The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-31

Edith Blackwell ... Miss Dorothy Revcll
Mrs Blackwell. ...... Mrs. Ffolliott Paget
Lady Mnrjory Ticknor. Miss May Pardoe
At the Providence Opera House for the
balunce OF the week with matinee tomor-
ROW and Saturday. Mr.. j. c. Duff an
snounces for the first time on any stage
1.-THE Title Mart" new Anglo American
Ecomedy I'm three acts by Winston church
lfIl. produced under the personal direction
of Mr.. Churchill and Mr.. Murray Car
son
The new play had it's Inaugural perform
'amce last evening. The verdict Of the au-
dience was in part at least Indicated -
its frequent applause. A FIRST night ap-
lpeals TO other emotions than the direct
Sense of appreciation OF the play itself. 81
81 Is as difficult for this reviewer TO es-
'nimate how far the pleasure achieved by
Mast nights audience was due strictly to
fthe entertaining quality elemental TO the
play as II Il TO estimate Within the same
limits the pleasure that the author, Mr..
lChurchill, who sat I'm box and applaud
ed got out OF IT, OF course, Mr.. Church
'ilrs applause was directed to the earnest
lefforts OF his corps of actors In render
ing his play Assuming that he Is as
leood n judge OF plays az the aNerdse
american theatregoer. we would very
tmuch like 10 know what he really thought
lof his own play II II were possible for him
ITO disaSsocate his personal interest from
mis- Judgment as We have no doubt II IS
POSSIBLE since an intelligent workman
Us usually able to Judge of himself wheth-
Ter or not he has done q good job In
specific instance.
',rhe Title Mart" Is trivial In design
and commonplace IN workmanship Triv-
iality does not signify in the consideration
g
does THE Titlc Mart" IS put forth as
iconedy. It's theme Is farCial. And its
Treatment falls between A young Engllsh
l1ord crowded bv his creditors to seek an
American heiress bears letters OF intro
lduction 10 a family possessed OF the req
luisite heiress hut Is shunted from his pur-
suit by the counsel OF a countrywoman,
,another specimen OF n bankrupted utle.
tIwho advises him that the girl is "impossi
ble" Whereupon he induces an amiahle
land vulgar friend whose father is in
trado' 10 assume his title long enough 10
enable him 10 get clear OF the trail. Mean
uime he meets the heiress and believes her
ITO be an actress OF whom he is already
ienamored and proceeds 90 make love 20
her The match making stepmother push
nes her up against the supposititious lord
whose disguise the heroine soon pierces
and by the time she has got well IN love
with the real lord the Identities OF the
fhrec arc mutually exposed and everybody
ilives happily ever afterwards
= Mr. Churchill has written several works
hof action that are effective chiefly because
OF their serious vigor. We DO not recall
THAT the element OF humor enters into
their effectiveness In "Tho Title Mart" he
MAS started with an essentially humorous
situation. a rollcking farcisl device. and
seems 10 have been quite unable 10 get
much fun out OF it-and what is worse the
attempt is too apparent. N was a profes-
sional humorist who, IN the course OF an
address delivered In this town recently.
reminded us that tho fundamental essen
tial 60 the law OF humor IL the element OF
surprise. 81 shock. For Illustration: A
gentleman I'm evening dress az party az
ter the shades of night have fallen is
nothing 70 laugh at But the same gen
tiemsn IN the same evening dress making
his way 70 breakfast the next morning
makes US laugh-simply. because we are
not accustomed 20 see a gentleman so
garbed making his way 10 breakfast
And although II IL the same gentleman IN
the same evening dress in both Instances
IL is only Ia the lstter case that his an
pcHTrr7rv rrrrr--- ~ 1TrrTv--all because
OF the surprise and shock that his appear
snce IN such garb az such a time gives
us
There are only inconsiderable surprises
and shocks in THE Title Mart" once the
scene r. disclosed. II trails along as Il is
inevitably expected 10 DO and without
even the Rarnishing % n scintillating dia-
1ogue Prom the viewpoint % farce 70
falls Fat AZ comedy n rings most %
xhe time with a muffier on the bell
Stage artistry and stage management
have combined 10 create delicious at