won signal honors on the British Stage I'm
the 18th century bat is founded on a pre-
tended incident I'm th- actors life the
play throughout teens with wit and humor
such as were characteristic Of Garrick in
his younger days. the fun swings along
rapidly, and no opportunity for interest 70
'ag occurs i'm any moment The play.
while spoken of as the work os Thomas
Williams Robertson. the author Of such
excellent acting material as Caste"
/ ours. School" Peace az Any Price"
and host Of others was in fact an
adaptation from the French and when
frst produced a the Haymarket theatre
IN London in 1864 was n success Of no
mistakable sort.
In the title role at the first performance
was T.. a. Sothern, ,AIher OF the woll
known modern actor, as well as others well
known TO the English stage Of that time
u was FIRST seen in this country ~
Wallack's theatre, New York with the
elder sothen SIN playing the leading
role. with a supporting caste including
John Gilbert, r. NJ. Holland. katherine
Rogers and Mrs. Scfton In later years
the play was most successful as vehicle
In this county 10 exploit the skin Of such
celebrated artists as Lawrence Barrett
e. s. Willard. Nat G. Goodwin Charles
Wyndham and the other great favorites.
David Garrick' was, strange as II may
seem, the first OF Robcrtson's play 10
scorc n success. although when his name
became famous he wrote many comedies
which proved popular. Robertson came OF
n family well known to tho English stage
and was practically brought up in thea
tres. He never was much Of a success as
an actor and was successfully prompter.
stage manager and In other ways connect.
cd with theatres In various capacities His
first tempt to write a successful plaN-
fell far short Of the mark. and he was
about 10 break of al connections with
the stage and become a tobacconst when
David Garrick" scored so heavily When
he died several years later Il was In the
zenith Of his fame as dramatist.
In spite OF the fact that David Garrick''
was an adaptat tion from the French. the
atmosphere created by Robertson I'm the
play savors not az all or the French. but
Is distinctly original I'm It's genuine wit
and its deftness Of construction. which !
followed close study Of the life OF the !
eminent actor and his characteristics.
The period Of the play Is in the year
l1i2. with the first two acts laid I'm apart !
ments IN the home Of Simon Ingot. the /
rich father OF the heroine. Ada Ingot. and /
the third act is In the apartments Of Car /
rick himself
Ada lngot at the commencement has
but a short time before visited Drury Lane 1
theaitsr and has become infatuated with
the acting of Garrick tho romantic
roles. all ~ which is not in 4
the least pleasing 10 her father a prosa lc
sort ~ person who has never thought Of
going 90 tho theatre. and without the least \
sympathy for Adas craving for q better
lcqualntance with tho idol N her thoughts
Thinking that thereby he may devise