The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-23
Grand-otis skinner I'm "Prince Ru-
dOIph."

Otis Skinner has won his way to the
hearts of the theater-going public or In
dianapolis with a number OF beautlIul'
chaste and nigh-class dramatic productions
in the last few years, but none of his many
entertaining plays was better received than
his latest, Prince Rudolph" seen at the
Grand last night. This is the second play
in which Mr.. Skinner appeared as both
author and actor. 1t is only just to say that
simply as an author Skinner is progressing
even more rapidly than he did as an actor.
prince Rudolph" is a series of highly
dramatic stage pictures. From the time the
curtain rises on the first act until it falls on
the last. where a beautiful and ambitious
princess is united to her prince in one of
the most tender, pathetic and delicately
handled love scenes that even SINNERS
special art for love episodes has ever fash
Toned, the play is one succession of stage
pictures. No dragging moments mar the
action. Where most play writer's fall into
the error of too much talk and witless
dialogue, Skinner, being an actor before he
became an author, has unconsciously gone
very nearly to the other extreme. The play
fairly gallops with situations. When they
are not thrillingly theatric they are living
tableaux of the story being told, until the
entire production partakes of the nature
of dramatic panorama The appealing
force of Prince Rudolph" is so cleverly
concocted that both those in the gallery and
the more staid spectators on the lower
floor are moved to applause in a manner
that must be highly gratifying to an actors
nature. There were curtain calls after
every act, two or three always, and at one
time on the close of the much talked about
palace scene of the third act there
We're no less than five, ending
with call for Mr.. Skinner himself.
Take him as a diplomat, swordsman, Jester
or cavalier Skinner comes nearer being the
matinee girls ideal, perhaps, than any man
now competing for stage honors in this
country. Skinner has shown himself so ver-
satile that one need hardly be surprised if,
in his next play, he should have d dialect
role. Comedy, except of the high order, has
been Stunned by this roguish-eyed genius,
but if the truth were known Skinner could
make as good Dromio as any one. There
is comedy in Prince Rudolph when he is
seen as a seeker for pleasure in the chase
rather than as a ruler, but he quickly drops
the mask and turns lover with all the seri-
BUSINESS of a country swain. Not three min
pretty and unsteady named Princess Edora
face covered with bushes and is
stealing kisses from her lips She
lorn princess one reads about in books, but
one who has been welded for state rea-
sons. How her prince had lived with her
three years, as the play states, without
learning to love her is one of the mysteries
not explained. But he suddenly perceives
his error and starts in to WOO his own wife.
Rudolph becomes changed man, but finds
the princess more concerned in intrigues of
state with her prime minister than with
domestic possibilities, and Rudolph has a
trying time of 1t for four more acts. To
undeceive the princess he has first to I'M
mask the villainy of the prime minister. In
accomplishing this he arrives at the, great
climax of the third act. But the hearts
that are yearning to see the gallant and
reformed lover united to worthy wife are
put on the rack again by the temporary
triumph of the prime minister who IS able
to explain away his apparent duplclty.
Finally court lady gains the ear of Edora
and the cold beauty is melted. Rudolph APP
pears in time to behold the base PROPOSE
ton of the minister and runs him through
with sword in a truly Skinner fashion.
These are only some Of the incidents OF the
play which, taken as whole, is as inter-
estfng as a story book. Miss Durbin holds
her ground remarkably well as Mr.. Skin
ners leading woman and is developing
tender womanly method that makes her
delightful in any role. Frederick Mosleys
prime minister is one of the most evenly
acted characters in the production. FRANK
Sylvester's DR.. Gottfried has the sympathy
of the audience and is always interesting:
There is a charming little bit Tor Etnel
Browning in the German farmers uaughter
who waits on the guests at the resort where
Rudolph is a favorite. and, while the lines
are few, the clever acting of Miss Browning
fills out her scenes remarkably Wen. MISS
Browning is an Indianapolis girl, and her
many friends here have been watching her
progress with no little pleasure.
dolph' as the bill at the Grand all week,
with the exception of Wednesday matinee,
when 'The Lady of Lyons" will be given,
and Friday night, when Romeo and
Juliet will be the bill. The advance sale
for the latter part of the week is large.