The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-03-02
0ENTTCT DIR. A. f. BUCHANAN
OAAtAAN 32-33 When Building.
USEMENT

Otis Skinner, who will begin his engage
ment at Engiish's tonight in the beautiful
comedy Rosemary" continues to follow
the rule ne laid down four years ago, when
he began his starring career, to bring some
thing new each season. IN these years Mr..
Skinner has been seen here in His Grace
De Grammont," THE Jester" "A Soldier
OF Fortune 'villon the vagabond,"
prince Rudolph" and four notable produce
tions Of Shakespeare. including Hamlet"
Merchant OF Venice" Richard III' and
Romeo and Juliet Now comes Rose
mary" and it is practically a new play, as
IT was seen here for only one performance
three seasons ago, when John Drew and
Maud Adams, with the Empire Theater
Company, played Ii. While Rosemary is
q comedy, 1t contains so many tender and
pathetic touches as TO rank somewhat high
er than the modern trivial vehicles for
laughter. Mr.. Skinner character is that of
Sir Jasper Thorndyke, a middle-aged Eng
lish baronet, who falls in love with little
Dorothy Cruickshank, whom he first meets
while she is clipping with her boyish lover.
The girlssh fondness which Dorothy at once
shows for her benefactor is such that Sir
Jasper should not be blamed for treasuring
her in his heart. But he is in honor bound
not TO step in and take the winsome
Dorothy from her sweetheart, and he there
fore keeps his love a secret and assists the
young people in finally being welded The
sprig OF rosemary which she gives him he
carries always. and in the last act, a beau
uiul sequel to the play, he is shown fifty
years later still treasuring her memory, the
comedy closing with a poetic and touching
scene. Gretchen Lyons, a talented young
with Joseph Holland last season, will have
the role of Dorothy, which helped TO make
q star out OF Maud Adams.
The popularity Of The Senator" at the
Grand yesterday afternoon forced the or
chestra under the stage, the audience being
of an overlooking character. The theater
was again filled last night TO witness the ad-
mirable performance by the stock company,
which Is in for a very prosperous week.
MIR. Hansel is doing some excellent work
as senator Rivers. who has the stage most
OF the time. and a remarkable feature in
connection with this weeks productiin Is
that Mr.. Hansel was thoroughly up in all
OF the lines and business Of the part the
OF the highest royalty plays produced by
stock companies, the right to produce IL for
one week costing $50.
Otis Skinner recently told a story that
shows how actors regard their audiences.
and also max public a bit of supersti-
ton in the makeup OF Joseph Jefferson,
with whom Skinner was associated in the
great comedians revival OF THE Rivals
II like best an absolutely silent audience"
said Mr.. Skinner. Sometimes. In Rose
mary during the second and third acts the
house Is immovable. almost breathless.
Moments like these are the actors most
gratifying ones. One OF the most sympa-
thetic audiences / ever saw was that TO
which Mrs. t1ske played Tess OF the
DfCrbervilles' lately. IL was so quiet YOU
could hear a pin drop. Once the spec
tators are so enthralled. half the burden
Is taken from the actors shoulders. Josenh
Jefferson has "A pet notion regard
ing audiences. He believes that any one
dressed in mourning will kill the comedy
effect in his plays. Not long ago the
prosceniuiR box in a New York theater.
where he was hlling an engagement. was
occupied by two solemn-faced women in
by the star during his first scene. bur he
came of and said there vas something
wrong with his audience. CHANGING from
the first entrance, he saw the two parcels
Of gloom in the sepulchral depths of the
box.
That settles it, said Mr.. Jefferson
There won't be q laugh tonight
1T was nearly true, for The Rivals was
played that evening with but few tributes
OF laughter 10 the woes of Bob Acres"
There have been so many requests for
Camille" during the past two or three
months that II was decided to have the
stock company play It next week. Aiexan-