The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-04-30
TIE AMUSEMENT REVIEW.
GRAND OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES NORRIS.


tive people of this and adjoining cities, greeted
Miss Clara Morris upon her return appearance at
the Grand Opera-house Last night. Every seat
in the lower part of the house was taken, while
many were content to remain standing, and the
galleries were both fully occupied. The fiat
tering reception accorded Miss Morris
upon the occasion of her former ap-
pearanee here justified the manage
ment and if such a possibility could be con-
sidered, her performance last night was
even greater success than the preceding one
''fhe New Magdalen." drama of strongiy-sus
tanned interest from beginning to end, was pre-
sented in manner that aroused much enthnsi
asm- so far as the stars work was concerned,
while the support averaged well, and was excel
lent in individual instances. The story is ia
miliar to all readers of fiction, and the interest
of the original has been strengthened rath
er than decreased in the decentralization.
The moral of the play is strong
ly suggestive, and the sufferings and sorrows
of the unfortunate woman. which are SO wildly
represented, are calculated to arouse and retain,
to striking degree, the sympathies of an audi
ence. The chief charm of Miss Morris's acting
is its naturalness. and her Mercy Merrick does
not carry with it the almost unavoidable i'm
preston Of part being acted, but of the per
son, per Sc, so perfect is the characterization.
There is no straining of voice, or violence of
while every word uttered, every
action adds to the effectiveness
of the ensemble. 1t is needless to make specific
mention of the different features of the i'm
pers0nation, further than to say that Miss Nor
ris was particularly strong in the first act, in
which she recalled the past life of the New
Magdalen,N and especially so III the last act, in
which the story was told again. and that, too,
nACfA
logue is not found in recent plays, and no
but great artist could deliver it
IN such manner as to hold
the rapt attention of an audience as Miss Morris
did last night In such roles she is a great act
ress-greater, perhaps than we shall soon see
again. Mr.. GustavUs Levicks Julian Gray was
dgnltied and manly, but Miss Eldridges Grace
Rosberry was not so satisfactory, being strained
and affected. Mr.. cambridge and Miss Farrer
appeared to advantage, while the remainder of
the cast was but fairly good. The play
was put on the stage in good
style, and Miss Morriss costuming was rich and
attractive. Tonight the engagement will con.
clude with Camille which is. regarded by emf
nent critics as being her greatest part. The
large attendance of last night will doubtless be
repeated.
Illbred people who came late at the Grand
last night, were a source of much annoyance to
those who We're in their seats when the curt n
went up on the first act
Mr.. George Falren, Of the Morris company
was one of the prominent members of the Fur
bsh Fifth avenue Company, which played such
successful engagements in Divorce "Pique7
and Led Astray, ten years ago.
Haverly's Minstrels will give a single perform
ance at English's tomorrow night. Billy Rich
ardsOn and Carroll johnson are the leading
members of the organization and the burlesque
Princess of Madagascar the principal attrae-
ton
The advance sale for "Stranglers of Paris,
which is to be presented at the Grand to morrow
night and during the remainder of the week is
already large. 1t is very strong emotional
drama and the scenic appointments are unusd-
ally rich and elaborate
The guarantors of the late Cincinnati dramatic
festival are beginning to complain and make
objection to paying the heavy assessment that
is certain to be made. The principal pointmade
is that the guarantee was given under promise
by the solicitors that Irving and Booth would be
the leading actors.
Theatrical manager in Detroit Times Actors
like to guy among themselves / remember
Mccullough was playing ''CaIiolanus" with Louis
James supporting him, and in one very serious
scene when Mccullough was lying down with
James bending over him he put his foot on
McCulloughis hand and kept pressing down on
it. OF course Mccullough couldn't say anything
James used to be very fond of practical joke
He was playing once in a part, serious one
and had to go up and shake hands with
man. He held in his hand piece of ice and
when they clasped hands he left the ice with the
other man, who had to walk round the stage
holding it with the water trickling down. The
habit went to such lengths that managers had
TO stop it altogether Now the guying is all
done very quietly.
Lawrence Barrett made his first failurein Lon
don i'll the character of Richeheu, in which he
appeared for the first time at the Lyceum Thea
ter. His support wretehed, and tine TRACE
dian himself gave evidence of nervousness and
did not succeed during the whole performance
in warming the somewhat small audience up to
the point of enthusiasm. This was the first time
that Mr.. tthad put himself in comparison
with Mr.. Irving in character which the latter
had frequently impersonated before practically
the same audience, and it is to this fact that the
critics ascFibe his failure. They say that Dir
Barrett's is not at all bad Richelieu, but it is
not Mr.. Irvings Richelieu, and the Irving tradi-
tons are too strong at the LyceUm to admit of
appreciation of an impersonation on lines widely
dissimilar from his. Mr. Barrett accepts the
verdict of the audience with good grace, and is
now considering the advisability Of withdrawing
''Richelieu7 and substituting King Richard III"
until Francesca da Rimini can be got ready.