The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-12-10
H1ayS and
Players

The present week at English's Opera
House promises to be notable in point OF
excellence of productions and size of audi
ences. The sale OF seats for the engage
ment of Blanche Walsh and Melbourne
Mcdowell. which opsned Thursday morn
ing Of last week, has been unusually large.
A reason for this Is not hard to discover
In her lifetime Fanny Davenport. whose
plays Miss Walsh and Mr.. Mcdowell are
producing this season, was a favorite with
Indianapolis playgoers. Her fine stage
presence and forceful style of acting are
thoroughly familiar. Naturally. therefore,
the public has a keen desire to see how her
successor appears In the same plays. Press
notices in other cities where Miss Walsh
has appeared this season are most favora-
bic. In many places her reception has
amounted to an ovation. The engagement
here opens with one of Sardou's strongest
productions, la Tosca." which will be re-
peated at the Wednesday matinee. In this
play Sardou has embodied about all the
emotions that dominate the human heart
and mind-jealousy. anger. terror. grief, in
tense love, desperation, and Joy almost to
the verge OF madness, These cannot he
portrayed by an actress of the common
type. Fedora" is not only one of the most
dramatic plays that has ever come from
the pen Of Victorien Sardou. but one of the
best constructed acting plays that has ever
been put on the stage. One OF the essen
tial requisites of dramatic writing is that
the story OF the. piece be told in action
each act must be complete in itself. lead
ing up to and ending with a fitting climax
fsl
auirements. OF "Gismonda" 1t can be said
that nothing moro brilliant or lavishly
beautiful has been seen on the American
stage. 1t is revelation in dramatic pro-
duction. Each scene is true to the perioC
md place represented. The last scene !.
particularly elaborate and impressive. l.
portrays the interior OF the church Santa
Maria. at Athens. The decorative work Is
rnarvelously beautiful and accurate. The
frfezes show the procession Of saints and
martyrs shining in the light of hundreds
of tapers- The superb nave is ornamented
with golden mosaics, which are reprOduc-
lions from photographs procured on the
spot. In the play the bishop reads the
Palm Sunday service, the air is perfumed
with incense. the vaults ring with "hallelu-
tahs," so that the audience lima gines itself
witnessing real church service. The
character of GfsmoBda, portrayed by
Miss Walsh. Is one that fingers long I'm the
memory Melbourne Mcdowell needs few
words of Introduction. His manly pres
ence. excellent voice and Virile manners of
reading the lines are well known TO In
dianapOlis theater-gOers. For several years
he has taken rank among the best Leading
men of the country. He gives full expires
sion to the varied characters of Almerio.
LoriS and Ipanoff. being particularly stronc
In the love passages. No detail has been
omitted to make the presentation Of these
plays entirely satisfactory. y company OF
players who understand their business has
been engaged. and the settings and proper
ties leave nothing TO be desired Mon ay
night La Tosca'' will be presented Tues
day night, "Gismonda," and Wednesday
night, Fedora" A popular-priced matinee
will be given Wednesday afternoon, at
which LA Tosca" VIII be repeated.