The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-06
PARKS DOUBLE BILL.
ga Guilty Mother Followed by con
the Suvanee River"


James H. Walnck has IN the past two or
three seasons given to the stage some elab-
crate scenic productions, and none has been
more successful than "A Guilty Mother"
which is coming to the Park tomorrow aft
ernoon for three days Last season, when
Mr.. Wallick introduced this play to Indian
apois at the Park Theater, it did notably
large business, so large that it pressed the
record pretty Closely "A Guilty Mother
tells a sensational story of an unfortunate
elopement, somewhat similar to that of
East Lynne, followed by years of repent
ance. During the five acts necessary to I'M
tangle the various difficulties into which the
leading people of the story have got them
selves, some exceptionally elaborate scenery
is used, including a realistic storm scene,
during which q house is struck by light
ming. A mirror, shattered by the lightning
stroke, stands among the ruins and gives a
strange reflection, which afterwards proves
to be the principal piece Of evidence in
murder case. Among the stage pictures is
a view of the River Thames by moonlight,
with the lights of London in the distance;
London bridge, a street in London and Oak
ley Towers, which, when struck by light
ming, falls to the stage, leaving only the
huge broken mirror standing. The plot is
tied space, but it forms a thrilling story of
crime and the ultimate reward of virtue. In
the cast are May Anderson, who plays the
title role, Jewell Varney Fanny Barry
Sprague, Carrie Laurelle, Agnes Carlton,
Ella Baker, Sadie Bennett Anna Cole, Rob
ert Wayne. Harold Linson, George ID.
Sprague, Alfonso Phillips, William Richard
son, Edward Aimes, j.. E. McGregor and
others.
ION the Suwanee River will be seen at
the Park Theater for three nights and the
usual daily matiuees, commencing next
Thursday afternoon. 1t belongs to the class
of home plays in which mothers, wives
and daughters find pleasure. The action of
the story IS laid near the little village of
Suwanee, in Florida, and deals largely with
the Clayton family one of the oldest in the
district. Colonel Clayton, old planter,
has given a mortgage on his estate. The
day the mortgage is due there is quarrel
between Clayton and old Caleb Croc,
hard-hearted miser, who has made the loan.
The old planter is murdered by the 1nlser.
Dora Clayton. the colonePs adopted daugh-
ter, returns from the North on the day OF
the quarrel. whittier she has been to con-
suit optic experts, and the excitement at
tending the struggle and her fathers muir
der cause complete loss Of sight. In the
struggle the murderer is compelled to strike
the colonies son a blow in the head, leaving
him an imbecie. After the murder the as
sassirt manages to make away with the
money which was to have discharged the
mortgage The play then treats of the ex-
periences of the blind girl and the foolish
SON. who thrown on the mercy OF relatives,
fare badly. save for the kindly intervention
of an old coored woman and young neigh
boring planter and his sister. During the
third act in the course of an attempted alb
duction of the blind girl by the Williams,
struggle ensues during which her adopted
brother, intervening, receives another blow
on the head. the effect being to bring back
his reason. He, thinking 1t the same Strug-
gle in which his father was killed picks
out the real assassin, thus clearing the mys-
terry of his fathers murder.