The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-11
FAIR WEEK PLAY BILLS
~sHENANDoAH- WAR SPECTACLE ON
THE STAGE AT ENGLIsHs.
ssuperba," with Its Countless Novel
ties, at the Grand-ParI< and
Empire offerings.

''shenandoah," as 1t will be presented on
the stage at English's Monday night, is
Bronson Towards welI-remembered war
play turned into a war spectacle. Those
who saw the original production of the play
ten years ago or So when it was building
the fortune for Charles Frohman that has
since made him the king of American the
atrscal mana gers, and then have seen it
again since Jacob Lift revived it at Chicago
during the summer, declare the new pro-
duction to be as far ahead of the old as the
modern dramas ahead of the old blood
and-thunder representations. Shenandoah"
in its new Dress promises to make another
fortune for it's producers. and give it a rank
ahead Of all other American plays as a rev.
enue raiser. In addition to the strongest
cast the famous play ever had, Jacob Lift
gave Stage Director bob" Roberts carte
blaneh to supply 1t with everything to make
Ct spectacular In accomplishing this end
the number of people employed has been
Increased from forty in the old days to
nearly one hundred and fifty at the present
time For the battle scenes in the third
act, infantry, cavalry and artillery are all
brought on the stage. Where General Phil
Sheridan formerly came riding with a
handful Of play soldiers. now squadron
OF cavalry makes the rush, followed by real
soldiers. The famous Sheridan ride from
Winchester, when he turned the tide Of
battle at Cedar Run and routed the tenn
porarily victorious Confederates. has be-
come realistic battle spectacle, arousing
the audience to such high excitement that
the spectators rise to their feet and join in
the shout of victory of the Union soldiers.
The inspiring tableau closing the scene with
8 chorus of one hundred and fifty people
singing THE Star-spangled Banner" and
waving the stars and stripes, is more like
Sousa operatie finale than a climax for a
war drama If Lifts stage director can
duplicate in the production at English's the
one seen at Chicago Shenandoah" will be
the talk of the theater-gong people of the
town this week. His manager has secured
a squad from the guard left behind from
Colonel Studebaker's regiment to assist in
the battle scene, and the boys who spent
the summer in Florida and were disap
pointed in not being sent with Shafter to
help storm San Juan and FL Caney will
have chance to smell powder during the
week at the opera hotise where the rounds
OF ammunition will not be limited.
The story of Shenandoah" has not been
altered from it's original outline. 1t contains
one of the best dramatic recitals of love
and war mingled as they always are in
war dramas, ever turned out by an Ameri-
can playwright With its background of
war history Towards Shenandoah" is
more interesting play than his Henrietta"
The characters are entertaining in them
selves, presenting both the comical and the
serious side of human nature. When played
by such company as Lift has brought to-
gether the performance could not fail to
rank with anything on the road. Englshs
will have few better entertainments to offer
during the season. For the role of Colonel
Kerchival West. played with brilliant dash
by Otis Skinner at Chicago, Maurice Barry
more has been secured, while Louis Hen
bricks is retained as General Buckthorn.
Mary Hampton still has the leading femi-
nine role of Gertrude lDuckthorn, while the
ingenue part of charming Jennie Buckthorn
is given to Charlotte Crane. The immense
amount of scenery necessary for the pro-
duction is, of course, carried by the COM
pany as well as the artillery pieces, the
horses and all the necessary military equip
ments.
Shenandoah will remain at English's all
week, giving matinees on Wednesday and
Saturday.