The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-02-28

Will present for one week with matlnees
on Wednesday and Saturday, Charming
Polock's delightful American comedy OF
Washington life. "The Little Gray Lady"
The play comes direct from It's protracted
run at the Garrick and Majestic theatres
I'm New York. where it was accepted as
one OF the solid successes OF the season,
and so heartily approved by the Metro
politan critics, that a second company
was Immediately organized TO cover the
western territory, and within week will
makes its first appearance under the di-
rection OF james X. Hackett in a Chi
cago theatre. In the meantime the east
ern company, including Dorothy Donnelly
and Julia Dean In the cast, will finish the
season I'm the more prominent cities. while
next year will open in New York for an
indefinite run, where II is believed IL will
last for an entire season.
Mr.. Pollock has chosen for his theme
the simple life OF a coterie OF clerks en-
ployed in the redemption division i'm the
Treasury department at Washington. The
play opens IN the back yard OF a Wash
ingron boarding house, and the action de-
velops the story that Anna Gray, the lit
tie gray lady. had accepted a position i'm
the redemption department. in which Is
also employed Perry Carlisle, a lifelong
friend and man whom she has loved
since childhood, both coming from the
same little town In Ohio. Anna Grey Is
the tyDSsof a sweet. enduring inherently
refined woman, with infinite tact and a
faith in those whom she cares for that Is
absolutely unassaila BILE.
Carlisle finds lat his head is turned by
the glitter and glamor OF the busy lve
In the Capitol. and drifts away from
Anna, becoming enamored OF the daugh-
ter OF the boarding house keeper Ruth
a Glan 1-sf gk~ a,,1 |,
catty person. Her extravaganza leads him
into difficulties, he extracts pieces Of
money from his division, pastes them to-
gether and passes them for bonafide cur
rency, Is sought by the Secret Service de-
partment and finally run 10 cover Anna
Gray, believing in the boys final redemp-
tion, stands Loyalty by him. and through
series Of most dramatic Incidents. final
ly extrlcates him from his difficulties
brings him back to a sane point of view
and in an end that is one OF particular
charm. the old boyhood and girlhood love
is understood, admitted and cherished
Mr. Maurice Campbell, under whose per-
sonal direction the play is staged, has
provided a cast Of unusual proficiency and
production thoroughly In accord with
the atmosphere OF the play. Besides Miss
Donnelly and Miss Dean the cast includes
Eva Vincent, William Humphreys-so we'll
known in Providence. as an actor OF un-
Asa
Robert over and several others.
80
Many dlsappontments have taught local
vaudeville devoteeS to get seats for
keiths early. else they'll be obliged TO
stand. If they are fortunate enough to
get even standing room. This weeks bill
at that theatre is one OF the best all
round bills OF the entire season. The
whole town is talking about Frank D.
! Bryane Peace Congress OF American
Girls. The act Is the kind that wins in
stantaneeous applause and is unquestion-
ably the most pretentious act OF the kind
vaudeville has had. Thirteen very pretty
dainty girls and three men, comprise the
company unusually large for vaudeville
One thing which is decidedly refreshing
is that the girls are petite OF statue mod
est IN manner. and are not of the over
worked show girl" type. They show the
excellent training Mr.. Bryan has given
them and not only sing with vivacty and
excellent voice, but march exceedingly
well. so that. did they do nothing else
they would be deserving OF the hearty
applause given them. AS for Mr.. Bryan,
who is the author of the very unique and
stirring patriotic act, Human Flags" he
is one of the ceverest character actors
| IL has been our good fortune 20 see in
many day. He impersonates the rulers
Of Russia, Japan and the United States
giving in tuncful cong the story OF the
recent conflict between the first two coun-
tries and the intervention OF mis- country
While he is singing the young women's
costumes form immense human flags His
makeup as Teddy Roosevelt is remarkably
fine. A feature Of the act which ts mast
Impressive and which is everywhere tho
means OF starting a petition among the
school children for the preservation OF
"Old Ironsides" Is the very reverential
earnest appeal made by Mr. Bryan for
the saving Of the old frigate All I'm all.
II is one Of the prettiest novelties vaude-
Vile has yet had, and the man whose
blood is not stirred by this patriotic act
must be "a man without a country"
sss
II YOU happen to be going by Keith's
this week when Thomas J. RYAN and
Mary Rchfield are on the stage, you'll
think there is a riot inside for never
has such terrific laughter been aroused
as these clever players provoke I'm their
latest Haggerty sketch. Mag HaRgerty's
Reception" IL tells OF the little ex-hod-
carrier. that vaudeville audiences have
grown so fond OF. who has gone to live
with his fashionable daughter. The curtain
rises Just as t..c old man returns from his
first automobile ride. II Is the night OF
tho big reception at his daughters home.
and the old gentleman first takes his
daily lesson and then n lesson In dane
ing Both are 80 uproariously funny that
many OF the lines are lost I'm the shouts
OF laughter with which the audience greet
them. The finish. I'm which Mr.. Ryan
does an Irish Jig is n genuine surprise.
for he has not danced In a long time. and
his nimbleness and grace brings back
memories OF his former successes with
Weber and Fields Perhaps the chief
reason that Mr.. Ryan and Miss Rlchfeld
are so very successful. aside from the fact
that they always offer excellent one-act
comedies, Is that they are both so un-
commonly clever as 20 make the char
acters they portray thoroughly human.
Miss Richneld has few opportunities. but
no ono. who has ever seen her as the
daughter of the old Irishman, has failed
to be impressed with the sincerity. re-