The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-21
A WEEK OF FINE DRAMA
OTIS SKINNER AT THE GRAND IN HIS
PLAY "PRINCE RUDOLPH"
MOdjeska's Brief Engagem Mt En-
gIish's-The Rays at the Park and
Steve BrOdie at Empire.

Prlnce Rudolph" the new romantic
comedy which Otis Skinner will present
here tomorrow night and the greater part
of his Thanksgiving week enga gement at
the Grand Opera House, is reviewed by
some of the best critics in the country as
being one Of the best and most interesting
plays of its kind that the stage has seen
in many years. That it is a success there
is no question It was from Robert Louis
Stevenson's Prince Otto that Mr.. Skinner
took the theme of the play, but he has
made so many Celebrations and changes
that there is but little Of the original tex
ture left save one or two of the principal
Incidents. Rudolph is the hereditary Prince
of Kronefeid, and prior TO the opening of
the play has been married to the Princess
Edora, the daughter of a neghboring SOW
ereign There has been but little love on
the part of the contracting parties, for it
was principally for reasons of state that
the match had been made. Rudolph has
but little desire for ruling and he has rele-
gated his powers to his wife. The princess
is ambitious and does what she thinks for
the best, while her husband, freed from the
cares of the state, amuseS himself to the
best of his ability hunting, fishing and oc-
casionally writing verses and appearing in
amateur theatricals The couple had drifted
apart. At the opening of the play the
princess, accompanied by her prime minis
ter, is making tour of inspection of the
frontier of the principality. Her carriage
breaks down and she is forced to take
refuge in the cottage of a farmer while the
necessary repairs are being made. Ru-
dolph is off on a hunting expedition, and,
a storm having come up, he too takes
refuge at the house of the farmer The
meeting is quite unexpected, and the prince,
seeing his wife freed from the encourage
Of the court, falls in love with her ara
tells her so in very pretty scene The
storm clears and the princess and her min
lister return to Lauterheim, but the prince
stays on at the cottage. To the farmer folk
he is incognito, and as the visit of the
princess is uppermost in their minds the
conversation naturally turns on herself.
The prince finds that she is most unpopular
and that he is the butt of everybody's
scorn, and he also makes the Interesting
discovery that there is a revolt about to
begin and that the prime minister is at the
head OF the movement. He returns to the
palace almost Immediately On his arrival
there is a ball in progress. 1t is given in
honor of English visitor at court. The
Englishman has been jotting down in a
QldIy uOlSS VI Ills lIdNSlSb oiiu his Nlo1( a.
the court of Kronefeld has been productive
of some very interesting reading. This
diary has been seized by the order of the
prime minister, and by accident it falls into
the hands of the prince, who, outraged at
the indignity which has fallen on his guest,
summons the entire court and makes pub
lie apology The Englishman is furious and
tells the prince that since they have seen
fit to take from him his private papers he
may read them. The prince takes him at
his word but while they are at first very
amusing, he finds that the gossip of the
court has linked the names of his wife and
his prime minister together in way that
is anything but complimentary to himself
and very compromising to the lady. The
scene of the third act is laid in the council
chamber of the palace. The council has
been summoned an hour before its usual
time by the prime minister. He fears the
interference of the prince, and it is neces-
sary for him to have a large sum of money.
This he proposes to get in the guise OF
war fund, for the princess is so completely
in his power that she will sign any
thing that he. may propose. Inc
meeting of the council comes to the
ears of the prince, and he arrives just in
time to prevent the adoption of the meas
ure He does more than this, for ne ex-
poses to the princess the duplicity of her
prime minister and the curtain falls on a
most dramatic scene. The prime e minister thef
it is all mistake and that the medal which
the prince roughly pulled from his breast
was only an effigy of herself, and he further
works on her vanity to that extent that he
finally induces her to sign an order Tor the
arrest of the prince. Rudolph is warned
of his danger by certain Countess Won
Maten, but refuses to believe her. The
countess, finding him obdurate, goes to the
princess and in a very few moments opens
her eyes to the actual state of AFFAIRS. the
princess sends for the prime minister and
demands the return of the warrant. This
he refuses to give up and, mlstaKlng her
lent declaration of love, in the midst OF
which enter the prince. Rudolph leads the
princess to her apartments and then returns
and forces the prime minister to defend
himself In the duel which follows the
prime minister is seriously wounded, but
the fortress prisons of the principahty,
where he is discovered at the beginning of
the last act of the play. The princess mean AN
this the countess has taken to Drachenstein.
But the revolution has broken out and the
princess is herself a fugitive with her palace
lease the prince, hearing of his wite's dan-
GER goes to protect her, but she is not TO
be found. They finally meet in the same
cottage which is the scene of the first act,
and there as only man and woman, all
is forgiven and forgotten. and as the prince
has found the love for which he has been
soulong hungry, news comes of the defeat
of the rebels, and he regains his throne
In addition to prince Rudolph" Mr..
Skinner has been persuaded to present two
other plays in which he is seen to goRd ad
and J1l}et" Mr. SINNERS Claude Melnotte
and his Romeo have won for him the high
est possible praise and in the delineation of
those characters he is nearly ideal. The
company which will be seen in his support
is the same that has been with him for the
mast three seasons. 1t is both large and
we'll balanced Mr.. SINNERS engagement
viii open at the Grand on Monday evening,
and he will hold the stage at that theater
for a full week. There will be a popular
matinee on Wednesday and an extra mat.
inee on Thanksgiving day. '"rhe Lady of
LYONS" is to be the Wednesday matinee
bin and Romeo and Juliet" will be given
Friday night At all the other performances
prince Rudolph" will be played.
observation-disclosures.
Modieska. restored to health and acting
with that rare charm, grace and finish
which have always distinguished her, will