The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-04-28
TWO MASTERS OF THEIR ART
Booth and Barrett in Their Great POr-
trayals of Shakspearian Characters.
Dramatic Event that Filledthe 0pera-House
with Brilliant Audience-Fhe Audi
ence, Actors and Social Features.

The appearance of Booth and Barrett together
upon the stage was an event OF importance 20
Indianapolis theater-eoers, and ss early as
o'clock the more impatient ones began to make
their way toward the opera-ho11se. Flying
clonds OF dust did not restrain thsm, the OPP
pressive heat was not an obstacle. and the dark
ness of the streets, in that hour before the
moon rose, and the gas ought so have been
lighted. but was not, failed to inn
pede their footsteps. Long before the
time for the curtain TO rise the
house was comfortably filed, and yet they came;
the lobby was crowded with tickes-holders and
those anxious to be ticket-hoders, the pressure
becoming SO great at times that the gatekseper
eazed wildly about as if for way OF escape.
All gained admission at last, and when they did
it was, speaking from a managerial and conf
mereial standpoint, beautiful audience. In an
artistic sense ii was also attractive The lower
noor was filed. the family circle was crowded, and
familiar faces of well-known citizens looked
beamingly down from the upper gallery. lndi-
yidually the audience, being Indianapolis
audience. was. Of course, beautiful Al the
young ladies wore their delayed Easter bonnets,
and if there is more delightful ccm bination of
nature and art than sweet sixteen in q spring
hat It Is unknown to newspaper reporters. Ine
mammas may may nos have been bedecked IN
new millinery-it did not mattsr-but they
huttered their fans and smiled. anG 50 added to
the gala features of the occasion.
1t Is conventional thing TO say, when such
crowd gathers. that it represents the intellect
and culture of the city. Last evening, there
fore, may have been said to indicate the love of
the community for the legitimate Drama. and in
particular its appreciation OF Shakspeares
plays. II is, perhaps not well TO be curious as
10 The exact number of schoolgirls and their
cailow escorts who were there because they
loved their Shakespeare, and how many for
reasons not strictly connected with literary
studies, but the truth remains that it was genius
that drew them all TO the place Some were
animated. no doubt, by no higher motive than
the fact that it is the fashion 60 patronize the
legitimate; but the fashion is founded the
never failing ability of the oft rehearsed plays
TO satisfy the natural human taste for dramatic
representation. When Shakpearian drama is
interpreted by such consummate artists as the
two who took the leading parts last night the
attraction becomes irresistible.
It is safe to say that only the most cerping
critic could have found serious fault with
OthelloH as 1t was presented last night. Flaws
there may have been in some minor particulars,
but, az whole, the play satisfied thel most ex-
acting demands. Roderigo might have had m ore
FIRE. Emilia more animation, even Desdemon as
giriish sweetness might have had more life in
fused into it but the perfection of the rest
covered such deficiencies.
If the spectators had bad an ideal Iaeo differ
ing from the one before them. the ideal was do
etroyed and Booths took its place. As for
had ever pictured q Moor who filed all the
demands. Nothing more artlstic than Mr.. Bar
rebSS makeup was ever seen on the stage. he
was the typical Moor. half civilized and half
barbarous. His costumes were worth studying
as specimens of Oriental splendor and did divide
attention with his reeitations. Iago won favor
without such aida. The sympathies OF the
average theater-goe are. of course. with Othel-
10. and it liz with difficulty that they divorce
themselves from their emotions to appreciate
the msrits of the villaiD OF the place. but last
night the unapproachable skill of the great
actor in this part warm and unrestrained
applause. Doubtless Mr.. Booth did not realize
the earnestnens of feeling which this demon
stration from a people usually cold and unrs-
sponsive showed, but it was really triumph in
its way.
Altogether the performance was "a satisfactory
one, and will be remembered by many present
as notable event OF a lifetime.