The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-23
DEMWTCN DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
UuN 1kO1 az.3s When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.

After last night OVERLOOKING luTHOul VI
beautiful women and distinguished men to
spend an evening with Richard Mansfield
at English's the Embossed genius of the
American stage should no longer hold any
grudas against Indianapolis. One of the
many stories related of Mansfield, and one
which one does not remember seeing in
print elsewhere, is to the effect that sew
eral years ago Mr.. Mansfield was at table
in London with party of cosmpoiitans,
among whom was a well-known citizen of
Indianapolis The indianapolis man was
modest and did not extensively declare that
this city was the greatest center of great
things on earth, but when Mr.. Mansfield,
remembering his previous experience here,
took occasion to question the right OF the
Hoosier capital to be considered one of the
American cities worth mentioning at din
ner in London and, so the story goes, po-
iitely intimated that Indianapolis did not
appreciate good actor, the man from In
dianapolis quietly blew ring of smoke
toward the candelahra and drolly replied:
''Well, now, Mr. Mansfield, I'm sorry to
know you have so poor opinion of Indian
apolis. Perhaps you never happened to be
there when there was a really fine actor
in the city" Realizing that this was the
retort courteous and not caring to extend
the controversy Mr.. Mansfield is said to
have displayed a most gallant and proper
temper by accepting the situation grace
fully, admitting the logic of his Indian
apols acquaintance and proposing a toast
to the home city of the then President of
the United States. Later the news reached
the ears of General Harrison and to show
that he did not lay it against Mr.. Mans
field, he has never failed to take box at
one of the actors productions when the
opportunity was offered A drenching equin-
octial storm did not prevent Gen Harri-
son from indulging in a box last night and
there were others, enough of them to take
every seat at English's. The blockade of
carriages at the theater doors was so great
that the audience was not seated until
nearly $3.50 o'clock and Mr.. Mansfield held
the curtain until everyone had arrived. 1t
IS a question If such a mass of carriages
was ever attracted to Monument place by
any actor who has visited this city. The
Inverted porter ran out of carriage checks
and the last sixty arrivals were given num-
berS orally and took their chances on driv-
erS remembering the proper call. The
blockade extended up Meridian street, past
the library building when the play was
over Surely Mr.. Mansfield will now believe
he has been in Indianapolis when fine
actor was in town and henceforth he will
be able to testify that the HooSierS are not
such an unappreciative lot of yokels as
iealrus-minded people had once informed
Aar. Mansfield gave this city brief glance
at Bernard Shaw's new play, 1.-THE Devils
Disciple" and the only one of the Shaw Gre
ations this city has seer. The panoramic
action of single perform nce is not enough
TO get all there is IN q Mansfield production.
The brilliant satire of the Englishmans
lines is appaI emit in every scene. Spoken
by Mansfield they become flaming shafts of
wit when they are not too desperately Gym
zeal. The atmosphere Of old colonial times
was not so apparent as was to be expected
although the coloring is certainly consist
ent and the character treatment vital and
natural. History has not left definite por-
traiture of any such heroic daredevil as
Dick Dudgeon. If there be anything lack
ing in Shaws attempt to give a pic
ture of New England colonial days
u IS the failure TO season the scenic events
with generous dash of self-sacrificing
patriotism. Only the puerile side OF Puri~
tanIsm Is shown Beyond tardy display of
the reviled Dick Dudgeon is the only ideal
american in the coterie of New Hampshire
with MsnseId.s f D,p ndgno oe th aeq9alntea
ing iniidel has the complete sympathy while
the make-b=lieve good citizens OK Spring
town are burlesqued by the uncomDromis-
ing SnaW as II he bore grudge against
the old Puritan spirit. Mansfield is fascinat-
ing In another of those dramatic etchings
with which he Is rapidly nlling mis- gallery
OF original and artistic works. There is less
OF the mimic and more of the creative art
in one of Mansfeld's characters than there
IS IN the portrayals of any other man on the
stage. One can imagine Dick Dudgeon, the
rare genius of the town, symbolizing all the
\
ali the honesty in the Knickerbocker days
OF the American struggle for freedom This
Is rather incongruous mixture of American
spirit IL traditions count for a penny. While
lie has no use for the solemn-eyed God
tearing people, he permits himself TO be ar
rested and sentenced to the gibbet because
he happened 10 be caught in Parson Ander-
sons house, at the table with the parsons
young wife, when the redcoats entered for
the minister. Love scenes are tabooed. bat
there Is iutter of sentiment between him
and Mrs. Anderson that leaves the audience
with an uneasy longing for further develop
mentS, lust to see what might have ham
pened II Dick hadn't been so theatriealiy
noble. Ills tenderness toward the little
outcaSt EsSie. hardly more definitely per-
tfayed, Is another example of the actors
Wit IN subduing all counter ideas
IN the story TO the one which
matte figure. Mansfelds capable company
sinks into insignficance whEn one looks back
over the three acts OF The play Even the
very interesting role OF General Blrgoynp
Nhich threatens Tor a moment TO become
decidedly interesting is smothered when
Dudgeon. the cordemaed prisoner. is
brought IN. For an instant during the final
scene, when Dick stands on the wagon with
the noose about his throat, Mansfeld's face
presents a picture OF such intense emotion
OF mingled pity and defiance, that il will
last LONGER than anything else IN the play
Ifere seems 10 be one of those moments
OF overweight, dead attention on the mart
OF the audience that Is characteristic of a
crowd watching an execution. The rescue
OF the daredevil and the gioating triumph
OF The citizens who pour on tie scene To
3 Rimple pictorial ending. Bet ona wonders