The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-25
THE AMUSEMENT REVIEW.

GRAND oPERA-HoUsE-''F FEDORA"
There can be but one verdict concerning Miss
Fanny Davenport and Fedora, which she pro
duced for the first time in this city, at the
Grand last night, and that is that she has the
strongest and most interesting play that has
been brought out for years, and that her acting
is revelation even to those who had the highest
anticipatiens of the ultimate development of her
undisputed talents and fine schooling. Since
she began her career as star, she has always
been popular actress-always a good actress.
She has played many parts in such way as to
command respect, if not always the enthusiasm
of theater goers and what is more to her credit,
she has done nothing badly. She made an in
Simultaneous hit in Fedora" at its first produc-
ton in New York, and those who did not see the
performance wondered at the seemingly
eXtravagant praise that was lavished
upon her Characterization of the pas
sionate Russian Princess The explanation
was simple enough. She had found part that
was lifted to her above all others; she had mas
tered it completely, and she played it most artist
icaly. It goes almost without saying that Sar
dou is the most effective Of modern dramatists,
and Fedora" is his greatest play. The story
has to do with Nihllism, ''the tragedy Of modern
civilization and brief outline can only give
is the iancee of Russian nobleman, who is as
sassinated, and dies with her by his side. No
personal motive account for the CRIME, and
she at once attributes it to the Nihists, for her
lover the son of the chief of the Cars secret
service, and she resolves to devote herself to the
detection and punishment of the murderer. a
slight circumstance leads her to suspect Loris
Ipanoff, whom she follows to Paris and meets in
society. He becomes her devoted admirer, and
she encourages this passion so as TO eventually
get from him aconfession of his guilt He tells her
finally that he killed the man, and she makes an
appointment for him at her own house, so that
all the circumstances may be learned, and at the
same time arranges for his arrest by the detect
ives. When he comes, however, she learns that
Ipanoff killed her lover in defense of his own
honor and not for political reasons, and she feels
that she herself loves the man whom she has so
mercilessly wronged and prosecuted. But the
knowledge comes too late, and when they are
just entering upon a new life of happiness, he
learns that his brother and aged mother have
been killed in Russia as result of letter writ
ten by woman from Paris. Fedora is that
woman, for she had given the information to the
police before she learned the real truth Ipanof's
grief in turn, changes into a mad desire for ven
geance and the end comes with the death of the
woman by poison, Self7admlniStered, after she
had been forgiven by her lover. The play
is one of very great interest remarkably well
sustained and ingeniously heightened through
four acts The situations are marvelously
strong, particularly in the eliminating scenes
some. Miss Davenport's Fedora is almost a
phenomenal creation, marked by wonderful
originality of conception and force of expression.
She has risen far above all previous efforts and
her acting has the artistic excellence of genuine
greatness Mr. Mantell's Ipanoff was a fitting
counterpart to the principal impersonaton,
for he IS one of the most natural
and forcible actors seen here for years.
To an attractive personal appearance and
easy, graceful manners he adds a natural man
illness and dramatic methods of the most APP
proved kind. He and Miss Davenport were
honored with call at the end of each act, In
fact, the audience was decidedly the most en-
thusiastic of the season The company other
efforts Of Miss Ada Monk Mr. Mcdowell and
Mr. JepsOn deserving especial mention The
play was put on the stage in good style the first
set which is new, being particularly good.
Miss Davenports costumes were rich and bril-
liant
Fedora" will be repeated tonight, tomorrow
afternoon and to morrow night, and theater