The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-06
LATE LONDON PLAYS
OSCAR wILDE's "IDEAL HUSBAND
WAS GENEROUSLY ROASTED.
sidney Grundy Also Sees One of His
Plays Adversely Criticised and
Henry JaEes's Effort Is Kissed.

LONDON, Jan. 5.-The dramatic season
of 1895 was started at the Haymarket The
alter Thursday by the production or
Oscar wilde's IAN Ideal Husband" Mr..
Beerbohm Tree has leased the Hayrnarket
Theater to Mr.. Lewis Waller an actor.
during his absence on his American tour.
and Mr.. Waller induced such well-known
artists as Maud Millet, Julia Nelson
Charles Hawtree and Fanny Brough to
JOIN him in producing Mr.. Wilde's play.
The action takes place in London during
the present day. and the play received
splendid staging. AS to the plot. it must
be classified as of the tawdriest character
and unworthy of a playwright claiming
originality. The story is told by unreal
characters. who excite no sympathy. The
modern woman" of the piece understands
everything except her husband. IAN Ideal
Husband" is distinctly feeb,er than Lady
Windemere's Fan or "A Woman of No
Importance" and the leading critics con-
denim il. On the whole the successors of
Mr.. and Mrs. Beerbohm Tree at the Hay
market have not had an suspicious open
ing. Mr.. Wilde replied to the call for
speech after the fall of the curtain, and
thanked the audience for the pleasant
evening which he had spent.
Another failure must be chroncled at
the Garrick Theater where Sydney Grun-
dy's Slaves of the Ring produced on
Dec 81 before notable and expectant au-
dlence, including Henry Irving and Ellen
Terry. The play ends without a result of
any kind, shows poverty of treatment,
and is altogether feeble, as the misunder-
standing in the first act is easily removed
and altogether unneeded. But John Hare's
acting as the Earl of Ravenscroft is the
best he ever did and Kate Rorke was
also very successful. Miss Calhoun,
gifted American actress, who has not
been here since she played Hester
Prynne in THE Scarlet Letter" in 1883,
also achieved success THE Slaves of the
Ring" is an old play, but 1t has only just
been produced after having been rewrit-
ten
In view of the failure of 1.-THE Slaves Of
the Ring" preparations for the production
of Pinero's new play which Is to follow it.
are being hurried forward. Unless there is
change in the program THE School for
Scandal will follow Mr.. Pinero's work
The opening of the dramatic season of 1895
receives increased Importance tonight at
the st. James theater, where Henry James,
Guy dOmvlle,' was given. 1t is a ro-
mantle play in three acts. 1t was produced
to a crowded house attended by many of
the notables of London. Great interest was
taken in the costumes. The play was q
comedy in the manners of 1850. The scene
is laid in an out-ofthe-way place in Som
ersetshire. The play is history of old
Catholic family. 1t was favorably received
by most of the persons in attendance. In
the end there was storm of Kisses and
'booing" from the pit and from the gal
leres that the applause from the stalls
could not drown. After long and persist
ent calls for the author, George Alexander
appeared, leading Henry James. This was
the signal for tumut in the pit, which
both men faced without fiinching for a
moment and then retired In the midst of
| cries for Mr.. Alexander. These cries were
| renewed and Mr. Alexander appeared on
| the stage several times. bowling TO the peo-
| pie, but when he stepped to tie center to
speak Kisses were so numerous that he
could not be heard. He finally remarked:
| II have received so many favors from the
| public hitherto that the discordant note
| tonight pains me deeply.
This was followed by renewed Interrupt
! tons, but Mr.. Alexander continued: Il can
only say that we have all worked hard,
| and we hope, in our next effort, to win
| your favor
| The speech of Mr.. Alexander was re-
| garded by many as injudicious, it being in
terpreted as virtual admission of the
| failure of the play whereas, there is rea-
| really directed against Mr.. James.
| On New Years eve and again on Wednes-
| presented at Osborne House before Queen
! Victoria and number of guests. In these
| pictures, Prince and Princess Henry of Bat
| tenberg, the Marquis of Lorne and the
Princess Louise, the Duchess of Albany
| and all the royal children, as well the
| ladies Meade, daughters of the Earl of
| Clan William, the admiral commander in
| chief al Portsmouth, took part.
Mrs. Fannie Bloomfield Zeissler. of Chi
! cago, accompanied by her husband, sailed
| for New York and Southampton the
| steamship Paris to-day. Her recitals in the
most important cities of the continent have
| everywhere met with the greatest success.
| She had number of engagements in Eng
| land including one to appear at the Crys-
| tai Palace concerts in March, but she can
| celled them, as she anxious to get
home. Mrs. Bloomfield Zessler will proba-
bly, return to Europe in May.