The Indianapolis sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1880-1904, 1885-01-16
ADJUSTMENTS.

"MAY BLOSSOM AT THE GRAND.
Despite the snow, rain and slush, and the
horrible condition of everything under foot,
the Grand Opera House was well filed Last
night with a representative and critical
audience, to witness the irst performance in
this city of the charming play of May
Blossom" And never did Madison Square
Company justly famous as that theater is for
delightful plays, exquisit.ly given, appear
to better advantage. A prettier play than
May Blossom" or one that takes a stronger
hold on the sympsthies and affections of the
auditor, has not been written of late years
and those which equal it are few in number
OF these few, one is Hearts of Oak" from
the artistic hand OF David Belasco, who is
also the author of ''Aay B.ossom." Indeed,
without knowing that the authorship was
the same, ore might have guessed ii from
internal evidences of similarity in methods
of treatment, alike effective in both. The
plot is intensely interesting, though not in
tricate. ''May Blossom is the daughter of
sn old fishermen in Virginia coast village
during the war. She is beloved by two young
men, one OF whom, Richard Ashcroft" she
accepts, and discovers immediately after
ward that her father has practically pledged
her hand to the other suitor, ''Steve Hsr-
nand." Tbs latter presents his claim, and
May" with simplicity and frsnkness,
happiness and is seemingly resigned, bat
lsoon finds himss exposed to great tempta-
ton. Richard is arrested as q Confed-
Ierste spy, his rival being sole witness OF
his capture. He promises to explain Rich.
srd's" disappearance to his betrothsd,
but instead OF doing so, permits her to think
that be has been drowned. 'Mayn sorrows
for year, and then weds her rejected lover.
When the second act begins they are living
happily together and child has been born.
surprise party is about 20 be given them
by their village friends, to celebrate the Sec
ond anniversary of their wedding. Just
before the festivities Richard returns,
having escaped from prison. From his lips
MAY" learns the story of her husbands
treachery. This is a powerful scene, aud is
followed by one still more powerful, in
which Steve" is confronted by the man and
shame, acknowledges his guilt Richard"
in despair, attempts TO carry off May"
by force, but she repulses him, and
''Steve," rallying from his stupor, de-
tends her. In the third act the surprise
party is held, the participants being in
Ignorance OF the sorrow which they are in
vading, as the husband and wife have
sgreeed, for the time being TO hide their
anguish from their friends. This device
leads to very effective scene, in which the
village preacher invokes bl sss III upon tue
the miserable young couple. who are forced
~ AActi ItNtI6ukiy " lis iech 1uu AtS5 edcu
other. Then the jewellers retire, aud the
husband bids farewell to wife. Child and
home. The last act deals with the reunit-
.1ng, after six yesrs of the separated couple
the reconciliation being effected in c cnsrm-
1ngly simpls and exquisite manner. TINS
brief oa,iine gives bat a slight idea of the
elaborate manner in which the story Is
worked out. The drama is rich with varied
effects, bright with dialogue, and
spsrking IN comedy. All the scenic
ELECTS are admirable. The scene In the
woods, where the children bury their
bird. ard occupy the stage alone for some
ume, 10 one of the most pleasing pieces of
stage business ever seen here Nor was the
company one whit less msritorious thad the
lay, and TO their efforts the success of the
rs pfese nistion vas largely due At the head
OF II ell was Miss Georgia Caviar in the
rltis rcls. Sac came quite unheralded rs a
S'ar. nad yet che Is Que os the rst magui-
tuce. and Is sGre to DE heard from in the
emotional helt st no far distant dav.
ss MAY Biossom she is without n peer
to-day, ana 10 oil kindred parts would be
easily q queen. Her role last night Was that
of q pretty, srtiess, tender aud loving Young
gil and wife, whose fluttering heart is 40
gentle that her very joys seam akin To pain
and tears, almost as natural aud expressive
OF happiness as of SORROW. And she filled
ell the requirements OF the role In way 10
transcend criticism. IL there is another
actress on the sssee who could give MAY
Blossom" "a she did, ii is some one Who has
not been in the West of late years. In short.
In her hands the whole play was replste
with effective passages. and everything she
did bore the stamps of true genius. As IN in
terpreter Of the new order Of dramas, Miss
Cayyan Is a artist who he's no equal on the