The Indianapolis journal., 1895-02-02
PeHiSDryGOOdSCO
ADJUSTMENTS.
Grand-"Friends..

Edwin Milton Royles comedy drama,
Friends is holding up remarkably strong
for its third season The Grand, last night,
was well filed The pathetic story md bril-
liant lines seem to lose none os the interest
aroused when the play was first produced
here. If they do not, indeed. grow in popu-
lar favor. Royles first effort at playwriting
IL happily-conceived and meritorious piece
of work. and it's originality is apparent in
the situations and the nature Of the char
acters. 1t Is to be questioned, however, if,
when he turns his attention to future pro-
ductions, he viii endow them With as much
pathos. The pathetic, even tending toward
the tragic seems as characteristic and nat
ural to new dramatist as 1t is for an am
bilious composer to invariably load his
finales In comic opera with fugal sug-
gestions. For the same reason, am
inadIy into Shakespeare. Although .Friends''
may MAJ. be trihe stacy and nelodramatic,
ordinary talents. Royle has sprinkled the
heavy parts. with comedy that comes as a
max. of situations that are excruciatingly
touching. The character Of John Paden,
the rough. The old man is sterling to the
bone. and laughingly humorous. being well
taken . by Harry Allen. Mr.. Royle himself
jr. His deep. voice. with it's extraordinary
richness, and his handsome physique are
rincing fellow Of young Paden and one
that produces a yeritablep sensation on
nes n the asnsa role 81 Hans otto y0an ana his
,oss,i Sssostsq opium dsPd r..,is,,o Il truly
since last year is that OF. Adolph jackson in
NTH IN the C Character Of Of Harold i Hunting. While
Bergman was unquestionably a better vii
ing role to the audience by conceaiing to a
degree the traditional cloven-hoof elements.
lsucius Henderson, who Is a greater artist
Hs a performer on the piano than a
Thespian, shows evidence of Improvement
In his acting and helps to strengthen the
his piano recital in the second act last night.
His first number was Lfszt's 18th Rhap-
. sodie. SO well known 70 musicians. AS an
encore he played a theme with variations,
Friends is distinctively a play for male
nent role. that OF Marguerite Otto. an opera
singer. which affords the talented Selena
thrill tho audience with the widely sung
and pathetic Good Bye sons, during which
tragic climax Is reached by her fainting
away with u smothered scream she
reaches the refrain The house was un-
usually demonstrative last might with fiat
Friends" which will be given twice to-
day, is cast as follows:
Marguerite Otto. ......... .Selena Fetter Royle
Harold Hunting. -. Adolph Jackson
JOnn Gauen, Jr-...... -. EdWIn Milton ROyle
Adrian karta, a pianist. .Lucius Henderson
Jenny Merryweather...-... Gretchen Lyons
MISS Woife... Estha Williams
MISS hartman-..- Zoe Ifalbert
Henry. Observation-Disclosures NJ Kelly
Notes OF the stage.
Reginald DeKoven, of the New York
World. has uttered a philippe against the
womens big hats in the theaters. He is
very far from being the first to preach this
kind of crusade.
There will be matinee and evening per-
formances of "The Black Crook at En-
glish's, at popular prices, the engagement
closing with to-night's performance. The
audiences have been large and enthusiastic
Following George w. Monroe at the Park
Monday comes James II. Waliick, in ..The
Bandit King favorite sensational drama
here. Mr.. Monroe closes his engagement
with two performances to-day of my
Aunt Bridget" which has done a deserved
ly large business.
At English's the first half of next week
Iiallen and Hart revive their former sue
cess Later On 1t is anniunced that this
Will be their last professional tour together
Hallen and Hart have never depended en-
tirely on themselves. but have always been
surrounded with q company OF expert spe-
cialty players. In their company this seas
on are the following: Mark Murphy. Edward
Lawrence Donald Haired, Charles Kettler
w, S. Francs Mollte Fuller, Carrier DeMar
Bessie Tannehill. Edith Murry. Jennie Gro
vini, Nina Harrington and Louise Willis