The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-11-11
THE LATEST DRAMAS
CORA POTTER TRIED "CHARLOTTE
CORDAYv IN CHICAGO.
And Stuart Robson VIII Give indiana
apolis n Surprise This Wees<-Lo-
cal Play Bills Coming. &

oShSatiOu III Tie QIdildliC WOfAN. Ills TINE
she has stepped from realism in the ro-
mantle drama to realism in tragedy. Her
new play, Charlotte Corday,'' was pro-
duced in Chicago last week. 1t is the story
of the assassination of that monster of the
French revolution, Jean Paul Marat, whom
the peasant girl, Charlotte Corday, stabbed
while he was in his bath. Had Marat lived
in these fin de steele days he would have
been styled the King of Anarchists. Shortly
before the French revolution he abandoned
the practice of medicine and dived into jour-
nalism. He published LAmi Du People,
an incendiary print that advocated the mas
sacre OF the aristocrats some time before
September, 1892 After his election TO the
convention of the Commune his murderous
policy and thirst for blood soon made his
name the most dreaded in France. His
methods were exactly what the Anarchists
OF to-day advocate in France. He enforced
his will by mob law. He was prosecuted but
acquitted, and his murder the following
July, in 1893, was the inevitable result of
the in-advised violence which he had ad-
vocated. Charlotte Corday was inflamed
with a thirst for Jacobite blood. Her
dogged persistence in completing her re-
venge was merely an incident in the blood
curdling Reign of Terror that will forever
Dlotch the pages of French history. The
tragic beauty SO marked in the face of Mrs.
Potter assisted by her clever intellect. well
fits her for interpreting the rugged role of
Charlotte Corday, while the genius of Kyrle
Beilew can make such a character of Marat
as to leave no remorse for his swinish endA
writes:
1.-THE making a saint and heroine of the
INSPIRED Corday is a daring thing to do
these days of anarchy and lawless COM
munism; Wien popular approval crowds
II ABOUT the theme of p1niral and la h0r with
the plainly spoken threats of the laborer
brought into appealing lights. 1t is a brave
strikes and mobs to justify his removal
and condemn his satanic vanity and cow
eiassed among the dramas Written D to- pluck Cs
the needless and simple people, for the peo-
PIE Will be shocked and warned and
or the Commune. In this play Corday herself
is adroitly kept aloof from the violent scene
of the finest blood of France, the cruel bonn.
blst of Marat and Robespierre, stray pangs
OF agony and whispered rebellion that incite
her TO the insane rescue of the butchered
unfortunates. The quiet home life of Char
lotte Corday is, dwelt upon prettily, her
awakening 10 the wrongs of France and
the picturesque lighting of the slay-torch
In her hurried soul by the citation Of the
story of Judith and Holofernes. The lines
and uncut.
1T is a drama gemmed with magnificent
opportunities and an absolutely faithful
chronological devotion. L. c. Montesquis-
suon, who, in spite of his prodigious title,
Is unknown over here. wrote the play, or
rather compiled IL, and Mr.. Bellew, Mrs.
| Potter, a critic or so and Sardou assisted
In way of advice, translation and dramatic
construction, SO that the work is a house
that has many mansions. 1t is, above all.
a work Of art, in which there shows a con-
sultation of artists. Each scene is fraught
with SOM especial interest which rivets
attention., and as Marat Mr.. Bellew gives
as fine a piece of modern school melodra-
matte acting as has been given since Quilp
and Fagin attracted the talent of scholarly
tragedlans. Mrs. Potter is eerie, intense
and very beautiful as Corday. In some of
kindest critics sSsI She I is sweet Seeis tender, f}er rper
ly patriotic in a breath. and recifesy the
electric prayers and oaths of history with
a wonderful PARKWAY expression which
makes Corday a phan.om Joan dare. 1t is
by all odds the most ambitious and sue
cessrul piece or acting Mrs. Potter has ever
done. She is a picture of serene and ex-
quislte beauty in the simple frocks OF the
dith scene she is well worth the distin-
guished brush of David.
mir. Bellew portrays Marat without a
tremor in mis- photogenic art. His Marat
is a sin-drenched braggart who deceives
the people he pretends &c succor and fiaunts
his ugly feebleness anu cruelty in the faces
LEWIS makeup is a harveei Of color orr craft
and vicious strength. His every speech and
exit brought admiring rounds of applause
and his death in the bath was hugely hid
eous and startling. A fine touch. or rather
splash, of melodrama just before the en-
trance of Charlotte offered Mr.. BelleW the
great chance to leap out of his quieter self,
and Msrat's fright at his own rejection
was splendidly acted; Altogether. it was
house sat still after the final tableau to
recall Mrs. Potter and applaud her gener-
ously and sincerely"
There is, no doubt, a rich treat awaiting
indianapolis in the delicate surprise that
Stuart Robson will spring at the Grand Op-
era House tomorrow night. His new and
untried French play by Adrian Barbusse,
called 1.-The Interloper," will be seen here
the first time on any stage, and the ever
welcome comedian thinks SO well Of it that
he expects it to be a brilliant success, and
has already planned to take 1t to New York
later on for a run. Mr.. Robson has abso-
lutely refused to let anything be known
concerning the story of the play. and has
been successful in keeping the public in ut
ter ignorance Of his new production. Last
summer. while in Paris, Madame Rhea, the
well-known actress, was visited by Adrian
Barbusse, the clever French dramatist, who
informed her that he had written a comedy
the principal character of which he thought
would suit Stuart Robson's quaint manner
ana peculiar style to perfection. He had
seen sthe American actor when in London
some seasons ago, and, knowing that Nine.
Rhea was we'll acquainted with Mr.. Rob
son, desired TO read the comedy to her.
j Nine. Rhea heard the play, was charmed
with it, and Immediately wrote to Mr.. Rob-
son on the subject, receiving a reply re-
Questing her to bring the play to this coun-
try with her. On her arrival in New York
Nine. Rhea read the comedy to Mr.. Robson,
and after the first reading ne was infatu-
ated with the part intended for him. He
bought the play at once and put it into i'm
mediate rehearsal. The full name of the
comedy is THE Interloper, or the Feet of
Venus" Mr.. Robson will be seen as Lucian
Briscard. an amateur artist, a part that, it
is thought. will suit his quaint manner and
peculiar style to perfection The Inter-
loper' will be repeated at the Wednesday
matinee. Tuesday evening Mr.. Robson will
be seen rs Tony Lur1pkin in she Stops TO
Conquer" and on Wednesday evening as
BERTHE the lamb in 1.-The Henrietta" All
three productions are TO be admirably
staged.
"A Trip to Chinatown" Thursday.
A glass of sparkling. fruity champagne
can scarcely be more invigorating than an
evening spent in Witnessing an interpreta-
ton of Charles Hoyt's farce-comedy, "A
Trip TO Chinatown" which will be seen at
the Grand the last half of the week. "The
musical trife," as the author modestly pro-
claims his play, has had a run of CSC per-
formances in the city of New York at
Hoyt's Madison-square Theater. This ex-
GELS the longest run known to any previous
49, X@.H hno -4~<