The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-09
GRAND STOCK. COMPANY
THE NEW THEATER OPENS MONDAY
WITH .'THE CHARITY BALL"
First Opportunity to Become Acc
Are to Spend the Winter Here.

Stage carpenters, scenic artists. decora-
tors and mechanics have been working
night and day getting the Grand Opera
House in readiness for the opening of the
stock company season on Monday evening.
Those who attend the initial performance
of 1.-The Charity Ball. will sit down in what
is practically new theater The entire
seating arrangement has been changed, and
all the decorations are new and fresh. The
center aisle has been abandoned and the
two side aisleS have been made wider. The
stage has been entirely remodeled and all
the scenery is new. There is a handsome
new drop curtain, which represents the
counting of Louis XIV. The lobby floor has
been lowered with a direct sidewalk en-
trance. and greatly alters the appearance
at the front of the Grand. The lobby is
now as beautiful an entrance as any thea
ter can show. The floor is of marble and
the walls are wainscoted in marble, while
the decorations are lavish and costly. The
box Office is done in marble and bronze At
either end of the lobby over the doorways
are two heads, one representing Music and
the other Drama. The stairway to the bal
cony is built of solid marble, and the balus-
trades are of marble. The scenic artists
who have charge of the work for the open
son, becoming regular attaches of the
Grand. as it is the purpose of the new man.
agement behind the curtain TO have an en-
tire change of scenery for each play e. HI.
Ritter is in charge of the scenic work.
Messrs. Dickson & Talbot still remain the
managers of the house in front of the cur
tain, and are very proud of the new thea
ter and feel that the public will be pleased
with the changes made
The opening at the Grand tomorrow
night will be an event to attract more than
usual attention on account Of the innova-
tion in this city in the shape of stock
company which is to remain here all winter,
presenting standard plays at popular prices
Much has been said concerning the Grand
Stock Company and much has been prom
Used for its performances during the season,
and if the management succeed in fulfilling
all these promises there is little occasion to
doubt the success of the stock
company venture in Indianapolis
well-balanced company of excellent
actors with new scenery Tor eacn
production under the stage direction OF
Walter Clarke Bellows, will insure q sea-
son of worthy entertainment at the Grand.
Mr.. Bellows's connection with the Lyceum
with various prominent metropolitan pro-
auctions, insures The Charity BAH
first-class presentation. Mr.. Bellows IS an
denced in the various settings of this four
act comedy-drama by Belasco and De Mile
1t is the intention TO give this same care 10
every production of the Grand Stock COM
pany.
There are four acts in THE Charity Ball
the first and fourth taking place ia the sit
ting room at the rectory OF ST. Mildred
Church. the second in the foyer OF the Met
ropolitan Opera House. New York and the
third in the study at the rectory. There are
sixteen people in the cast, which is one that
will give all the members of the company
q chance to introduce themselves favorably
The story of the play is as follows; Jonn
Van Buren,, rector of ST. Mildred s., New
York, loves Phyllis Lee, whose dying Iainer
has been wronged by Dick Van. Buren,, the
rector's brother. Led by his ambition, DICK
The fact that the heiress loves the rector is
not known to Dick John is equally bind
and thinking OF Ann only as his best friend,