The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-09-05
THE PLAY OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN.
After Rankin Suggested the Idea He and Cor.
don Lost No Time in Writing the Drama.

The idea of play having Abraham Lin
coin as a central figure is one of the hap
piest that ever occurred to Mckee Rankin.
Archibald Gordon. who collaborated with
Rankin In the piece, thinks Rankin has
peculiar faculty for conceivlng just
such ideas suddenly" Mr. Gordon
said to Journal reporter last night,
land carrying them out with almost equal
rspidity. One day last May he came TO me
full of enthusiasm over the notion of con-
structing a play dealing with the scenes
and incidents attending the conduct of the
Nations affairs By President Lincoln and
his assassination by John Wilkes Booth.
at once recognized the value of the sug-
gestion, and when be proposed that we go
right to work / caught much of his en-
thusiasm. and we lost no time doing so.
This was in New York, and We went to
q hotel stipulating with the proprietor
that under no circumstances were we 10 be
disturbed during our stay there. we
locked ourselves IN room and set to work,
and in just eight days had the play COM
pleted. venture to say that two drama
fists never worked harder in sim
ilar> space of time. We were at 1t
from early morning until late at
night, our only recreation In that period be-
square. Rankin attended to the construc-
ton of the piece, while the dialogue | am
responsible for, and in nine days from the
time he came to me with the idea. the
typewriter copy of the play was complete
and in the hands of James Dickson. So
carefully did we do the work that In
spite of the almost unprecedented rapidity
which marked it, the play did not require
alteration IN a single line. During the
eight days in which we were engaged in the
work we did not look at newspaper, and.
in fact, lost all idea of the days of the week.
Never were two men more interested or en-
thusiastic over piece of work.
The New York papers," continued Mr..
Gordon, ARE in a fog concerning the play.
for we would make nothing public there as
to its character. Accordingly. the most
ridiculous statements have been made about
it. One paper said it consisted merely OF a
lot of tableaux; another that it was sort
of comedy, with the assassination scene as
the sensational feature, and still another
that Wilkes Booth was the hero of the play.
know there has been much adverse COM
ment as to the taste OF putting ii;
premature. and will be found, when the
play ia produced. to be unwarranted. There
isn't q line In the character OF the President
that does not tend to show some admirable
attribute possessed by Abraham Lincoln.
1t cannot be adversely criticised on that
score, and i am confident its strength
as q dramatic production will
impress itself upon the public
at once. We had several offers from man
ayers anxious to produce it, but not one of
them seemed to catch the spirit of enthusi-
asm which had communicated itself to me
from Rankin TO the degree shown by Mr..
Dickson. He had no sooner finished read
ing 1t than he was as enthusiastic as either
of us, aud we signed a contract inside of an
hour after he had laid down the type
written copy of the play. From that mo-
ment to this he has been indefatigsble i'll
his efforts to make the production a sue
thing else for the time being, and given
himself over, heart and soul. to til j,
drama of ours. All the little de-
tails he has attended to personally,
and conducted every, rehearsal. In this
and this play has tested his ability to no
small extent. Indianapolis never contrib
uted to the profession a harder. more intel
ligent or more successful worker than
James Dickson, and if the play meets with
the success anticipate much of II will be
due to his untiring efforts
Mr. Gordon arrived last evening with
Mr. Dickson and the company that is to
produce the play at the Graud next week.
Rehearsals which have been in progress in
New york for some time were resumed last
night and tomorrow night dress re-
hearsal will be given. Elmer Granden,
who is to play the leading part is not only
a careful and accomplished actor. but re-
sembles Mr.. Lincoln In his physical APP
pearance Mrs. Rachel Macauley Will
play the character of Mrs. Lincoln.
The inaugural scene is expected to
be one of great elaboration and beauty.
Much local interest is felt in the production
of this play on account OF its historical
aspects. and theatrical people generally
throughout the country are expressing
much curiosity as to it.
NOTES.
The Nelson Speciality Company will close
at the Park tonight. Next week the at
traction will be w. j. Fleming. in the new
Western melodrama Custer" which de-
picts exciting events in the life of the great
Indian fighter.
There will be two performances of "a
Pair of Jacks" at English's to-day, the mat
| inee. at popular prices, and tonight.