The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-12-09
AT THE LOCAL THEATERs.
Julia MarIowe Taber VIII BE at the
Grand All Week.

Grand All Week.
One of the best things that can be said
for Julia Marlowe, the very promising ac-
tress, who frequently and unwisely essays
roles beyond her vocal strength, is that she
realizes she is in more danger from her
friends than from her most severe critics.
There is an added interest to Miss Mar
loves visit thiss season from the fact that
she comes as the bride OF Robert Taber,
formerly her leading man." who is also
a promising actor in romance and tragedy.
The honeymoon of this interesting couple,
something into which the public has no
right to inquire, is acknowledged to be at
its zenith. If Ii We're not a Boston adj
mirer of Mrs. Taber is ~spiteful enough to
suggest, Mrs. Taber would bill herself as
plain Julia Marlowe. Society, therefore,
will have an opportunity this year to Guido
all former efforts to rub up against real
live play folks, and Mr.. and Mrs. Taber
may expect any quantity Of fawning adula-
tion- That is seciety's p~rerogative, and is
another thing that does not concern the
public. Mrs. Taber's art in several roles
will be the ~all-important dramatic event Of
the week. 1t will also be highly enjoyable,
barring the fact that this charming per-
formers annual visit has. somehow. always
been coincident with the outbreak of a
nauseating malady in a certain overly self
conscious portion OF the city. That this
is so should not be laid at the door of Mrs.
Taber. Marlowemania is an insidious, but
not at all dangerous, disease. 1t IS not con-
tagious. Only those peculiarly constituted
are singled out for Its victims. With COM
mendably few exceptions critics are ex-
empt. Mrs. Taber is we'll aware of the
danger lowering over Indianapolis, and Is
doing all in her power to forestal a re-
currence of the plague. AS before stated,
she breads q misguided friend, and as a
sort of acknowledgements incubation she
has sent to the Journal critic the follow
ing signed communication regarding ner
personation OF Juliet, which is one of the
most crucial tests of her dramatic pow
ers:
There are some perplexing problems in
the impersonation of Juliet. According to
the conventional, as We'll as the tradition
al, interpretations, the death scene, being
the climax of the tragedy, Is assumed to
be the most trying episode in Juliet's brief
span of life on the stage. Yet IL seems to
me that the girls greatest agony came to
her when, after the pledge Of self in troth
to Romeo, her parents announce their ir-
revocable pledge to the Count Paris. Nor
do 1 accept Coleridge's idea that Juliet is
insane when she finally Stays herself. This.
conception robs the character of physical,
or, as 1 should say, OF moral courage, 1t
is her impulse to live; death comes to her
release from sorrow than as a return to
joy-to Romeo. 1t has been said that / lack
the vocal W requisite for an adequate
woman's voice, as Juliet, a young girl,
doubtless had; and it seems to me that
only once throughout the play does the
part demand lung power, pure and simple
when she fancies the apparition of Ty-
balts ghost. But in the tomb, terrified at
her awakening and Mortified by her dis
covery, this girl in her teens, this bride of
a night. on the verge of the eternal thresh-
3ld. would no more shrek thar she could
declaim. She would soliloquize in whispers;
and so do with malice nrQnpncp laa1
the situation too much.
Yet, when all is said, I am free to admit
that while IL is my ambition, renewed with
each appearance in the part, to play Juliet
In perfect harmony with this conception, a
ruiz realization Of my ideal is still beyond
my strength. When once il is wholly and
permanently within my grasp / shall then.
indeed, deserve TO be called a great actress.
And. meanwhile, 1 am sincerely thankful
pointing out my shortcomings instead Of
serving me with blind adulation.
JULIA MARLOWE TABER."
Inc above Is a ~charmingly modest and
frank statement from Mrs. Taber. If she be
really conscientious in her declaration that
she lacks the grasp of jules necessary to
greatness. Heretofore, Mrs. Tabor has been
denominated unqualifiedly great by a few
whose blind adulation' she takes this oc-
praiseworthy, albeit ungrateful fling, coming
as 1t does on the eve of her temperance i'm
this Of all cities, Mrs. Taber admits a
Juliet requires no great lung power since che
was but a mere girl as conceived by Shak-
in other things and so insensible to dramatic
conception in this, strikes the critic as a
popularity. perhaps. of genius. She is GER
her firm conviction. When Shakespeare
produced Romeo and Juliet" women were
unknown to the stage and boys played the
Feminine roles. Anyone who ever heard a
slxteen-year-old boy yell '.tally-alley-I-Or'
while Logging 1t up an alley In the dead Of
night, would not think tha shakespeare
Iullot WAS DeTSOnat46 nv a waQE-lnnOaH
actor. Then the fact that Juliet is a mere
girl should not be taken too literally. She
that only a woman can hope to personate.
From Henry. Irving down all great actors
hold m,rrot that a t s 81 h line holding the
mean the natural in art. The mirror held
up to nature would catch people and events
oftentimes in such ludicrous positions as 10
entirely destroy effect. The kinetograph has
shown this There is still another consider
alton in regard to juliet that actresses
should not forget. When feminine roles Of
the Juliet type were made with a view to
being acted by boys they had to be made
young SO that a youth with sprouting beard
a nineteenth century ntempor he might
add a few summers to Juliet's YEARS.
~, Mrs s Ta os has selected ses ted a very entertain
with tomorrow night she will play The
School for Scandal" wherein she essays
Ada Rehan. Romeo and juliet viii be
seen Tuesday night, a double bill. Chatter
ton and The Bellies Stratagem" Wednes-
day night; las You Like It." Thursday:
The Love Chase" Friday night and SAT-
urday matinee. the engagement closing with
"Ingomar' Saturday night.
Bessie Bonehfn at Englfsh's.
English's Opera House has a strong card
next Wednesday and Thursday in Bessie
Bonehin and her fine company. She opens
with a popular-priced Wednesday matinee
In -"Playmates-" This Is the happy name
OF one of the funniest comedies so far pre-
sented to the public There Is but one Bes-
sic BonehiIi- She is as original to-day in
her creations as she was when a tot of six
years old. when she made her first appear
ance or the stage in England. She is as
we'll known in Paris as she is in London or
New York. She Is said to think no more OF
the sensation created by her, even IN Abe
presence OF members of the royal families
than she does of walking from the theater
to her hotel. As a descriptive and a char
acfer singer she has boen n ruUo IN No~