The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-01-27
ADJUSTMENTS.

ENGLISHS-RHEAS "JOSEPHINE."
In the two or three years that have
elapsed since Rhea played last in this city
possibly she has not forgotten the natural
frigidIty of q fashionable Indianapolis aud
fence. 1t is something that usually i'm.
presses itself upon actors and &C
tresses, and she was probably prepared
for the comparative silence Of the people
who filled English's last night. 1t is diff
cult to estimate the work of an actress III
were too busy making up their minds to
at all times give the degree of applause
deserved. 1t requires minute or two to
discover whether the point that particu-
larry pleases or displeases one belongs to
the play or Its In interpreter
The play WAS Haven's historical drama,
Josephine. Empress of the French" The
historlal play Is like the historical novel;
Is should be written several centuries after
the events 1T deals with. Otherwise it must
be moro or less untrue to be interesting or
more or less dreary to be true. AS the story
OfNapOleOn and Josephine Is too well known
to be tempered with, the author has had
much regard for historical accuracy, and
the result is a play of six acts. requiring all
OF three hours In performance, which takes
the leading man from the stage at the end
of the third act. 1t takes q bold play
WIRub W 8ttcupt ouCu d WOIhs oven
though it centers about the story of
woman's heroic, undyinR devotion.
Rhea is an actress who. from her first
tour OF America to the present, has divided
the theater-going public into two factions.
those who think she Is OveTrated. and the
larger number who carry their admiration
almost TO the point of personal devotion.
She has the disadvantage of ell the French
people in never beng able to master a per-
feet pronunciation of English; but, on
the other hand, she has the ADVANTAGE of
queenly presence. the beauty that
Greek sculptors immort8liZed, and voice
as sweet and rich as 1t is powerful. She is
peculiarly fitted to give the world heroic
conception of the character Of Josephine.
She makes her q woman who rises natur-
ally to q sacrifice of self-effacement
that Is noble almost beyond the i'm
agInatlOn of those of commOner mold. To
her NapoleOn's destiny and the glory of
France are one. and they are her religion.
The sublime egOtism OF Bonaparte is to her
heroic patriotism. 10 her the ceremony of
divorce is q sort of religious function in
which, for his ACKNOWLEDGMENT. with the
light of q divine herOism shining In her
face, she freely gives up what Is dearer
to her than life. In the midnight farewell,
even the discovery that he already
seeks her dearest enemy to take
her place forever, unnerves her but mo-
ment. And in that moment jealousy. con-
tempt and forgIving love fight magnifi-
cent battle in Rhea's face. She rises to the
same height of nobility in displaying o
devotion that glorIes in the birth of Napo.
Icons heir. in understanding woman's
cruel taunts and in cursing the falthless
successor to her throne. not because she
was her successor. but because she was
feithless TO Napoleon.
Hart. Though ne is tall for Napoleon,
he is an actor of great ability. with q pres
epce that commands attention. Miss Una
Abelrs work as Pauline Bonaparte is an
.o.&. - -
that the play does not give her more OF.
portunity. The play Will be repeated to-
night Tomorrow matinee and evening
Camille" will beiglven.
NOTES.
Katie Emmett comes to English's the first
part OF next week In a scenic production of
her new play. Killarney"
Miss Annie Eva Fay. o noted spiritual
lstio medium who has frequently appeared
here. will give an illustrated lecture on
spiritualism at the Grand on Sunday night,
at which some remarkable things are prom
ised.
George Thatcher's Tuxedo" an enter
tanning combination of minstrelsy and
farce-comedy.swillb be seen at the Grand to-
night and tomorrow matinee and evening.
The piece was we'll liked when seen here
last season, and since then it has been re-
written, Mr. Thatcher now playing the
part of Jackson Park. With him are the
sweet singers who were in his minstrel
company, and a number of young women
who are well-known farce. comedy per.
formers. In addition to Mr. Thatcher,
Hughey Dougherty. John A. Coleman, L.
J. Jose, Raymon Moore, II. w. Frillman
Thomas Lewis. Jay Quigley. George w
Lewis. and the Misses Alice Evans, Lolo
Yberri, Grace Hamilton. Blanche Hayden,
Laura Armstrong and Effie johnson are In
the cast and provide class of entertain
ment that has made Tuxedo" one of the
popular successes now travelling.