The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-28
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NENTTCT DR.. A. E. BUCHANAN
DAN AANA 1888 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.

EngIish's---ssThe Moth and the Flame,,
Another of those pretty dramatic trifes
by clyde Fitch took the stage at English's
last night and for the rest of the week will
give an exhibition of smart people in bril-
liantly theatrical situations. Some are
dressed in the daintiest costumes for
comedy, while others in somber colors de-
note the deep agony which is delicately
mingled in the story. THE Moth and the
Flame is an oddly when compared with
other old-time dramatic material worked
over and dished up year after year. Fitch
has gone into the yellow stage literature
for bunch of shivers, tied the bundle with
perfumed ribbon and sent it forth for a
successful vogue. There is a defaulting
financier who has the good taste to commit
suicide when disgrace overwhelms him
showing that the playwright is original as
well as bold Stage viIlains never prefer
the coroner's court to that of the criminal
judge and the play thus starts with a nov
city. There is another shiver when the
wronged woman turns up with her child to
stop a swell wedding. The scene rivals any,
thing in the nj. Il. Braddon novels. Finally
the Villain, who does not commit suicide
is 'trun down when he springs the odd
trick of trying TO force the bankers daugh-
ter to marry him rather than endure the
exposure of her fathers disgrace, bringing
me play TO conventional end. Mr.. Fitch
shannon to aynunnery, but he prefers a
more delightful treatment and reserves her
~, 33l tne GOOD young man who agrees with
me audience in consistently loving her
through all three acts.
Fitch has seized the club of realism and
SHOWN ihat the Ideals of the meodramatic
playbuilders are really found In high life
The play IS intended a picture drawn
from New York's best society. IL exposes
the folles of society in it's dead-rot neriod
OF the present day and tells the story with
dmerciless tldelity and much bright satire
on Change and the fact that he has been
speculating with the money of others will
he made public the next day. His house is
1illed with friends at costume marty
While the frivol-pated men and women are
galioping through his parlors or eating his
REFRESHMENTS the iinancier retires To his
bedroom. A mufied shot is heard there Is a
heavy fan. the crystal pendants on the
chandelier rattle ominously above the heads
OF the merry guests, there is a sudden hush
a startled query of Whats that from the
gay revelers, then the merriment goes on on
unconscious of the tragedy in the room
above. His charming daughter. in beautiful
costume, jilts one lover and agrees 10 re-
form another. man with the past With
her cheek flushed and heart beating after
stolen embrace, she goes to call her
father and returns dazed and shuddering to
inform her mother The unthinking butter-
fly guests dance around them as children at
May day picnic IL is all so cleverly
handled as to give the greatest promise for
played TO the life by the excellent company
and the comedy is so plentifully buttered
over the dry crust Of melodrama that
laughter and heartaches come together
Miss shannon as the suddenly bereaved
daughter IS dream of heroine. while
Herbert Kelley as the rogue whom she
undertakes TO reform. dominates every
scene In which he is placed The first act
Is novel study In dramatic literature but
the second Is more so. Fitch has reserved
his brightest dialogue for the scene at the
church where the guests gather and gossip
In most natural feminine fashion, The
comedy IS complete and is hardly driven to
the background when the sensational scene
occurs at the altar Fftchs double-edged
thrusts at our best people" continue i'm
the last act. when friends of the disap-
pointed bride gather TO distribute their con
doences ana incidentally gloat. Herbert
Kelley In this act develops a psychological
feature IN the character of Edward Fletch-
er, VINO mas played and lost. and Miss Shan
non has the SaddeSt and sweetest part OF
her character to unfold in forcing Fletcher
70 marry MS former flame. 1.-THE Moth and
the Flame Will remain at Engllsh's the
rest OF the week with Saturday matinee