The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-13


title by Charles Dana Gibson.
Education Of Mr.. Pipp' appears 10
be another Augustus Thomas success, OF
which We are getting a number this sea-
son. Indeed, NJ Thomas appears 70 be-
a sort OF reigning favorite as a play
wright Just now, and whatever criticism
may be passed upon his work he canno,
be denied the tribute due TO versatility In
plot. pictures and persons
or course, Mr. Thomas has been spared
the termination OF Mr.. Pipp, whose educa-
tion made glad the readers OF the periodl-
cal "Iife" some time ago as Il progressed
through drawing after drawing Of Mr.
Gibson. The figure OF Mr.. Pipp and the
two stately daughters are seen In the
flesh in Mr.. Thomas comedy embodied by
that eminent comedian, Mr.. Digby Bell,
and by Miss Beecher and Miss Luehrman
respectively Proud mamma Is portrayed
by that exceptionally fine actress. Miss
Helen Tracy, and Mr.. Hardy and Mr.
Courteny counterfeit a couple OF the ia
millar Gibson young men. The stage Is
always pleasing picture 10 the eye. with
this assortment of good looking people
on II, across which, as q background, Mr
Bell ambles humorously. Contributing TO
the sharply contrasting types out OF the
facile Gibson brain are several ''furrin'
characters, also in interesting contrast
trayed by Mr.. ST. Clair In capital style.
The play runs from mild farce 10 melo-
drama, curiously enough And curious II
Is too. for all the fun OF g, you get in
tensely interested I'm the melodramatic
feature. The j. Wesley Pipps are dragged
abroad by Mamma Pipp 10 seek eligible
connections for the Misses Pipp. These two
Interesting young women are already IN
love and one OF them Is engaged, the ar
"a fn
10 Mr.. Pipp but OF course. not TO Mrs.
Pip. They go 10 Europe in the trail OF
mountebank courier the operations or
whom and his confederates begin with
forging a check for a little matter OF
seventy-ive thousand dollars and come
near ending with a drop OF cold poison
Tor Mr.. Pipp, after which n Is the propo-
sition OF the arch conspirator 10 seek the
hand and wealth OF the widow Such a
conspiracy may be said to be fairly sonsa-
tional for the purpose of a melodrama
ana II Is rather strange 10 1nd> yourself
almost convinced by IL as subplot for an
extremely light comedy, which Is, OF
course, creditable to the skill OF play
wright and performers. The simple fact
E that Mr.. Pip, Mrs. Pipp, the Misses
Pipp and the rest take YOU right into
their home and rather successfully wrig
Gle themselves into your hearts i'm the
course ~ the first act and therefore. you
ma both their humorous and their
strangely linked serious adventures posi-
lively interesting. The novel idea suggests
that properly handled a serious interest
90 comedy or farce ought 10 be quite as
available az the usually insisted on comic
element to serious drama. IL not why
not?
II Is pleasure to see Mr. Dlgby Bell In
ecton once more In q production OF his
pwn. He ~ a droll and sklful comedian
with an ins~Ssduality that s. always good
for many laughs IN the course OF an
evening. lie is on artist. too. and THE
Education OF Mr.. Pipp" az many points
reveals bow an artistic actor can often
create as strong an impression by giving
bis background play as by being In ac-
zion himself. Some OF Mr. Bells finest
touches are when the rest OF the stage
seems 20 be doing all the acting and all
the speaking, the humble Mr.. Plpp being
reflected against them
There Is a flight OF stairs I'm the nrs.