The Indianapolis journal., 1893-08-06
PLAYERS BEGIN To MOVE
"Zeb" Will Open the Local Theatrical
Season at the Park T0-M0rrOW.
Gossip About Stage Folk That Have Been
Seen in lndianapolis-No End to
Farce Comedy in Sight.

The regular theatrical season, which be-
gins q little earlier than usual this season
because of the encampment. will be In
sugurated by the opening of the Park to-
morrow. Both the Grand and English's
Will remain closed until the latter part of
the month. and then they, too. will fall
into the line of those who provide enter
tsinment for theater-goers. With each
succeeding year the Park is the first to open
it's door and the last to close them. and
from the beginning to the end of each sea-
son 1t has no open time" The record OF
Its patronage is o most remarkable one,
equaleO, perhaps, by no other the ater In the
country; for since the time II was first
opened as o combination house, now seven
or eight years ago. 1t has not had single
losing week.
An attraction that did the greatest half
weeks business at this house last season
will be seen there this week. the first per-
fOrmance being given at'the matinee
tomorrow. That IS 'Zeb." comedy OF
Hoosler life, written by Sam NJ. Young, in
which there 10 o little of every thing in the
line of sensatiOnalism and fun mt making. Tne
scenes of the play are laid in the natural
gas belt. near Muncie. and while the char
life, they are stiil well defined and anus.
ing. Zeb ID countryman who has n
very lively experience both at home on the
farm and at Chicago. where he goes to see
the worlds fair. but his native shrewdness
and courage pull him through all right.
One of the best characterizations in the
piece is that of Sis Hopkins, W hich is admir-.
ably played by Miss Rose Melville. really
clever Coincidence. from I. Bush, Ksth-
crime NJ. Evans and other capable people
are In the cast, which also includes quar-
tet and specially performers. "Zeb" Ia to
be given with new scenery. one OF which
Is panoramic representation or the
worlds fair. IN which many thousands OF
M
pany opens it's season here.
Miss Cora B. Tennie. a young woman who
Is well remembered here. where she lived
when she was q young girl, has seen good
deal since she went on the stage. five years
ago. Her first appearance was made with
Henry +. Dixey In "Adonis," and sbe re.
she went to London with one of DOyley
Carte's opera com panies and she is now In
Chicago, having just returned rom long
tour of Australia. She is q striking look
ing woman, and has developed into pleas
ing singer. -
Forrest Robinson. the well-known young
leading actor, and Miss Mabel Bert. pop.
ular actress. were quietly married last Fri
day at the West Hotel, in Minneapolis, by
Judge Hooker. of the Supreme Court. TAs
ceremony took place in the Apartments of
George l.. Lord. of the Minnea polls Trib.
une. They were members of ia cob Lifts
summer stock company In st. Paul. and
closed their engagement there Saturday
evening last. Next season Mr.. Robinson
and his wife 20 with Charles FrOhman.
playing the leading roles in THE Lost Par
adise." in which Mr.. Robinson was seen IN
Indianapolis last season. He is In many
respects the best "all around" young actor
on the American stage. a hard student and
a gentleman. Miss Bert has long had an
enviable reputation as versatile and tai
ented woman. -.
People vino Affect an interest in what
they term ''the hi CHER forms of dramatic
art" are wont to allude sc0rnfully to class
of entertainment which has taken q strong
hold on the American people of late years,
and is misnnmed "farce-comedy." These
people hailed the Theater of Arts and Let
ters with delight. says the New York Sun.
because they believed It was going TO offer
them plays of higher order than could be
found in regular places of amusement, and
the assertion was frequently made year
ago that such trash as "A Trip to China
town" and THE City Directory" had seen
it's best days In New York. The fact that
the first-named of these plays still occu-
pIes the stage of the Madison-square The
ater, where it has been played nearly ESQ
times to the great profit OF its author and
manager. makes it worth ones while TO In.
quIre why 1t should enjoy such remark able
prosperity. Aesthetic folk still speak of it
with contempt. and assert that IL is moth
ing but q variety show and that any body
could put together" a piece of it's sort AS
| oleverly as Mr. Hoyt did. Nevertheless. "A
Trip to China Town" is remarkably in
genious bit Of dramatic construction. and
so smoothly are different scenes and special
ties dovetailed int ono another thatlt Is
| easy enough for the layman to believe that
| they are simply thrown together haphaz-
| ard. Every one who has attempted play.
writing knows that it reQres more skill to
construct a good entertainment OF this sort
| than to write q romantic drama In four
| acts. The farce-comedy depends largely
| on its specialtIes. but il is absolutely
| necessary that there should be areason for
| tue introd n ction of each of these. and that
| they should not be lugged in by the
| ears to the disgust of all right-tbink kin q
and level headed spectators. The time has
| gone by when a song can be safely intro
| duced by the line well its sno wing out
side. and while we're waiting for IL to clear
off Miss Kittie Socks will sing Under the
| Daisies'" Nor is 1t permissible 10 bring
| on q company of athletes by the simple re-.
| mark, "Here come the contortionists. l
| guess Pll hide behind the tree and see them
practice their new act" Careful study Of
| Nr. Hoyts pieces reveals no end of inge-
unity on the part of their author. and peo-
| pie who are really interested in the stage
can find good object Lesson at the Madison
| square 1heater.