The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-24
ADJUSTMENTS.
Grand-"DipIOmacy."

A select audience greeted the Coghlans at
the Grand last night. 1t was the first OPP
portunity Indianapolis has had to see Sar-
dou's Diplomacy" and it is only fair to
say that the play has not been too highly
praised. The piece is finished with all the
perfection for which Sardou is famous,
while under the mastery direction of
Charles Coghlan the play Is staged with an
equal degree of perfection. The company is
heavy and finished with each one strong in
his particular role. Since Miss Coghlan's
last appearance here, nearly ten years ago,
she has developed into one of the most fin
ished Of any woman now on the American
stage However, Sardou was never guilty
of developing one part to the expense of the
rest, and Countess Zicka does not crowd
the rest of the cast into the background.
Miss Coghlan is also one of the best-dressed
actresses on the stage, and her three cos
tunes in Diplomacy would require a
column to accurately describe. Aside from
the many diplomatic intrigues With which
Diplomacy bristles, the play depends for its
dramatic situations on strained relations
of young married couple that arise on
their wedding day. Dora, the daughter of
a designing marquise is welded to
young Captain Beauclerc, of the English
diplomatic service, serving under his broth
er Henry. Count Orloff Russian exile,
friend of Beauclerc and once in love with
Dora, relates how he was betrayed by
photograph given to Dora and Immediately
tant papers have been stolen and sent to the
Russian ambassador in letter written by
his wife The letter Is recovered from
the damning evidence all points to the guilt
of the young wife who is charged with
mol
(Air. Coghlan), believing in the innocence
of his brothers bride, sets to work to track
the spy. He discovers the insioous per-
fume of Lotus bloom among his private pa
pers, which tells him that Countess Zicka,
an adventures in love with his brother, has
been rummaging there. He brings his super
ior talents to work IN the case and wrings
confession from the countess, who makes
her exit in disgrace as the curtain falls
Miss Coghlan, as Countess Zicka, the in
triguing attache of the Russian diplomatic
her adaptability to a part that only a
woman of her ability could sustain. Her
brother, as the dominating genius of the
British diplomatic service, pervades every
act with a polished impersonation that
calls for the highest commentator. The
only room for criticism lies in the gap be-
tween his work and that Of the remainder
of the cast, which, while being well bal
anced, is, of course, not OF his class. In
one of the stronger climaxes OF "Diplo-
macy" Charles Coghlan has barely half
dozen sentences, the action being carried
forward by Mr.. Robert Tabor Julia Mar
loves former support and Mr. John Il.
Sullivan, formerly Miss Coghlan's leading
support. yet Coghlan is recognized as the
presiding and all-important man in the
scene, and the audience appreciated his
work by calling him before the curtain.
Mr.. Sullivan, who is Miss Coghlan's hus-
band, with his work Count Or
loft, does a particularly good piece
OF acting. and was twice inter-
rupted with well-deserved applause.
Mr.. Robert Fischer, as Baron STEM was
likewise well received. In Miss Victory
Bateman, who formerly supported Louis
James and Frederick Warde, Miss Coghan
has one of the best dramatic readers that
has been in this city in months. Her part
of the young wife suspected Of betraying
official secrets OF her newly-wedded hus-
band is handled In way that won for her
the sympathy and applause of the entire
audience, and she was called out at the
close of the third act. Miss Lucy Lewis,
as the widow Fairfax, has little to do be-
sides affecting the way of an English court
lady, full Of secrets, which she does well.
Miss Kate Meek makes an excellent moth
er-in-law. The minor characters are not
burdened with startling situations, but the
parts are all well sustained. Diplomacy
will be repeated tonight and tomorrow
night, with matinee tomorrow afternoon.
Park Theater-..Lfttle Nugget
The annual engagement OF Cawthorne's