The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-30
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ADJUSTMENTS.
English's-Ada Rehan I'm "The Last
WOrd.v

Eng1ish's-Ada Ia In "The Last
Word"
Ada Rehan faced her first Indianapolis
audience at English's last night, but there
was no installing the fact mat a very
ample proportion of the same had either
seen and admired her before. or else, as
the Secretary and his son, Harry Ruther-
bell. in the play. they could not with
stand her magnetism. The apprecia-
ton evfnced in 50 generous manner had,
as she star herself, a character OF its own
It was thoroughly refreshing to one &C
crstomed TO the cheap outburst which
managers. intent on booming some partic-
ular star, know so well now to engineer
by discreetly stacking the rear of the house
with men as carefully instructed in their
parts as are the performers behind the
footlights. There was a graceful recogni-
ton when she first appeared in her pearl
laden costume, but even this seemed to be
not OF the usual, perfunctory sort which
habitually greets any w~ell-advertised stel-
lar being. 1t carried a hearty glad-to-see-
you spirit that meant good will and encour-
agement to the artist. After that her
prettily executed climaxes, few as the
play may admit, showed that the inspi-
ration was from the professional side of
the footkghts and the applause came with
a natural and irresistible sponteneity.
"The Last Word" is not a. great play,
but 1t has one great part, or rather a part
that Ada Rehan is capable of making
great. A few years g when a wave OF
Russian cult in art and literature swept
the United States, when every woman be-
feved her position In society demanded
that tea be made from a s~anrovar; when
Tot to Ave read ait least Tourgeneff and
Tolstoi and been familiar with verest-
chagin's art was to be put down as an
idle-brained butterfly, the character Of
Baroness Vera, as Ada Rehan person
ates 1T, would have drawn the public to her
IN a perfect ovation. Her cheerily as
sumed Russian dialect would have created
nothing short OF a furore.
With Miss Rehan's artfully stumbling
dialect the part of Baroness Vera becomes
a choice bit of comedy character work. In
the hands of a less gifted actor it might
easily be made simply a big laundering.
ridiculous personation, but Ada Rehan has
reduced every gesture, every glance or the
eye and toss Of the head to a science, and
the part Is a worthy addition TO her already
numerous repertoire: There Is only one
thing OF her astonishing dramatic power.
a Inere mixing, be it said. as will be seen
Shakspeare's shrew. At the close Of the
second act Vera fairly plays with the OBJ
stinats son of the secretary, who, as his
herself and family by proclaiming her
love for a young man not accept
s ssie fed to 70 the her coua stsrn for p pr : s sns
her brother rushes to the Countess because
ne cannot help himself. 1t is then Ada
smiling. polished comedienne. Her Russian
blood boils and she thanks her Russian god
that she was born a Russian with all the
queens IL over everything. Her support
dwindles into comparative insignifcance
The animal fury displayed as she strides up
Young Rutherbell stands in very awe of the
the coid sh istnpef w hi nI that irG master ~ drae
matte critic. Nym Crinkle.. comedies, is his
best evidence experienced when he wit
ing. titilste the posterior epidermis
Of those In the audience;
and raises again and again while the unre-
strained demonstration continues.
A the close of the third act, comes the
wrought-up pathos and affords another view
OF the versatile powers OF the acknowledged
at her disposal, by a heroic outburst of
woman strength She now plays a far more
duty-bound father, out of whose home she
has been driven. by that subtlest power
Of woman. tenderness and sympathy: Inc
IluSS are lOuCutu mere WIFI the
most delicate ~finesse. with all the deftly
wins the old man because it is 50 written
In the prompt book; his back
Is toward her throughout all her
the auditors because they have witnessed
all the fine expressions of face and gesture.
have seen her kneel as she recited the
baby prayer of a dying child, enough of it.
self TO move to tears the most cynical of
men. and when the drop shut out the
figures In this scene Miss Rehan was called
before the curtain. These two scenes alone
are sufficient 10 portray Ada Rehan's art.
in IT Last Word is mere frolic for this
wonderful woman. Associated with Miss
Rehan as her support last night was the
following cast:
The Secretary.............Mr. George Clarke
Harry Rutherbell. his SON: Mr.. John Craig
........"......Mr Charles Wheatleigh
Mr.. Alexander Airey. an unconsidered
Boris Basoieff. under SUSPICION MIi James Lewis
Sidney Herbert
Baron Stuyve, the
....-...--.....Mr. Gerald Maxwell
Jordan an old family seryant--.-...
Paul. page to the Baroness.............. :
Miss Sophie HOFFMAN
Faith Rutherbell, the Secretary's
Miss Sybil Carlisle
Wlnny. the Professors daughter. Miss Cecil
Mdlle. Ida. of the Baronness's house
Miss May Sylyie
Molly. in the Secretary's household.
Miss Florence ConnoI
Notes About Days People.
Henry Dixey. OF Adonis fame, and who
plays Malvolio in Twelfth Night" occu-
pied a seat in the rear of the house at En-.
-