The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-05

Miss Niols Allen will be seen as Betty
singleton in Clyde Fitchs play. The
Toast OF the Town" At the Providence
Opera Hcuse for the first time, tonight
Mr.. Fitch has provided Miss Allen with
what seems TO be the best made play that
has come from his pen in recent years.
Tho character Of Betty is one OF great
dramatic possibilities, calling for an ac-
tress of -XLG.-paried- talents Aiss-A44eH-
has scored a triumph In this role proving
anew her great ability as an actress,
which has been demonstrated on many
occasions. Her personality Is one OF such
rare charm and compounded with so
many notable qualities, that IT is imposs-
BILE to adequate describe IT. IL is not
offer that an actress who is possessed OF
such setrling dramatic powers is still one
of the dairttiest OF commediennes. In
form ing The Toast Of the Town for
Miss Aliens use, therefore. the author
was not cramped and confined. for he
was writing for an actress capable OF de-
line al ting a great variety of emotions,
from the delicately humorous TO the trag-
ically pathetic.
Mr. Fitch's play Is i'm four-acts and tells
the story Of Betty Singleton. a famous
actress who roigned during the time of
George III.
Betty was in fact "the toast OF the
town" she married the Duke Of Mains
bury and. as might he expected from
such an alliance. falls into a mess or
trc uble, from which however, she is final
ly extricated Mr. Fitch has introduced
into the play many Of those surprising
novelties for which he is famous. one of
these occurs during the first act which Is
supposed TO occur i'm the green-room OF
Old Drury Lane theatre. 1t is the even
ing of Betty's wedding 10 the duke and
she Is taking her farewell TO the stage
That evening she is appearing as Bea-
trce in Much Ado About Nothing" The
last act OF Much Ado" has arrived and
poor Betty, almost overcome by the hap
penngs OF the day, is called upon by the
unseen audience for a farewell speech.
Here's where Fitch comes In with his
novelty; Betty is seen to leave the green
room, when all at once is darkness. The
next you sec OF her. she is standing be-
fore n green baize curtain, which has
been lowered in front Of the stage, and
Miss Allen. still in her character. appears
and speaks TO the real audience, which is
supposed 10 be the one seated I'm the old
London playhouse Betty. after her fare
we'll address. leaves the stage: again
there is darkness, and the next you see
OF her IS her return TO the green room.
of unusual excellence. embracing such
well known players as Isabel Irving. Mrs.
Fanny Addison Pitt Harrison Hunter.
Hassard Short. Norman Tharp, G. Leslie
Allen end Alice Wilson The production
provided by Miss Aliens manager,
Charles w. Allen, is said TO be very mag
nificent.
II IS not an unexpected surprise IN find
,Nrt,ss
as q playwright in the case Of "Mizpah"
to be seen here at the Providence the
last half or the week. should have proved
to be success. The celebrated poetess OF
passion certainly chose an exalted theme
I'm the magnificent old Scriptural love ro-
nance OF King Ahaesuerus and Queen
Esther: but this most ambitious and pre-
tentious cndeavor OF her entire literary
career. seems, from all accounts. 20 he n
truly worthy development and treatment
OF the grand Biblical story. Despite the
somewhat sensational character OF her
early triumphs, as "a writer OF Poems OF
Passion" and her peculiar rphasodcs on
emotional and sentimental themes, there
has always been a genuine basis of heart
interest I'm her work. and her verses have
touched a common chord OF humanity.
Her love scenes In "NIzpah' are said 20
be exquisitely beautiful.
The bill at Keith's this week will be
noted for the strong musical and COM
edy features as well as the number OF
new acts The list includes Auguste Van
Biene, the famous 'cellgtl Frederick
Bond Fremont, Benton & Co. In Hand
kerchief No. l5:' Howard a. North.
Emma Francis and her Whlrlwlnd
Arabs; Mosher Houghton e. Mosher.
Phil and Nettie Peters. Post g. Russell
Dora Peletier. tho Aerial Smith, John
son g. Wells. the McGraths. Amos Edson'e
Dog. Holden and others Some later Feb
ruary bookings include Paul Couchas.
The Military Hercules." Norton g. -Nich-
olson, the Sisters MacCarte. Frank Bush
Callahan A. Mack, the Wilton Brothers.
Edmund Day a. Co, and Houdni.
The appearance OF Mosher. Houghton
and Mosher comedy bicyclists, at Keith's
theatre this week. Is doebly interesting
from the fact that Frank Houghton OF
that trio, is a former Providence boy AMI
was n prominent member OF the remem-