The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-01-08
ADJUSTMENTS.
"'The Hunch back"

III tne historic days when Sheridan
Knowles wrote THE Hunchback" ii was no
doubt thrilling piece of business for the
heroine TO spring 10 her feet and foil the
villain with the indignant cry of MY
honor. SIR. Since that time this same line
has become such common property i'm the
meiodramatic plays that even the gallery
gods go forth and shout it on the street III
Mr.. and Mrs. Taber contemplate retaining
this old drama in their repertory one would
advise that they cut out that trite and vul-
gar line. Knowles's Julia may have been
perfectly justified in appealing to her hon.
or. but one cannot imagine Julia Marlowe
Tabers Julia driven to such a strait. The
earnest little heart-torn creature which
Julia becomes I'm Mrs. Tabers hands is 50
proud and womanly wthal that she hardly
need make such appeal. OF course, IL is In
the play. but when that consistent pro-
Queer, Augustin DAILY, does not hesitate
to take liberties with the classic drama.
certainly Mr.. and Mrs. Taber would not be
blamed for doing likewise.
AS a whole. the production last night at
the Grand gave much satisfaction to an
audience that was critical. if not large.
The part of Julia may be said to lie almost
entirely within Mrs. Taber's ability. and
this is equal to saying that 50 did not fall
can play without overtaxing her voice and
physical proportions. and critics will be
able to pick few flaws in her work. One
hesitates to admit how gracefully Mrs.
Taber really acquits herself as Julia. for it
appears, since yesterday, that there are
some who pretend TO be displeased, whether
one condemns or praises Mrs. Taber. Since
reading Mary AnderSon's story of her
stage career. and learning how poignantly
she suffered when well-wishing, but severe
critics took her TO task. one would much
rather cloak the stings of criticism
tnan pass harsh judgment, leaving The che
: criticised TO suffer with useless pain. There
Is probably more critical a,pprec!a,Io; in
than ever before. IL Is observed wish some
satisfaction that where formerly columns
of rambling. ill-advised gush appeared Mrs.
Tdbers acting Is now treated In more
scholarly and considerate manner, SHOWING
Improvement on me pa of the critics.
None can fail TO appreciate this )re than
Mrs. Taber herself, who, from al. ac-
counts, Is c'scernins co1scicntious
woman. and one who apo ,ccatss ronsid
crate notice. he writer has never for
gotten to call attention TO Mrs. rucer's
merits, even when dsvOt,ag most a.ten.icr
to what was believed her vulnerable points.
Why should ih3; " ~ attcmptsi - usLrp
the sole right of dwelling only on the dainty
attributes OF Mrs. T lber's art how turn
up their noses be'tuse thev fin aTprecsa-
tive comment in this column? Beau Sc pea
jackets are he s-yls pite season is 10
reason they will continue in vogue the
next.
but returning I, THE Hunchback,' the
surprise of last rights performance was
" Taber's Master Walter. Time alon.
prevented several untI"crlole remarks
about his Romeo Oh the first night of the
engagement, but as Master Walter IN The
Hunchback.' Roos-t 'raber was sccn IN
his first character part in this city ana
acted IL so well that Gle feels like putting
him down at once Us character a":cr OF
superior worth. In voice and manner he
is so different from any thing ne has at
tempted heretofore that one hardly recog-
nizes the same Taber. The suppressed,
powerful nature and tenderness OF heart
OF the old hunchback are nicely
realized and the strongly pathetic action
in the last act is striking. In this role he
Were 1t not that Yrs. Taber has al. eajy
given this play until the pI5lic Is getting
little weary of IL. Robert Taber's imper-
sonatIon OF Master Wafer woAll ii.sl re it
sevf raj seasons more 90 popularity.
Thomas l.. Coleman. who seems able to
make interesting any role assigned to him
and whose acting has attracted attention
here in previous seasons with this COM
pany, gives Sir Thomas Clifford heroic pres
tige I'm all the scenes that he figures. Last
night. however. he did not seem TO warm uI
to Mrs. Taber's Julia as BELTS one who Is
supposed 10 inspire such a romantic pas
sion. At the close OF the fourth act when
the lovers are discovered by Master Walter
Mr.. Coleman was almost frigid. Ii is al
most incredible that this tempestuous actor
such a chilly nature in this act. Eugenia
Woodward Is always good as Helen, and
Henry Doughty and William Owen have
little parts that they play we'll
Tonight 'As You Like It. will be the
bill. with Mrs. Taber as Rosalind and Mr.
Taber as Orlando. This is one of the favor.
lite roles OF Mrs. Taber. and always brings
out large and fashionable audience.