The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-12
ADJUSTMENTS.


good audience in quantity and quality
greeted Walker Whiteside at the Grand last
night and throughout Bulwer's play mani
tested it's approval in generous applause.
Three curtain calls for the star evidenced
his conquest of his audience. Walker
Whiteside grows-slowly to be sure but still
he grows. Gifted with few natural histrion-
&c advantages-da to womanliness in
stature, round of face limited in range and
power Of voice, imaginative in mind rather
than original-stil he persists and inn
proves. The tenacity of purpose and unim-
tied sacrifice of toll which this young actor
brings to his art have already placed him
well to the front in the legitimate. These
qualities will advance him still further. 1t is
always a carefully studied and painstaking
piece of work that Whiteside gives. Notably
so Is his Richeleu The costuming of the
character helps him over the defect of
stature, but there is too much of the imita-
ton about his presentation-one feels that
one has heard that tone and gesture be-
fore This is a common fault of actors of
the legitimate They are stacy, unnatural,
violent. absurd with throaty affected tones
and whistlings of breath through teeth and
''ah's, a-ha's." What pity that some actor
does not evince sufficient genius-no simply
common sense enough to say things natur-
ally and not create anti-climax after anti
climax by extravaganza. Mr.. Whitesides
only originality in Richelieu is in AGENT
uating the fox in this great statesman.
Every glance, every motion, is designed to
interpret the vulpine characteristics Thus
a background is made for the lion which
occasionally appears at the supreme mo-
ments. In this respect Mr. Whiteside
gives a remarkably faithful portraiture of
the Rschelfeu OF Lytton and of history.
Mr.. Whiteside improves his support as
well as himself. 1t was mach better than
heretofore, but there is still ample room.
Mr.. Paulding lacks distinction. He is alto
gether too anxious. He has no reserve
power He is a man of possibilities but
he has yet TO learn that art throws a sub
duedneSS and calmness over even the most
volcanic violence. Mr.. Paulding actually
got out of breath last night in the scene
where Richelieu feigns death, and this,
too from no lack of lung power. The rest
OF the support was fair. Mr.. Sturgeon was
adequate as De Barradaz, and Miss VOL
stan, though lacking i'm personality was
satisfactory as Julia. Quite the best thing
done was Mr.. Ben Thorne's Louis XIII
He looked like a king stepped down from
some old picture of elegant but effeminate
and dissolute court life. and his grace cap
tivated every lady in the house.
New Scene In "RicheIieu.,
Whatever Walker Whiteside puts his
hand to he does thoroughly In his fine
production of "Richeleu" that called out
such flattering applause at the Grand last
night Mr.. Whiteside has restored a comedy
scene, showing the light, humorous vein in
Bulwer's makeup. The scene has probably
never been given before in this country, at
least not within the memory of present
day theater-goers. 1t opens the third act
as Mr.. Whiteside produces the play, but is
really the beginning Of the second act in
the original copy. 1t is a love scene at the
home of De Mauprat which that brave fell
low and Julia de Mortimer carried on under
difficulties on account of the spying pres
ence of De Beringhen. an aggravating fell
low whom the king has set to watch De
Mauprat The love making with the in
truder continually standing by furnished
Bulwer a splendid opportunity for contrast
with the intense situation soon to follow,
when De Mauprat is trcked into taking an
oath to murder the Cardinal. The action is
brisk and has almost as many laughs in
ii as farce. 1t made hit with the audi