The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-06
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
WILLIE COLLIER AND JAMES o'NEILL
HOLD FORTH AT ENGLIsh's.
sFaust'' and "TwO Little vagrants-
Announcements for the Park
Georgia sEinstreIs sat Empire.

Tomorrow night at English's. the coming
young comedian of the American stage,
Willie Collier, will begin a short return
engagement of two nights and a special
matinee on Tuesday afternoon in 1.-THE Man
from Mexico" in which he scored so
heavily at this same theater earlier in the
season. The piece, from the pen
Of the author OF MY Friend from
India Du Souchet, has drawn crowds
not only in the East, but through
out the entire Western country as far as
San Francisco, and Mr.. Golfers presenta-
ton of the unfortunate Benjamin Fitzhugh
the society swell, who was sent to Jail for
thirty days, and in order to conceal his
whereabouts told his jealous and suspicious
wife that he was in Mexico" has con-
tlnued to throw his audiences into ''spasms
Of laughter" The situations that arise from
the deception are most surprising and ri
oiculous, and follow each other in rapid
succession, keeping the audience in almost
constant laughter. Mr.. Collier is still sur
rounied by the same competent company
Louise Allen takes the part of Fitzhugh's
wife, and her work has been highly COM
mended. In the last act, when Fitzhugh re-
turns from his alleged trip to Mexico
she appears in Il handsome Spanish cos
tune and introduces a lively Mexican
dance in celebration of the event. The pris-
on scene in the second act is one of the
funniest on the stage this season. Fitzhugh
is discovered in the prison in convict garb
doing the lockstep with the other prison.
ers. and Mr. Collier is a picture of resigna-
ton and despair. Dan Mason continues to
make his usual hit as the excitable German
poet, Won Bulow Bismarck Schmidt, who
has been unjustly incarcerated in the pris-
on, as does Macllyn Arbuckle, as the kind
friend who never fails to get his friends
into trouble by trying to get them out of IL.
Cock, the deputy sheriff, will again be por-
traycd by M. i. Heckert, while the other
parts in the piece are sustained by the
same players seen during the former en-
gagement Popular prices will prevail at
the matinee TO be given on Tuesday after
noon.
in order to demonstrate that. in spite of
his unique record with Monte Cristo" he
is not a one-part actor James O'Neill wifi
produce both ''Virginius and 1.-THE Dead
Heart" as we'll as Monte Cristo" during
his engagement at Englishs, Thursday
Friday and Saturday, ''Virginius" being the
bill the first night.
Old theater-goers who may have seen Mr..
O'Nefll as Richeleu, Hamlet, Othello and
Iago, while leading man with Edwin For
rest, Edwin Booth Lawrence Barrett, Char
lotte Cushman or Adelaide Nelson may
look forward with pleasure to his appear
ance in Sheridan Knowles's tragedy. Mr..
O'NeilI Is gifted by nature with magnetic
personality, silvery voice and stately pres
-ence. The whole scale of human emotions
Is depicted in the character of the proud
Roman father. One San Francisco paper
said of Mr. O'Neirs ''Virginius'' that GER
fainly 10 actor since Macready's time Gun
der whose auspices ''Virginius'' was orig
inally produced) has so truly portrayed the
deep paternal devotion and emotional ten
derness of the rugged Roman soldier. 1t
is useless to speak of Monte Cristos' sue
cess as play in this country without men
tioning in the same breath the name of
James O'Neill. Long ago the public opin-
ion decided that it only wanted to see one
American actor impersonate the part of
Edmund Dantes. Mr.. ONein has surround
ed himself with a company that is said to
appear to equal advantage in ''Virginius, -
Monte Cristo" and THE Dead. Heart. F"
The version and the whole production of
THE Dead Heart which Mr.. O'Neill will
give, is said to be an exact copy of Henry
lrvingb presentation at the London Lyce-
UNI. The chief part of Robert Landry, a
young sculptor, who, after series of mis-
fortunes, finally meets his death on the
guillotine, is a role to which Mr.. O'Neill is
suited owing to the prominence of his sym
pathetic nature and power. Complete scenic
equipment is carried by the organization.
This season Mr.. James O'Neill claims that
he is supported by one of the best compa-
MES on the road. Miss Kate Fletcher, of
this city, known as one Of the best charac-
ter actresses of to-day is conspicuous
member of Mr.. O'Neill's company. Mr..
O'Eeill will present "Virginius'' Thursday
night, Monte Cristo' Friday night and
Saturday matinee, and THE Dead Heart"
Saturday night