The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-03-10
AMCSEMENTS

AMCSEMENTS.
CRANE oPERA-HoUsE LA MoRTE CIvILE."
Signor Tomasso Salvini, the great Italian ira
gedian, began a limited engagement at the
Grand last night in Giacomett's five-act drama
"La Morte Civile' CThe outlaw, the attendance
being good and the performance one of the
strongest dramatic interest. The play is a pow
erful one, but in the hands of Others than ac-
compiished actors it would doubtless become
tiresome, for there is not a suggestion of COM
edy in 1t, and in the opening scenes the action is
sluggish and the lines duh and heavy. A fair
idea of it can be gathered from the story, which,
as told by the libretto, is as follows;
Conrad, the hero of the play, soon after his
marriage to ROsalie and the birth OF his daugh-
ter Ada, has killed, in n fit of passion, his wife's
brother. The widow and orphan, left in misery
by Conrad, who is sentenced to imprisonment
for life, are cared for by DR., Palmieri DIR. Pal
mieri adopts Ada in place of a daughter he has
lost, gives her the name Of Emma, and receives
ROsalie in his house as a governess. The intOl-
erance of a malicious ecclesiastic, Don Gioaeehi-
no, brings trouble into Palmieris dwelling. Don
GioacchinO is convinced that Emma is the off
spring of an immoral liaison between DR.. Palmi-
erl and ROsalie, and he uses all means to drive
the woman from her home. Treated with con-
tempt by DR.. Palm1eri. Don Gioacchino deter
mines to be revenged. Fortune favors his plans,
for Conrad, who by his sentence is dead to his
wife and child, escapes from pris-
on and finds a refuge IN Don
o bbbNJs II pIlGSb SUI DcCuIDtb
aware of the true position of affairs, and urges
Conrad to seek ont his family. Wishing to pre-
vent conrad from revealing to Emma that she is
his child, Rosalle informs him that she is dead,
and to keep him in ignorance of the truth, pro-
poses TO fly with him to a foreign land. But
Don GlOaccRlno undeceiVes the convict. A ter
rible struggle ensues between Comrades desire to
regain possession of Emma and his anxiety for
the girls welfare, which Dr.. Palmieri urges him
to lntrust to his care. In a touching scene, the
fathers good resolve, however, wins the victory;
and in presence of his daughter, who, uncon-
anInIIl nt tho "a Tlnna handa nunr Ifo NVnu-
trate form, the unfortunate expires broken
hearted"
Salvini assumed the part of the Outlaw, and
his rendition of it was characterized by that
great intensity and realistic force that have
made for him a reputation rot confined to one
continent. Although speaking in Il foreign
tongue, mis- art is so perfect that at times words
seem almost supelfuous. A detailed review of
the performance is not needed, fOrit was beyond
criticism. In such parts Salvini is absolutely
unapprOachable. His superb physical endOw-
ment combined with his great intellectually
and perfect dramatic methods entitle him TO he
considered the greatest living actor, for such he
undoubtedly Is.
The support afforded by the company is sur
passlngly good, for they are all admirably
adapted TO the parts for which they were cast.
Miss Marie Prescott, an actress who has many
times before been admired here, gave a discrim-
mating and thoroughly excellent performance
of Rosslie, and Mr.. Lewis MORRISON, as the bene-
factor, Palmiari, was dignifed and forcible.
Miss Belgrade surprised those who have seen
her only in a society drama by an unusually
clever presentation of the part OF the yOund girl
Emma, and Miss Buchanan, Mr.. Fitzpatrick and
Mr.. COwper gave credltable assumption. A t the
matinee this afternoon, Miss Prescott. Mr.. Nor
rison and the company will present THE New
Magdalen" and tonight Salvini will appear as
"Otnello," which will conclude the engagement.
NOTES.
Professor Carl Barus is training the new local
opera company here.
A. C. Gunter's new play "a Dime Novel," is a
dire failure In New York.
Smiley" Walker is In town IN advance of
Roland Reed, who Is at the Grand the week OF
the 10Th.
Terre Haute is a great "one-night stand" for
good attractions. Modjeska and Langtry each
played to about 81 400 in single erformances
The saal family, German musicians of wide
reputation, win give a military concert at Lyra
Hall tonight and tomorrow afternoon, and at
the Park Tbeater tomorrow night.
Robson & Crane will be at English's the last
two nights of next week, in "Our Bachelors"
and ''Sharps and Flats" in both of which Miss
Henry and MI. Lipman, of this city, have good
parts.
The German Opera Company has gone to
pieces at Cincinnati, and nearly all the profess
SIGNALS IN the city united in a benefit for the
members of the stranded organization yesterday
afternoon.
The principal attraction at the Zoo next week
will he the Cotton family, Ben, Nellie and Little
Idalene in their well-kn0wn drama "True Devo-
tion," which has met with success here before.
The list or speciality people includes Flynn and
EustOh, the Murrays, Charles l.. Banks, Madge
Nickles and the Dnrlesque three, Harry Ccveni,
Phil Peters and Ada Page.
"The Black Venus" which will be presented
at English's the first four nights of next week, is
Kiralfy's new spectacular piece, and IN its pre-
sentation a number of new and startling effects
are introduced, particularly a large steamboat
in motion, wild animals in the forests, etc. The
company is large and competent, the scenery
very fine, and there Is Il grand ballet.
The engagement of Gus Williams Mt the Grand
all next week in zone of the Finest" will he
for the benefit OF the police force, and hundreds
of tickets have already been sOld. This is
the best play in which Mr.. Williams has ever
appeared, and iJ has met with much success all
over the country, His manager, Mr.. John
Rickaby, is in town arranging for the engage
nent which promises TO be very profitable.
A Boston special says: at is officially an
nOunced to-day, what has been for some time
gossiped, that william Warren, the veteran
comedian. will retire from the stage at the close
of the present season. When Mr.. Warren's
grand testimonial was planned by citizens In his
honor. A fine portrait of him was painted, and
two special performances were given at the
Museum, the sale OF seats being by auction, and
very large receipts being the result. The gem
eral superstition was that Mr.. Warren would end
his professional day at the theater where he has
been thirty years the prime attraction, but 1t is
now known that the ungenerOns action OF the
manager Of the Museum, Mr.. r. NJ. Field, in
taking the major portion of the receipts of the
benefit performances, has caused the veteran
actor to quit the ~tIeater. The fact ia generally
secret, but when " becomes pubic the mdign&