The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-01-16
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
EUGENE BLAIR IN east LYNNE"
MONDAY, AT ENGLIsrs.
Fannie Rfce's "French BalIv at the
Grand NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. at
the Park and Empire.

Eugene Blair's first appearance here as p
star will be made at English's the first balf
of this week in a series of emotional plays,
in which this beautiful actress is said to
have been covering herself with glory since
she started at the head of der own COM
pany. For years Miss Blair has been the
artistic feature of Robert Downing's pro-
auctions. Whatever one might say of Mr..
Downing, Miss Blair. who is his talented
wife, has always had the greatest praise,
and deserved it. She was the better five
sixths of Downing's company, and before
that was a success as the leading support
of many of the best-known stars on the
American stage. Miss Blair has revived
that old popular play, East Lynne" which
has not had worthy production in
decade. Her impersonation of Lady Isabel
has had nothing but the best said of it.
East Lynne at one time was the emo
tional play of the day. Lucille Western,
whom the older theater goers remember,
played it for years, and later Clara Morris
made one Of her greatest successes in a
French version of the play, entitled Miss
Moulton'' serious production of East
Lynne" such as Eugene Blair is said to
give, should still be q strong entertainment.
Miss Blair's repertory includes a dozen
emotional plays including Camille" and
"Carmeh," which she will also give during
her Indianapolis engagement. In some OF
the cities where she has appeared her Ca
mile is spoken of as a character that APP
peais to the better class of theater goers on
account of the dignity with which she in
vests the role Her Carmen is said 10 show
the versatility of the actress as nothing
else in her repertory can. East Lynne
will be given Monday and Tuesday nights.
Camille" will be the Wednesday matinee
bill and Carmen" will be played Wednes-
day night
"The Sign of the Cross" Wilson Barrett's
much-talked-of religious drama, will be the
attraction at Englishs all of next week.
There will be a popular-priced matinee
Wednesday, and regular matinee on Sat-
ulday. Like Sienkiewicz's "Quo Vadis,"
THE Sign of the Cross is founded on the
history of Rome in the days of Nero and
the prosecutions of the early Christians.
1t abounds in exciting scenes and Incidents,
spirited dialogue, unexpected and powerful
clfmaxes, and presents a series of elaborate
and beautiful scenes that are described as
historically correct. 1t is said that the in
terest is excited in the first scene, and con-
stantly gains in Intensity until the close of
the play The approval of priests and
clergymen. both in England and America,
and the support of religious people who are
not regular theater goers, is of course re-
sponsible to a considerable extent Tor the
phenomenal success of the play; still 1t is
said that, entirely aside from its lofty and
eIevatng sentiments, it is possessed of dra-
matte qualities that appeal to the general
public. The company that will be seen in
this city is headed by Charles Dalton the
young, heroic actor, and includes the fol-
lowing London players: w. E. Bonney.
Hubert Druce, Basil Gill, J. Monkhouse,
Harry Burcher, Harry Child, Irene Rookie,
Gertrude Boswell, Agnes Scott. Marion
Grey, Majorie Cavania, Edith Paullin and
Lily Child. The announcement of the sale
of seats will be made in a few days.
scat and the Cherub, in London.
The popularity of American actors in Lon
don this season is Interestingly pictured in
a letter written to friend in this city by
Miss Aletl1ea Luce, an Indiana girl, whose
clever work on the stage is obtaining recog-
milton. Miss Luce's last appearance in this
city was with the Roland Reed Company
last season, when she was seen in char
acter part. She was shown some social at
tention at the time by friends who reside
here This season Miss Luce took the part
of the nurse in the original production of
1.-THE Cat and the Cherub," one Of the Chi
nese plays which created such sensation
in New York this year. After the New York
engagement, Miss Luce went with the COM
pany to London, where the play made as
great hit as it did in America. 1t is now
on an indefinite run at the Royalty in Lon
don.
Miss Luce says the American actors were
simply astounded at the wild enthusiasm
with which the piece was greeted in the
English metropolis. There was quite little
story in this first appearance. The Frohman
forces were competing on Broadway against
THE Cat and the Cherub,' with another
Chinese play, a version of the same story,
The First Born" The two We're cast on
similar lines. FTohman decided to carry his
production to London. William A. Brady,
who owned THE Cat and the Cherub." is
nothing if not enterprising, and is as popu-
lar as he is enterprising. He concluded to
play London. The members of the company
were given seven hours notice to prepare
for sailing, and before the Frohnan people
were aware of Bradys plans the cat and
the Cherub" Company was on the ocean.
They. landed at Plymouth on a Friday
morning, FASTENED to London and opened
at the Lyric Theater the next night. In that
short time there was vast amount of re-
hersing TO be done. The success of the play
was instantaneous, and the extremely con-
sentative journals of the English capital de-
voted fiattering attention to it. THE First
Born" which came the next week, was a
failure. and lasted but six days .srhe Cat
and the Cherub' was later transferred to
the Royalty.
The American actresses are making hits
all along the British line. Miss Fay Davis
has won laurels in George Alexanaer's new
piece, THE Tree of knowledge" the stage
setting of which is described as being be-
yond all praise. Miss Sheldon another
American, is appearing in Charles Wynd-
hams THE Liars" and the triumphs of
Miss Ethel Barrymore and Robert Tabor,
the husband of Julia Marlowe, in Sir Henry
Irving's new production, is a matter which
considerable attention "a ia
in cable gossip. In Irving's company, three
of the four leading parts taken by women
are in the hands of Americans The one
English woman is the Incompatible Terry
Miss Ellen Beach Yaw another Western
girl, is in London, surprising the English
cousins with her wonderful high note
Grnnd-Fanny Rice Thursday.
Fanny Rice who comes to the Grand the
last half of this week was born in Lowell,
larn,,. oh an M oa.,ca 81