The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-19
PeffisD yGOOdsC CO
ADJUSTMENTS.
EngIish,s-.In society,",

EngIish's-"In Society,"
AS a brilliant meteor flashes athwart the
sable sky and IL swallowed by the ~insatia-
BILE night. leaving a dull defined sense OF a
pleasure quickly spent, so lives the memory
OF that solitary performance of Mrs. Potter
at English's last night That she should
favor Indianapolis with but a tantalizing
glimpse Of her finished production. after
so long an absence. leaves a pang OF almost
~resentful regret. Like the fugitive scent
from a hidden garden OF roses, she has
aggravated the senses and taken her de-
parture, leaving the lovers OF dramatic art
with an unsatisfied appetite. Mrs. Potter
has certainly fulfilled the desire of her
early admirers. Improvement such as she
has made could not come save from the
closest Of study of the science that lies at
the very foundation Of her chosen profess
sion. That she is possessed with 3 full APP
probation Of what is necessary before a
simply taiented actor can discard the gar
ment or mediocrity and appear In the
robes of an artist Is severely evident from
riags spectre" Which she has rechristened
In Society" The one great evidence OF
her dramatic power poken of SO Halter
was her face; not its beauty alone, but Its
ability to portray feeling. Her deep con-
t1aito pitch Of voice hin in conversation cow sss ma was sb a
charm. IL Is so still. AS Francine In Du-
mas comedy, her mobile countenance del
icately delineates the entire gamut OF dra-
matte expression. 1t is never in repose.
Others stretch the eyes. pout the lips. drop
the jaws or corrusate the forehead with
sions strike one as the deftly finished eff
fects OF a master worker. She has all the
young grace OF Julia Marlowe united to a
physical ability TO make her characterize
tons what the author intended 1t should
be. From the gossamer-like Whistlerian
impression to the warm. direct coloring Of
a RO1QQr6an her face sS ever mined 10
the exact effect of the controlling passion
of the moment. To be less vague, she is
both impressionist and realist.
I'm Society partakes of the attributes
OF a great comedy Ii continually skirts
the domain OF tragedy, just as intense trag-
There is said to be always something hu-
morous in the most tragic situations in life,
and Ii Is just as certain that the most laugh
which wrings the heart. Raskin could not
read the labored witticisms of any one Of
shakespeare fools without sadness. Mrs.
Potter represents a part in her Dumas play
husband to the verge Of despair. She has
resolved to punish n MIN IoT Ton aste IN msn a
other husbands are continually doing II all
Sarah Grand says is true. To carry out
her plan she avows her guilt of the sin
which fails to pollute men and carries her
deception to the last ditch, only being
exposed by hearing it said that another
she fcrgets her little comedy and cries:
Its a lie." Thus the play happily terml-
mates.
Mr.. Bellew, whose merits are known
wherever true English is loved and spoken,
charms with mis- ~personation or the over.
wrought husband. Once there was a great
gap between Mrs. Potter and her leading
support. To-day they are co-artists. The
supporting company, while very competent,
was in the shadow when either Mrs. Pot
ter or Mr.. Bellew were on the stage. In
Society," was cast as follows:
Lucien De Riverolles. Bellew
Stanislas de Grandredon....Hen Chanfrau
Henri de Seymieux. Mitcheu
Marquis de Neutrality-suspicious. Ciarges
Celestin. Maro
"eAu
Baroness Smith. lsoweil
Annette de Riverolles... .Perdita Hudspetn
Francine de Riverolles.. Potter