The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-12-26
EMPIRE THEATRE.

Two big holiday audiences filled the En-
pire theatre TO capacity yesterday and
gave every outward semblance OF thor
oughly enjoying the creditable production
Of ''The choir Singer" new meiodrama.
abounding in heart interest, which is
here for the first time
Ii is a play showing country life ana
lot of queer country characters. who hang
around the village postoi1ice, whlcn nap
pens 10 be just across the street from
the parsonage, where dwclls a young,
good looking, single clergyman, VINO mas
migra ted southwark from New England
He speedily falls IN love with pretty
southern girl. of the old +. f. VS., who
plays lady bountiful 20 the neighborhOod
and although she returns his love they
are not permitted TO acquaint each otheF
of this interesting state OF affairs at the
psychological moment, because OF the du-
plicity uf "A dotng Puritanical sister. VINO
brought all her New England prejudlceS
with her 20 the south and not only Ios-
tered them l5ut intensified them. Sne
had made up her mind that her brother
shall never wed while she lives ana does
her utmost TO make good her plan. By
the delivery OF a wrong letter In the hrst
act she effectually nips the budding ro-
nance and throws the lady bountHul VINO
sings like an angel" according TO the
words OF tho nero, INTO the way " az
unscrupulous New Yorker, who has
claim against the family homestead that
seems strong enough TO turn them all
adrift without "A roof 10 cover them.
With the assistance OF the New YORK
er aforesaid troubles come thick and last
for the choir singer and her brother
which the country detective in measure
ameiiorates but there are enough o.
them to make a. very interesting story
and the interest is well sustained until
The last when three pairs OF lovers are
united. the wicked ones confOunded ana
the hero and heroine so far as appears
bid fair 10 live happy forever atterward'
a new and popular little actress is dls-
closed in juliet Atkinson, whose cohsls Z
ent and sympathetic rendering OF the role
of the Choir Singer endeared her TO most
everyone who was there. she careIuLly
kent within the picture and avoided the
many opportunities for overactng that
the lines afforded and incidentally showed
that she was possessed OF pleasiins
voice I'm several solos that were leglu-
mately interpolated.
There is a weak spot in construction of
act three, however. where there should be
with speclaltles. so long as TO almost
cause the interest TO be lost In the plot.
Hector Dion makes manly looking
parson-hero, and gives a sufficiently clean
Interpretation OF the part TO win the ap-
probation OF the audience, even thoush
lacking in naturalness at times.
AS Roy Leighton, Richard sherman mas
a congenial part and good character bits
are those Of Wilfred Wilson, as the post
master Jinglin; Robert Craig, as Hen Par
rott. a detective, and John &. Carlyle as
Bud Tolliver, a regular scrapper.
Nan Heevins as a breezy western girl,
does some pleasing work and sings as
plea singly In the roof garden scene. where
she also does some clever travesty work.
Caroline Lee has a good character part
al Elvira Merritt, the parsons sister, and
makes the most OF IL I'm makeup and act