The Indianapolis journal., 1893-11-17
ADJUSTMENTS.
Observation-Disclosures"

Robert Mantell could hardly fail to ap-
preciate the refined and ample audience
that greeted his presentation of that emo
tional drama, "Monbars," at the Grand last
night. The piece is generally considered
the strongest work of that effective writer
D,9nnery, who gave us 1.-THE Two Orphans"
In 1t Mr.. Mantell has the ever-welcome op-
portunity to display those admirable quail
ties that first made him famous as Fanny
Davenport's leading. support in her great
success, Fedora The piece depends for
its plot mainly on the old story Of a heroic,
but ignobly born young man whose ac-
quired riches makes it possible to save the
depleted fortunes of the titled father of a
beautiful daughter, as well as save the life
of the daughter, who in turn marries him
out of gratitude while her heart belongs to
another However, this can give ade-
quate notion of the possibilities that lie be
fore one of Mr.. MantelPs abilities in such
a play. OF course he learns that his wife
does not love him and the strained rela-
tions continue throughout the piece and
plunge Monbars into series of agoniZing
situations with tragic climaxes so frequent
ly interpolated that the tension on the
sympathies of the indulging audience be-
comes even painful before the denouement
lain, who by a slow poisoning process al
most accomplishes his felonious purpose of
killing his benefactor and sending the in
nocent wife to the gallows before his per-
fdy is discovered and punished in a tragic
duel with the poison-weakened Monbars in
the closing scene. The intense interest is
left TO the tender mercy of uninteresting
subterfuges at no point. Mr.. MantelPs inter-
pretation is thrilling piece of high acting
q eft IN a
from the jaws of mad dog and cauter-
izes his wounded arm with hot iron be-
fatal duel with his foster brother, it is one
succession of highly dramatic scenes that
fairly challenges the greatest admiration.
That Monbars finally triumphs above all
threatened attempts to destroy him and
lives to enjoy the love of a devoted wife
who has learned by terrible ordeal to
is not the least enjoyable feature Miss
Charlotte Behrens, as Diana, the faithful
wife. needs no comm comment for her charming
out her reputation. Mr. Mantell so far out
Stuart as Meran, w. II. Baker, as Doctor
Daniel, Mr.. Weaver, as the consDiring
Laurent nor Mr.. Eberle as the Marquis,
them distinction. The minor parts are
entirely auxiliary and not striking. Mon
bars" will be repeated at Saturdays mat
tragedy, ''Parrhasius,'' and tomorrow
night ''The Face in the Moonlight"
the 90 tha that tSo eoqla M Paint tna dynE gr9an is
has played upon in writing, 'Parrhasius."
the play which Mr.. Maftell win give for
the first time in Indianapolis tonight.
Parrhasius lived in Athens about 800 B. c.
His passions were, one Of them TO paint a
Prometheus chained to the rock that would
make him immortal; the other was love for
his wife, Lydia, who had been his
slave In carrying out his great desire to
paint an immortal Prometheus he con-
.1f to-
1e o dae ho SF1e shod < be h @
might transfer 10 his canvas the agonies
depicted upon the face of the victim. Lycos,
a soldier, who had many years before con-
tracted a grudge against Parrhasius, a cir
cumstance which had been forgotten by
er's scheme to paint from a live Prone
theus managed to sell TO ParrAasius an
athletic old slave whom he held as host.
age of war, and VINO was the father or
Parrhasiuss WIFE Lydia, this fact being
known only to Lycos who using it to
reap a terrible revenge in payment OF his
grudge against Parrhasius. Parrhasius
buys the slave and while he is under the
terrible torture inflicted by ferocious Nu-
bian slaves. transfers TO his canvas the dy-
ing agonies of the helpless old chained
to the rock. Lydia finds out that her father
still lives. but is held hostage by Lycos,
and seeks to free him with the gold her hus-
band has given her for that purpose. She
finds her father has already been sold and
that her husband was the purchaser. Filled
with love for the generous man, who she
thinks has prepared the glad surprise for
her. she returns TO her home. and when she
tells her husband in the most loving terms
of her JOY at the surprise she thinks he
has in store for her. she notes with terror
the horrible change in the demeanor OF
Parrhasius. Glancing at the picture of
Prometheus. she sees the death agony there
depicted OF her father. Grasping the
cloak with which he has covered
the mutilated body of the poor
old slave, her eyes meet the stony stare
of her dead parent. The shock Kills her.
Parrhasius realizing the awful thing he has
done, bends moaning over the dead body OF
his wife when Lycos enters to boast of his
triumph Parrhasius springs upon and
strangles him, then breaks away. maniac.