The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-10-05
Suiin Arthur In "A Lady of quality

JuIin AFthur In "a Lady of QuaItty.
DETROIT, Mich, Oct. 4.-The Detroit
Opera House was the scene tonight of the
first production OF the dramatization OF
Mrs Frances Hodgson Burnetts story "A
Lady of Quality and the debut of Miss
Julia Arthur as a star. Miss Arthur imper-
sonated Lady Clorinda the character in
which the sole interest of the tragic play
centers. The hopes of those who had
watched the young actresses career of train
ing as member of Henry Irvings Company
were fully realized, and it is conceded that
Miss Arthur both looks and acts Mrs. Bur-
netts powerful emotional character most
satisfactorily. The requirements of the part
cover a range of action, from the hoydenish
youthful Clorinda to the woman who suf-
fers anguish and remorse to the verge of
womanly endurance. Miss Arthur's rare
emotional nature gave to the character
vivid intensity at times and again a sombre
picturesqueness and nobility, and her power
ru methods assisted her rather romantic
style of beauty in winning the success
which, as it happened was achieved on the
stage where she made her first appearance
as an actress. The stage settings were pro-
notmced the finest seen in Detroit the cos
tunes are faithful to seventeenth century
times and the new play ran with singular
SmOOthneSS and received continued plauditS
or very large audience.
A Lady of Quality" is a dramatizaton
Of a novel made by Mrs Burnett herself
assisted by Stephen Townsend. The play
is in i've acts, and. though in general theme
IL follows closely upon the lines of the book
it still departs from the story, particularly
in the ending as greater sympathy is added,
and picturesque incident introduced. The
first act takes place in the country home
Of WildaiFs, in which, in a rollicking supper
scene, all the famous characters OF the book
appear. Here are seen the polished fasci-
mating scamp John oxen; the Jolly, hardy
Sir Christopher; the roaring Wilcer, and his
worthless, though harmless convivial COM
panion the fearsome Parson the impetuous
Clorinda, first in the guise of a boy, and
next as the imperious woman. Then MIS-
tress Whimpole and the timid Sister Ann
come on the scene, and begin the winding
of the skein. The scene veers to the great
rose garden. which is rare one for beau
tiful settings, as it depicts gathering OF
the aristocracy of 1701. Here, the reader
of the story knows C1orinda spurns the
tickle Oxen and accepts the suit of the aged
Earl of Donstanwolde, at moment before
she meets the man of her choice, the Duke
of Osmonde. The third act takes place in
a reception room of the newly-widoWed
Clorinda, and here John Oxen appears 10
claim her as his own. An incident which re-
suits in what is described as the strongest
scene in modern fiction, is the death of John
Oxen through chance blow from the riding
whip OF the Lady Clorinda, which she uses
in a fit of passion. The idea of the book, in
which Clorinda in her great fear, hides the
body beneath the couch upon which her
visitors greet her few moments later, Is
carried out in the play. The consummate
strength of Mrs. Burnett as dramatlSt is
shown in the last act, TO which happy and
sympathetic ending is given.
The time of the story is the beginning OIL
the eighteenth century, period OF quaint
costumes and poetic and hlghly-coloreu
scenes the days of Addison and Pope. Incl
dental old-fashioned music IS introduced.
composed by r. H. Hodgson, Mrs. Burnetts
brother and Harry Braham. The play is
staged by Napier Lothian, jr.,, who for
number of years was Mary Anderson $ stage
manager
Julia Arthur makes personal triumph
in the play. Miss Arthur's beauty is OF a
rich Oriental type. She is looked upon as
possessing great magnetism. THESE, besides
her force of expression, her cnarm Oh pres
ence and her beautifully modulated voice,
are qualities which win for her a place in
the hearts of the spectators. Mrs. Burnett
pronounced Miss Arthur to be an ideal Go
rinda for her Lady of Quality" ana so she
seems.
Julia Arthur was born in Hamilton, Ont,
and began her stage career at the age OF
twelve, in the support or bandmann She
has appeared as most of Shakspeare's he
roines and i'm a great repertoire of modern
plays She electrified New York not many
years ago in the leading character or me
Black Mask" and from that moment al
ewes were turned upon her in the eXpecta-
ton of finding in her the leading IeMule
American exponent of histrionic art, Miss
Arthur attached herself 10 Inc
~ Henry Irving in England where she
played leading roles to Sir Henry and Miss
Terry appearing in the gorgeous, Lyceum
Theater productions of Beckett, 'klIlS Az
tb,Sr', aud sans Gene and making a pos
rive triumph as Imogene in "Cymbelne
Miss Arthur's return to America is therefore
of more than ordinary significance, as IL VIII
show her 10 the American public with her
talents matured. She can be said to nave
earned the right to become star.
The company supporting Miss arthur con-
nlAa1s nf
Guiding the following: Edwin Arden Scout
Inglis stephen Townsend, George Wood
ward Joseph Allen, Robert McW ade Law
renee Miller Herbert Fortier, Il. b. Bridge
land Albert Brann, w. j. Thorold, j.; II.
Arnold. William Herbert, George II. Fos-
Ter Marcus Moriarity, j. RI. Logan, .thei
Sri;ght Molison Florence Conron, Marie
Ringham Maud Norman.