The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-07-17
1heTheatres

II Is rather a singular thing that-the
more blase an audience is the more II en-
JOYS simple, wholesome plays. That Is
admirably demonstrated at Keiths thea
ire this week where, usually undemon-
strative. large audiences are laughing and
aplauding unrestrainedly. in fact. as
heartily as II they belonged In any city
but Providence. They show Enthusiastically
that they like Peaceful Valley" whose
delightful charm and quaintness has not
lesened since first the late Sol Smith Rus
Technically. II isn't a play OF the master
full construction OF Sardou, but IL is bit
of life. simple story woven around
wholesome, likeable men and women.
ing's advertisement as one Gould find. The
late Sol Smith Russells personality was
60 marked that II is difficult for any ac-
ter not OF his particular type TO present
his roles with success but even Mr.. Rus
sell never gave a more enjoyable per-
formance than that sterling actor. VIII
liam 1ngersoll, gives of Hosea Howe. Mr..
lngersoll has played almost every KIND
Of role here and he Is always good In any
he attempts. His Hosea Howe comes un-
der the latter head, for he seems so thor
oughly in sympathy with the character
that one forgets he Is acting and grows
grave or gay with him as he jumps from
one mood to the other. One of the pref
tiest scenes OF the play is that when Ho-
ca tells his mother he Is going TO New
York II is full OF tenderness and feeling
and though Hosea's promise TO go to bed
ats o'clock every night except Saturday
is Necidedly amusing, the scene is very
touching, and there Is a little catch in
every onlooker's throat although the
minute before they have been laughing
delightedly at Hosea's bashful awkward
ness when playing host TO the girl he
loves.
when Providence playgoers take any
one to their hearts IL Is usually Tor
keeps" for they do not do so until an ac-
tor or actress has proved his or her abii-
I-1sTlD
Winslow. of the Albee company. is estab-
lished in the little corner reserved Tor
lifelong favorites. Miss Winslow is a
woman OF decided charm and personal at
tractiveness. and with IL all she has
large share OF cleverness. Ever since the
opening of the Albee company's season
she has scored week after weak success
in no matter what the role, and each new
success has added to her popularity
Last week she played frivolous.
affected society woman with so much
fidelity that the whole town was talk
ing about II, and this week at Keith
she gives a performance that is d.
rect contrast as a lovable girl whose
wealth has not made her lose her SIM
plicity and naturalness. AS Virgie
Rand. Miss Winslow is worthy or all
the praiseworthy things that might be
said OF her. The role gives no oppor-
tunity for the dramatic power which
everyone knows Miss Winslow has at
her command, but such simple. natural
characters as virgie Rand often de-
mand more skill than the more emo
tional roles In addition TO knowing
how to play the character, she knows
how to dress it--a knowledge that she
has shown in every part she has
PLAYED here thus far, and IL there is
one thing more than another that local
playgoers like II Is well-dressed
woman.
The change of program at the Nickel
theatre for today and tomorrow
brought some capital films. all OF an
amusing nature. quick! I'm on Fire!
was a laughable film showing how two
urchins set fire 10 a mans coat tails
and he, losing his head, runs wildly
about chased by big crowd over all
sorts OF obstacles. He makes some
impossible climbs up the sides of
houses and hills, but, though no one
In the audience could account for how
the motion picture machine accom-
plished II. they laughed as heartily as
IL they knew all about II. Another
excellent picture was mo More Chill
dren Wanted" which was one long
scream from start to finish. THE
Bookworm" was an excellent comedy
picture, "The Magic Drawing Room .
an excellent magic subject. and
''Venice LaBelle" was very pretty.
Harry Thomas splendid voice was
heard, by request, in Love Me and the
World Is Mine" with excellent motion
picture illustrations, and the stirring
Elks song, Here's to Our Absent
Brothers" continued to excite enthu-
siasm.