The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-02-21
ASSESSMENTS.

Mrs. Langtry began a brief engagement at the
Park Theatre last night to an audience that was
highly complimentary in extent and compost
ton, including as 1t did the represe NATIVE peo-
pie of this and adjoining cities. She met with a
kindly reception, and the performance was lis
tened to with close attention and much interest.
Curiosity to gee the woman about whom so much
has been said and written was doubtless the i'm
polling cause for the attendance OF a majority of
those present, and If they were disappointed,
the fault must be attributed to their high expec-
tations. Doubtless many thought to see a lady
who was a phenomenon OF beauty, ami whose
lovely features surpassed those of her envious
sisters beyond comparison. To such, disappoint-
ment was most natural, and altogether deserved,
for Mrs. Langtry does not lay claim
to the support of the public as q
model of physical perfection. she is certainly a
most beautiful woman. Her features are regu-
lar and harInorious-her form almost perfect
her bearing graceful and diguihed, and her
oountenance wonderfully expressive and intel
hgent. In the latter is the chief charm of her
presence, and 1t grows upon one wonderfully.
LAS You Like 1t" was the play, with Mrs. Lang
try as Rosalind. In considering her impersona-
tion of the part it would be manifestly unfair to
compare her with the late Nelson, Nine. Mod
jeska, or others who have spent their whole
lives on the stage, and who had a positive ge-
MUS for acting. Mrs. Langtry shows decided
talent and an undouOted susceptibility for i'm
provement. In experience, she is as yet Int lit
tie more than an amateur, but as an actress she
is mnch more. She went upon the
stage under many disadvantages, and at an
age. several years beyond that when training is
considered most valuable. Since then she must
have improved much, and doubtless will much
more, for her performance last night gave every
evidence OF study and thoughtful discrimina-
zion. Her methods are as yet crude; she is ad-
dlcted to a slight drawl in her reading that is
Objectionable, and she does not act with that
evenness and general finish which only exper-
fence can bring. Her ROsalind is certainly a
boldly outlined and original performance, show
ing not a few faults but many excellencies, Hell
acting is of the prevailing English school, to
which Americans are almost totally upaccus-
toned, and which is at first distasteful to them.
shrinking maiden who does nothing particular
put blush gracefully and say pretty things, but
a sntner se,t Inat OF a gnick-witted
although grlevously afflicted with
the overmastering passion, has sufficient
cleverness to conceal 1t when necessary, and to
adapt herself to the surrounding circumstances.
But III doing this she does not lose those femi-
nine Sraces and peculiarities that make the char
acter so Interesting. Mrs. Langtry has evidently
studied the part very carefully, and her rendi-
tion OF It has the greater interest on this ac-
count. Her reading is generally good, although
at times a slight impetuosIty and haste married
the effect. In the love scenes she showed much
de1cacy ana tenderness, but where an outburst
OF Ieellng was demanded she was less successful.
Sne retained the closest attention of the audi
ence throughout the performance, and was fire.
quently applauded. To summarize, it may be
said that she is a woman of much beauty and
considerable talent, AS an actress she has not
yet nearly exhausted the possibilities of her
powers, and she is but little more than a begin
ner. She displays much intelligence, nice dis
elimination and an evident disposition TO do the
slast.
She is supported by a fairly good company of
English actors. The Jacques" of Mr.. Ora
hame, the Duke" of Mr.. Crisp and the cor
lando" of Mr.. Cooper were creditably done, and
Mr.. Sheperd and Miss HodsOn displayed clever
ness Ill small parts. Miss Pattison played Gee
liza" very nicely, and her personal Appearance is
most attractive. Tonight Mrs. Langtry will APP
pear In The Honeymoon" a play that Is said TO
pc better suited TO her capabilities. "Juliana"
IS certainly not so exacting a part as is ROSA
lind" and is better adapted to the requirements
OF a school of which the Jersey Lily" is an apt
pupil.
ENGLisH's oPERA-HoUsE HAvERLY's MIN
sTRELs.
j. H. Haverly's Consolidated Minstrels gave a
very entertaining performance at I nglish's, last
night, to a very large audience. The company
has been strengthened since its last appearance
here by the addition of q number of vocalists
from HaRue's Operatic Minstrels, and the first
part" is now decidedly the feature Of the enter
tainmen5. 1t Is weak in the comedy element,
Pete Mack being the only one who appeared to
much advantage in this direction, and it is evil
dent that the company needs one or two lend"
comedians badly. Billy Richardson, a new face,
is an Englishman, and has the ghastly idea of
humor that has made his countrymen
famous in CHS country. The only
coed thing he did was an original gro
tesque dance, for which he received an
encore. Mack was unusually entertaining, and
really had some new jokes. The ballad singing
was very fine, the soloists Deing Messrs.
O'Keete, Reid, Wood and Campbell. The chief
feature OF the olio was the song and dance of the
Electric Three (Callan, Haley and Gallant, and
the Girard brothers. Besides this, there were
the specialties of Richardson, E. NJ. Hall, a
''nall" OF the Old school and tina narfnptnanoa
concluded with the burlesuue, "LaLgtry." in
which Mack and Tom Sadier appeared TO adj
vantage. There will be another performance to-
night, which concludes the engagement.
A A WITH MRS. LANGTRY.
A representative of the journal had a