The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-19
PetfisDryGOOdsCO
ADJUSTMENTS.
Grand-Oliver Twist.

Elita Proctor Otis has scored again. In
dianapolis can afford to be more proud of
her. for be 1t known that she came from
here, though Ohio has claimed her since
her success was assured. Miss Otis will be
remembered here in the character the fin
ished society adventures, Mrs. Eastlake-
Chapel. The critics and those who as
summed to be critics avowed then that society
drama all she could shine in. Last
night showed how little they knew. Her
portrayal Of Nancy Skies recalls no men,
cries df Mrs. Eastlake-Chapel. Miss Otis
has thoroughly encompassed the rather
impossible character built by Dickens of the
daughter Of the slums who has mysterious
ly acquired a few better ideals and higher
impulses. none knows where. From the
moment Nancy comes in with her better
nature stirred to the defense of the inno-
cent Oliver up to the time when she dies
at the hands of Bill, Miss Otis carries the
character without break. A few of the
audience laughed at her rendition of the
drunken scene-that is to say, where Nancy
gets little drunken than usual in Fagin's
zen zen ~ was not comical, though. 1t was
the sodden, hopeless intoxication of a wom-
an VINO mas not even the delight of novelty
IN the effects Of drink. Throughout the en-
tire play Miss Otis never permits herself
10 stray from the character, nor sacrifices
the presentation of the wrecked and al
Go and "a child of the gutter 10 any de-
Nancy Skies is d brute. A good-natured
Drute; womanly brute withal, who has
HuttinS appreciation of her state, but a
nttlnS consort for Bill Skies, the thief Mr.
Gharles Barron's Bill Skies is a most de-
usntfui blackguard, without one redeemi
trait to tighten the blackness of his char
acter. HIS presentation is well nigh per-
lect. A better makeup has seldom been
seen, IL losing none of it's effective
ness even when viewed from the front
was left to be desired. The villain expects
little sympathy from an audience and gets
less, out 1t Is safe to say that in this case
ne gers none However, the part as rem
dered by Mr. Barron was one to extort adj
mraton for its sheer brutality and utter
t tack IN look, action or voice of anything
tnat goes 10 make q man receive the good
VIII or his fellows. 1t can hardly be said
mat Mr.. Barron divided the honors with
MISS Gus, as the renditionS We're SO nicely
patanced that one would have been incom-
piste without the other. Mr.. H. G. Garlic
nrst, put 1T Is due to- him to say that as
the play progressed he grew. In the scene
where Eagin makes known to Skies the
imagined detection of Nancy and still more
III the prison scene he rose to a height
or melodramatic acting that furnished
nightmares. Mr. w. A. Messenger made a
clever BUNDLE, and Miss Effie Cannon was
al amusing Mrs. Corney, both carrying the
parts assigned with sufficient sprightliness
Inc remainder of the cast is fairly equal to
Inc parts assigned, though not of remark
able ability. The part of Oliver is taken
by Mss Katherine Dooling, who makes a
very pretty boy.
The version of the play is that formerly
given by Lucille. Western. "Oliver Twist
VIII De repeated tonight and tomorrow.
day.