The Indianapolis journal., 1899-10-10
AMUSEM ENTS.

~NfOke'-The Grand stock Company.
The chief feature OF ''Niobe," which was
put on by the Grand stock company last
night, was the opportunity II gave the
members of the company to get away from
themselves. 1t was good play. too. to
follow on the heels of East Lynne" gloom,
and by tonight, when the half-forgotten
odds and ends are picked up and the COM
pany gets its second wind. there will be
enough to set the audiences laughing all
the rest OF the week. The fair crowd out
last night. Notwithstanding the counter in
fiuences of election eve, took kindly TO the
spirit of the comedy and recognized the
fun in the situations. even where the stiff
ness OF first nights performance let op
portunity go by default. 1t takes a rollick-
ing dash of farce from curtain UP to cur
tain down to make an audience enjoy such
an improbable, fantastic comedy as mi
obe," which revolves about an ancient Gre
York | drawing % room Miss Mis- s shannon % in dow
ing drapery, made commendable effort to
be just as ingenious as possible to empha-
size the ridiculous situations, There have
been more statuesque statues than this
leading woman on indianapolis stages, but,
being foreign to the role. and not engaged
Tor this purpose. she, OF course, had some
shortcomings, from a carping sculptors
point OF view. Miss Shannon has a pretty
pair OF arms, of which the audience had fun
marble, suddenly given life, must be color
less, quite naturally, and. IL Mary Ander-
son and her wonderful Galatea be forgotten
for a moment. IL recurs that most o. the
successes in church fair theatricals have
been along the aine of "Pygmalion and GAL
atea." Miss shannon. by her style, made an
excellent foil FIR the fun that grows out of
her advent. SEe treated her admirers to a
neat bit OF Gredian posing when she tumbled
the pillows to 1he floor and, to the amaze
ment of Corn9ius Griffin, fell down upon
them; and gave picture of still life in the
]. Henry Kolker, the leading man, had one
OF those parts for which actors return scant
gratitude 10 the stage manager, who assigns
the role. while on the other hand. John
Amos Dunn, whose head is the craig around
which trouble gathers. Mr. Stepping was
quite conscientious, and not infrequently he
was up to the character. but it was little
too much for him on the whole. He lacked
ir stage business. He has a good voice for
the part and has the physique for a jolly
Two clever ingenues on the stage at the
same time Is a novelty for the Indianapolis
ambitious in her work was a stormy little
creature, and withai winsome as Miss
Rice. the petite ingenue from the Cincin-
natl stock company. who was brought here
for the play this week. Both are dainty
misses. and added considerable touch OF
life TO the stage. Miss Donico was the
wife of Peter Amos Dunn. She hasn't come
into her own I'm the way of parts as yet,
but, as usual, made the best Of what she
q
contrast to Miss Shannon In style, appear,
ance and in other distinguishing ways. and
these two women seem admirably selected
for q stock company where many differen.
plays are given during 4 season. Miss
Shannon, OF course, had no opportunity to
display gowns last night, and this honor
went TO Miss Donico, who got picturesque
effects out of society costuming. one huge
black hat she wore was particularly strik-
ing. 4 new face In the company was that
lady who has taken to the stage
but recently. She had the role OF the real
governess and surprised tht se who knew of
her debut before an India. 'polis audience
by her ease Of manner and c0mposure. She
has a pretty face and from her work last
night gives evidence of becoming a capable
actress She acts with intelligence and
spirit Mrs. Cravens efforts were up TO her
usral good standard.
On the male side OF the cast, Tom Rey-
nolds had the artistic honors last night. He
had n minor part. but his fresh. wholesome
ways and his handsome face gave a decided
color TO the presentation. He has many of
those qualities which the successful juve-
niles OF the best New York stock companies
possess. Mr.. Patton Jared sadly in the cast
ing OF parts. and yet he did the best with
II. Mr.. Stein. as the artist, did nothing to
attract attention. Then there was w. n.
Webb. who wasn't even given a place on the
tbeatSr programme, but deserved il as
James, the butler.
The stage setting. which was the same for
the three acts. was warm and rich and re-
hected credit on Stage Manager Craven
ideas There was ptofusion of furniture
and bric-a-brac which would have been al
together too much. arranged by less capable
hands than those OF Mr. Cravens The
the remainder OF the week. with the usual
Wednesday and Saturday matinees. There
Is large sale for tonight. Election re-
turns VIII be read from the stage.