The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-08-22
EMPIRE THEATRE.

The crowied gallery al the newly dec
grated Empire theatre fairly rocked last
night at the climax in the thrilling melo-
drama which IL the opening attraction
for the fall season, The Queen OF the
Highbinders" II was one OF tho most
exciting scenes ever shown at this thea
ire, for I'm an orientslly draped bed cham
ber was gathered a body OF resolute, or
rather desperate, men and women. the
highbinder's society driven into corner
by the police. Clad in a feeoy nightrobe
the Queen of the Highbnders stands In
the middle of 4 folding bed with a gleam-
ing revolver in each hand, and her SUBJ
jects similarly armed cluster around her.
The bursting in OF the two doors Of the
room by the pclice Is the signal for n
fusilade OF pistol shots that continues
until all the revolvers are emptied of
their contents and the effect is truly
awe-inspirng. and curtain call after cur
tain call had TO be given 10 satisfy tho
delighted youngsters. good many OF
the old fellows were also enthused ID
pretty near the boiling point and all but
Joined In the cheering
The play, as whole, Is certainly
winner. ANA one which will without doubt
score a success all along the line this
season for II has the approval OF ;he
Providence nrst night audience.
In the plot the hightinders c-ganiza-
ton is used solely for the purpose OF
securing for the chief, the wife OF a New
York society man who has pleased the
critical eye of the suave and crafty Ori-
entail prince. Murder. torture after the
most approved ard dlabolical Chinese
plans are among the exciting episode
and some .lch stage settings are required
10 show the Chinese dives In which the
action IL carried on.
There is one Gene In particular which
has the charm OF novelty and that shows
a pier on the east side IL New York,
where party OF young men go I'm swinl-
ming off the deck -atfa-thetF- dfse5=fffte=
real water Sfo realistic in the extreme.
When tho Youngsters throw in the IL
lainous Ch.nsmsn and his American as
sistnnt ard souse them UP and down a
few times the i0v OF the gallery god can
be well imagined.
Cne of the hest features ~ the per-
Torrance outside If the plot. ard start
ling situations ls the marching. wall
scaling and acrobstic work of n squad
Of policemen and sailors under the drec-
tion of Capt. Malachi Kelley. :he we'll
known local drill master. and the ap-
pearance of the men At the cnnlsxes wos
sure 70 win hearty burst % applause
The marching movements without verbal
orders ws., very well executed.
About th- brightest ard most enjoy
able Hebrew comedian seen here in many
moons is Paul Burns. who appears "a
Ikey Isnucs and he certainly doesn't
miss &C hsnce Tor laugh oil through
the play In addition to the hurcr re.
ouired ~ the limos he furnishes a lot
outside in interpols ed spocislties. and
though the language Is tangled and the
songs nero parodes, IL docs not conceal
the fact that he has very pleasing
voice.
lie is ably seconded ir his up-maklng
by Sadie Ficlds, as n Yiddlsh dar1sol. and
she sings her way into favor also, al
though she has long been favorite
here
Lorna Elliott PLAYS The leading female
character. Alice Stewart. and she rs In
every way satisfactory. handling the diff
ncult situations and running the gamut
OF the emotions successfully. although
IL Is difficult TO see how che or any other
woman can Stnnd tho ground ana lofty
tumbllng ard knocking about required
by he psrt
As the queen Of the Hishbinders. Leila
z Davis also does crcGitable work aul
carries out tho part OF the bad woman
conyincingly. In her vision scene she
aid so we'll last night az 60 receive
burst Of applause that was spontaneous
All over the houte
This big play which has material
enough fcr half n dozen ordinary onos
will be seen a. the Empire for the bal
ance ~ ths week where the vii chosen
company Will undoubtedly continue %
please
Tn. sppearsaes Of the interior % the