The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-09-09
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Purple Lady,


THE Purple Lady is an American farce
on French lines without property screen.
That fact alone is enough to commend it
20 observing theater-goers ana those who
saw it at English's last night are ready
10 indorse IL. Sydney Rosenfeld knows the
farce-writing business from garnet to
kitchen and has turned out a work for the
modern demand without getting "smutty."
He has selected dozen excellent charac-
ters ranging from a serious and clerical
professor TO an artists model, and given
them all so many movements that to play
a part in the little fun-making production
should require a course in gymnasium.
The Purple Lady herself is more of a ripe
dafnsOn plum than peach and every
one knows the plum has a rich aromatic
flavor. Her costumes are all picture
clothes, she is graceful as any model ever
need be, she has the vivacity of a French
soubrette, the figure of a grand dame, the
intellect of a salon favorite and great
lunches OF gorgeous red hair. She is even
better than was expected and yet the farce
is so filled with interesting characters that
Teresa Maxwell hasn't all the play to her.
self by long way. She is spicy at all times.
with her Elita Proctor Otis walk and sniI-
ing mouth, but is infinitely more blithe than
the famed adventures impersonator, who,
strange enough, also comes from Indianap-
oils. There must be something about the at
mosphere in this section that is developing
go many talented stage women, or is 1t the
Hoosier corn beef and cabbage and noodle
soup?
The purple lady entered with an automo-
bile gait early III the play, just as young
received the full consent of Adelaide's mann
ma and the rest OF Adelaide's family 10 his
marriage on the following DAY. The purple
lazy. otherwise Peggy Proudfoot. had been
tl,e model for Eric's famous picture, THE
Purple Lady" and she assumes the right
siven her in all well-regulated novels and
dreams OF claiming that Eric belongs 10
her. Eric has a friend who is glad Eric
Is soon to be out Of the market, for the
not prevent Peggy from precipitatlnS
trouble on the eve of the wedding. She is
discovered during the interesting scene with
Eric, who. H. the confusion, introduced her
as the wife of his old friend, Prof. Gill
worthy. Peggy is there for excitement and
agrees to accept $4,000 10 clear out the next
day. Prof. Gilworthy appears and is made
TO admit relationship TO this purple lady.
His wife arrives and she is taken for the
new maid come to assist at the wedding
and IS snatched from the arms OF her dear
professor and made 10 do duty a servant.
With the household mixed up in this fashion
there is ground laid for an ''uproariouSly
funny farce and il continues uproarious to
the end. The purple lady introduces bit
OF real sentiment before she leaves by tear
Eric's father-in-law, and when she leaves
she has so captivated the audience that
hers Is the most appreciative applause given
any member or the company.
Miss Maxwell, however, IS only one OF a
number who made a good impression and
caused desire TO see more of them in this
part of the country. Frank Hatch's work
as the much-buffeted professor was 80
thoroughly artistic that he frequently pro-
vOked laughter without speaking a word.
Hatch made a hit here last year as the
eccentric yes, no" German in Broadhursts
Why Smith Left Home" He has a face
like President Goblin. of De Pauw Univer-
sity. and anyone who ever saw DR.. Gobin's
solemn countenance can imagine how funny
he would look with purple lady hanging
around his neck and calling him pet names
before company. James Carew is good
Eric sort Of grown-up Little Billie char
acter, while Robert Rogers as Dusen-
bury. the old sport" and G. II. Robertson
as Adelaide's father furnish much inoffen-
sive comedy. Mr.. Rogers is another Hoosier
PLAYS a maudlin drunk with his legs, but
talks as sober as anyone most of the time.
Henry StOckbridge is the first youthful
actor along this way in a long while who
can give the silly-boy-lover act without
spelling IL. He is supposed TO be a cousin
Of Adelaide and Is IN love with DuSenbury 8
daughter Hetty. Laura Nelson Hall simply
fills the bill as Adelaide while Edith Ives
n a strong-minded and easily-fooled mamma
with so much going on before her eyes.
Louise Mcintosh has a groteSque spinister
part and hoes II very well with the assist
snCe OF black corkscrew curls and a green
dress.
The Purple Lady will give a matinee to-
day and close with to-nightS performance.