The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-10
ADJUSTMENTS.
"Kfng Henry w."

which the Tabers, or, perhaps more proper
", which Robert Taber has attempted. One
refuses to admit that Mrs. Taber ever con-
ce!ved the idea OF giving this historical
drama, least of all of ever playing Prince
Hal. Nothing is more apparent throughout
the entire play than the fact that Mrs. Ia
Der secretly rebels against taking the role.
This discerning woman cannot help know
ing that 1t is totally unsuited to her natural
gifts. One doubts If there lives a woman
who can do justice to the part. On the
other hand, Hotspur is a character for
Robert Taber TO revel in and one which
some day he may be able to give in heroic
fashion. His talents are largely in that
direction, yet even this ambitious actor,
who has progressed so rapidly since he
started out, does not play the part Of Hot
spur with convincing art. He is not able
TO suppress his self-consciousness as in the
character role of Master Walter, and until
he can carve this flaw out of his impersona-
tions there Will be always feeling on
the part of the audience that he is not en-
tireiy in touch with his characters. How
ever, none can doubt that the Tabers have
made this production work OF love. They
have gone to great expense providing
scenery, and the costumes, which they have
taken much pride in giving historical color
ing, must have cost tidy sum. To put on
Henry w. in such extravagant fashion
must have made something OF hole in a
season s prOHtS. But the fact remains, and
honesty compels the assertion. that neither
scenic artists nor costumers can make Mrs.
Faoer an acceptable Prince Hal. One is
served until so late in the engagement. Had
X been the opening performance. one feels
tnat the resolution to deal generously and
gently with these painstaking actors would
have been rudely shocked.
One who has always enjoyed Mrs. Taber's
acting, even when she failed TO realize the
well-conceived notion of what her imperson-
alton should be. could find SO little to enjoy
In her Prince Hal that one left the theater
by-plays, arch manners and feminine
graces which have redeemed whatever she
did poorly heretofore are almost totally
lacking in her Prince Hal, or, when they
{ do appear, seem so grossly out of touch
: that their charm gives little pleasure. This,
p OF course, refers to the scenes where the
valiant character of the careless prince as
serts itself, and where all that is noble and
strong in the youngster becomes really the
important part of the role. In the earlier
scenes, with Falstaff, the ever charming
ingenqe quality OF Mrs. Ta6er's stage per,
1t Is a question whether even there it is
suited TO Prince Hal, the fact remains that
II was well received. Mrs. Taber makes
merry. girlish robber out of the rrince. and
the audience liked 1T; But when the young
Ss s INTERVENE SSn9r with w tSe king DURING anS
the boy declares he will call
Hotspur, to account or die hundred
prince Hal is plainly aroused, and from
that time he Is a different fellow. 1t is
scenes--the challenge and the duel, where
he retrieves his honor by Staying uotspur
on the battlefield-that Prince Hal is GER
tainly not girlish. a woman can hardly
give mimic effect to a combat where her
antagonist is welding broad sword with
both hands as Hotspur welded it. ANY
appear to her advantage as Prince Hal
made a blunder. Her rich costuming OF the
part Is its most brilliant feature.
William r. owen as Falstaff is necessarily
the hit of the play. In fact. the play is a
the interest naturally centers in the bragg
CART Mr. Owen has one of the greatest
times so physically comical that he achieves
dercus capacity for old sack and his unal-
loyed enjoyment of the enormous beakers
on the part of those who are in the habit
of seeing people between tho acts, and
on one of Falstafrs scenes. Owen has ac-
quilted himself proudly in this production.
His Falstaff is worth all the rest of the
OF the minor roles several stand out with
pleasing merit. Edward Lawrence. who not
often attracts much favorable attention,
made very excellent Poins. OF course.
Thomas Coleman was a good Douglas-he is
good in anything. and Henry Doughty fllled
the shoes OF the Earl OF Worcester with
some ability. The production may be de-
Taber who Is mn9onbted,y The star uut q, MIS- the
company. should never have been forced to
bury her Identity In the role of Prince Hal.
The audience last night was the largest
Of the week thus far. and Owens Falstafr
the house tonight. when Henry "" will
be the bill again.
Notes OF the Stage.
One cannot help wondering what induced
the great dramatic critic to drop from two
columns daily TO few stingy sticks" OF
comment on Julia Marlowe Tabsr's art.
This Is most unkind, If not actiouabie.
Just like some people to get started
wrong on the Paderewsk business and then
try TO change the subject into one of injury
10 the whole United States. Clever-"nt!'
In letter received by Dickson & Talbot
yesterday from Paderewskis ,rana;.er. Mr.
Fryer at Cincinnati the latter says: pad
erewski's prices everywhere, excepting
ST. Louis. are as they are in New York
from So down. Here in Cincinnati box seats
are 81. In st. Louis. the Exposition Hall
being so immense, the prices were made
$3.50 and s." Exposition Hall at St Louis
has seating capacity OF several thousand
The Republican national convention is tc
eapaety OF this hall Induced ps
manager to consent to a somewhat reduced
scale OF prices. In all other cities the great
pianist has played 20 the Indianapolis scale
and his receipts everywhere have been linn
TIED only by the capacity of the theater oil
hall In which the recital was given. Pixies
Opera House at Cincinnati was jammed
Wednesday night To hear him. -Paderewsk
will arrive to-day and play tomorrow nigh.
at Englishs.
The double performances to-day and to-
morrow will close the engagement at the
Park OF Hopkins's TRANSFORMERS. The
"standing-room" sign has been out every
night this week. Next Monday "Pecks Bad
Boy comes for three days.
When the original London "A Gaiety
Girr' company opened at Days Theater
New York. early last winter, il was pro-
nounced a success by critics. There was a
dancer in the representation named Cissy
fitzgerald She was I'm her way a genius
glance OF the eye, rosy. ripping smile
unlike any glance or smile that was ever
seen before. made an irresistible magnet
or that graceful girl. She made far great
er hit than the piece She became the fash
fonable rage. Manager Charles Frohman
q. that time. was about 10 produce the
English comedy. 1.-The Founding" and en-
gagged Miss Fitzgerald TO appear in the
comedy as tricky little Maybud. music
hall artist. The same company and the
same cissy will be at the Grand next Mon
day.
The advance sale for the Marlowe matinee
Tomorrow indicates that the record OF
former years is to be kept up and very pos