The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-03-22
AMUSEMENT
ENGLISH Oh

ENGLISH OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. POTTER
Mrs. James Brown Potter. the much talked-of
society star, made her frat appearance in In
dianapolis last night. attempting the role of
Juliet That the large audience witnessing the
performance was not particularly disappointed
was due rather to the fact that they had ex-
pccted little than that the lady's impersonation
of the love sick daughter of the house of Gauntlet
exceeded what had been looked for. Mrs. Pot
not totally devoid of dramatic instinct, and,
this said. the most that be said in extenu-
alton of her work is told She is neither grace
rul nor artistic in action, has stage presence
not at all progressing. and is lamentably lack
ing in finish. Contrary to general ex-
pectaton, she is not even a good
reader, and, in short, fails in every
essential respect to justify her presumption in
assuming roles of the character chosen for last
nights entertainments 1t must be evident to
all that the ladys ambition has been misdireet-
ed, and that she has attempted entirely 600
much in endeavorng in one stride to cover the
almost unreasonable distance between the rank
of the society amateur and that of the most
highly finished professional It is due to
her that this be said. for. with the severe
schooling necessary for the DEVELOPMENT of
artistes of the grade in which she has sought to
place herself, she may succeed in measure,
but it Is none the less true that many more de-
serving and less pretentious actresses have
found oblivion in much less time than she has
been before the public. Even compared with
Mrs. Langtry, whose chief stock in trade Is her
universally acknowledged beauty. she must be
accounted inferior. In characters less exacting
than thai of Juliat it 10 doubtful If she would
be comparatively more successful. for her anOi-
ton would almost certainly prevent her failing
to assert herself even IN minor roles. Her
movements are not even graceful. Her Juliet
may be said to possess the merit of originality.
it is totally unlike that of any other artist of
celebrity who has yet essayed IL, at least, far
as the acquaintance of the local public goes. AS
beauty she cannot aspire to favorable COMPARE
with her contemporary who has appeared to
the public the strength of that attraction. al
though, be il said, that she has . good
face and figure. But. all else asides taking
genuine histrionc ability and artistic excel
lence the prerequisites for successful star,
Mrs. Potter is conspicuously lacking The pub
lie will patronize her chiefly for the reason that
it is generally regarded the thing to do, and.
curiosity once gratifed. nothing that the lady
has done. or gives evidence of being qualified TO
do, will insure for her permanent fixture IN the
dramatic ornament. Mr.. Kyrle Belew. who i per
haps scarcely less well known than Mrs. Potter. is
ton of the ardent Romeo was deserving of COM
mendation. Mr.. Hart Conway made an excel
lent Mercutio, and the other members of the
company are equal to the requirements
NOTES.
ssOnly a Farmers Daughter is drawing large
audiences at the Museum and will be seen the
rest of the week In the Eden Musee Jo-Jo
and the other new attractions viii DE seen every
afternoon and evening. Hundreds of people are
seeing them every day.
John A. Mackay, a versatile and original CO.
med1an, who is well liked here, will appear at
the Grand tonight and during the rest of the
week in the nav Pop" musical comedy that
Is full of popular musical selections fun of all
kinds and other entertaining features. His
| com pany Is spoken of as an unusually clever
one for this kind of work The advance sale is
now in progress.