The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-20
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
aEANsFIELD AT ENGLIsR's TUESDAY
IN 1THE DEVILS DISCIPLE"
Return of "My Friend from India
sWhfte Slave" at the Park-Veri-
scope at the Grand-Empire.

Richard MansfieId's play, 1.-THE Devils
Disciple" which he will give at English's
Tuesday night, is drama of American
history, though written by an Englishman.
and it is said to be highly favored with
persuasive patriotism. Mr.. Mansfield will
play Dick Dudgeon, role quite at vari-
ance with the Characterization with which
ne has made theater-goers familiar. Dick
DIIdgeon is described as a patriotic youth,
trutE-loving, sham-hatin8, brave, heroic
and lavishly endowed with manly virtues.
He is called the devils disciple because he
was an infdel living in the puritanical
East in the old colonial days. He is about
to be executed in place of preacher and
the scene showing the preparations for the
hanging IS one OF the most realistic ever
enacted by Mansfield.
The coming production of 1.-THE Devils
Disciple suggests the original genius who
wrote the play, George Bernard Shaw, the
dramatic critic Of the London Saturday
Review. There is, perhaps, no more striking
figure in the world of letters than the same
Mr.. Shaw, a man who gees to state func-
lions In flannel clothes and a negligee shirt.
To Americans he is generally best known
by his Arms and the Man, which Mr.
Mansfield presented two years ago. In Eng
land where the multiplicity Of his achieve
ments is a common fact he has reputation
for an extensive and diversified list of ac-
complishments. At first he was an actor
Then he became an art critic. Later he
appeared in the public eye as a novelist ana
political essayist, pronounced Socialist,
and after brief career as public speaker
he turned his talents to play-writing. Shaw
is an lrishman born, an Englishman by
adoption, but it is said of him that he de-
clares himself loyal American in this new
play. He is the sworn enemy of the mere
~ conventional and is g frank realist in his
dramatic writings. He believes Ibsen is
greater than Shakespeare and that George
Bernard Shaw is greater than either. He
scorns the absurdities of modern dress. One
of Shaw's distinct personalities is his fund
OF wit and ever-ready speech, which has
served him well on more than one occasion
When Arms and the Man" was first pro-
duced in London Shaw was summoned be-
fore the curtain by an enthusiastic audi
ence. In the midst of the applause he
thought he detected boot from dissatis-
fed person in the upper tier. The witty
playwright was equal to the occasion, how
ever.
II quite agree with my friend in the gal
lery,'' said he "but what are two against
SO many"
On another occasion he was asked where
he got his talent for fiction, and he replied
that it was revealed to him at an early age
in the very long prayers he used to make
as a child. Asked for description of him
self, he once replied that he was "the
wittiest man in London" and it would be
difficult TO disprove this statement. if any
body wished to do so. AS to whether Shaw
should be taken seriously, one writer re-
calls that some one has declared we cannot
be said to hold a belief firmly till we can
a49f L TO laugh at It, and If this is SO, then
WI. Shaw is one Of the most serious belieV-
erS in the world
One of the most obseEyant students of the
DramatiSt Shaw has said THAT the force
which gives utility to his work in all its
branches-to none of which he is willing to
give precedence, over the others-is the un-
established order and susage, whether in re-
ligion, art, politics or everyday life. Added
TO this Shaw's unhesitating efforts to act
upon the conclusions so derived and we be-
hold an attitude that invariably attracts
attention if 1t does not command respect.
Whether there be any of the mountebank
in the Shaw composition is not a point for
discussion here, but this story of him which
strongly smacks of desire for spectacular
notoriety is worth telling:
Miss Elizabeth Marbury, the American
theatrical agent VINO handles Shaw's plays,
had occasion to remit him comparatively a
small amount of royalty received for one
apologize letter. The answer she received,
50 indicative of Shaw,s character, is here
Marbury-What do you want me to make a
fortune for? Don't you know that the draft
you sent me will permit me to live and
preach socialism for six months? The next
time you have so large an amount to remit
please send it to me by installments, or you
viii put me to the inconvenience of having
haf do W
ing me advice about writing a play with
view to the box-office receipts? shall con-
ten years After that we can wallow in the
gold poured at our feet by dramatically
regenerated public.
An event of interest in theatrical circles
is the return engagement at EngEsh's OPP
era House, beginning Thursday night next,
of the Smythe & Rice Comedians, who will
present for the second time before an Indi-
annapolis audience II. A. Du Souchet's funny
farce, MY Friend from India" Wherever
my Friend from India" has been presented
dramatic critics, as we'll as the theater-go-
ing public, pronounce it the funniest farce
of the past decade. My Friend from In
dia'' does not depend on specialties and
songs and dances to win acclaim 1t is a
straight comedy, worked out with infinite
skill by the mind of a genius. Mr.. Du Sou
can stage, was but a short while ago a tel
egraph operator at Evansville. In his
leisure moments he worked on this comedy,
and oITt of his meager salary of $50 a week
he managed to save enough to take him to
New York, where he submitted his play to
after manager, without any sue
cess. He finally arrived at the offices of the
firm of Smythe & Rice, who had just
formed a co-partnership. Mr.. Smythe took
the manuscript, read it to his partner, and
both thought they saw something in it. The
future OF MY Friend from India is a
matter of history, at least Electrically
speaking. 1t was Produced in Philadelphia
at the Chestnut-street Opera House. where
it ran for four weeks, and was neither
hit nor failure. The young managers,
secured time at the Bijou Tneater.
on Broadway, and Du Souchet's effort made
one of the biggest hits that has been known
in the farce history in New York city in
the past ten years. The company contains
William G. Vaudeville, Arthur Larkin, w.
T. Coligan, Charles Mitchell, Lutte Vroh-
man, Ada Gilman. Margaret Otis, Louise
Arnot, Julia Bachelor, Agnes 'Farnum and
Ernest Warde. The engagement is for
three days, including a Saturday matinee.
Park-ssThe White Slave"
The coming of 1.-THE White Slave" to the
Park Theater tomorrow afternoon for