The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-30
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
MISS Ia vERNE-s FIRST APPEAR-
ANCE As A STAR AT ENGLIsH's.
story OF Her New Comedy, "a Wom-
ans PoIitics"-MeIodram at the
Park-Empire Opens Again.

1t is rot often that maker OF plays finds
occasion TO visit Indianapolis. for this Is
not a city in which many theatrical COM
panies form. reheprse ard start on the road,
but at this time there occurs an exception.
and George Foster Plat. the writer of
Frederick the Great" which is to have an
elaborate production next fall with Lewis
Morrison in the title role, Is a guest at the
Denison- Mr.. PIatt came here to superin-
tend the rehesrsals of his play. "a Wom-
ans Politics" which he has sold to Miss
Lucille La Verne. Last week the company,
with Miss La Verne as the star was tried
out in the play in a short tour through the
State. and the last three nights and Satur-
day afternoon Of this week it will have its
first metropolitan" production at English's
Opera House. Mr.. Platt saw the opening
performance of the play at Greenfield and
marked several places where he thought it
dragged a little These places will be
frightened before it is put on in this city.
Mr.. Plat said yesterday that he and Miss
La Verne felt there was good III the play,
and he hoped it would be successful in
pleasing the public.
Twenty years before the opening Of the
story OF "A Woman's Politics. Harrison
Weatherall and Hannah Bassett had been
sweethearts in some place far TO the east of
the mining camp in which the play is loca-
ted. Harrison Weatherall had broken his
VOWS 10 Hannah Bassett and had married a
rich girl. At the opening Of the story he is
the owner of a Colorado mine. for the de-
yelopment Of which he Is seeking financial
assistance from capitalists in the East. He
has son who has fallen in love with and
secretly married Nellie Davis, the daughter
OF the superintendent Of his fathers mine.
Harrison Weatherall is a widower. One OF
his schemes for the financial betterment of
his condition is the marriage of his son TO
a wealthy girl in the East. Hence. the
clandestine marriage is kept from the
father, and leads TO complications which
result in a thrilling scene when the mar
.riage is exposed. Harrison Weatherall. I'M
der the direction Of his capitalist friends in
the East. and by his promise TO them 70
oppose legislation on which the miners who
hold the balance of political power are in
sisting, is a candidate for the Legislature.
and proposes TO promise the miners TO sup
port their measure with the deliberate in
tention of breaking his promise after their
votes have elected him. In his schemes he
is assisted by Felix Atwood, unscrupu-
lous politician, and Jack" Jones. a new
WONHdu WHO HdS an Capacity
for malicious mischief
Hannah Bassett, Tilted by Harrison
Weatherall years before. remained single.
studied law and built up a practice in the
same mining town which is the home of
Harrison Weatherall. Although the closest
friendship exists between young Bob
Weatherall and his fathers old sweetheart,
Hannah BasSett, the father and Miss Bas-
sett have ignored the existence of each
other, and the old love, until fate In the
shape of the friendship of his son for his
former sweetheart, and the fact that the
for the Legislature 10 oppose Harrison
Weatherall, again brings them together.
Throughout three acts of the play the fight
for political supremacy between the two
Is waged under a banner Inscribed Good
Morals. Good Wages and Good Govern
ment," carried by Miss Bassett, against a
current OF duplicity, deceit and dersiOn Of
Miss Bassett's principles. headed by Harri-
son Weatherall- Miss Bassett wins out, and
her triumph Is made the more delightful by
her marriage To Mayor "Bill" Brainard. the
editor. There is said to be much humOr
and human interest I'm the play, and Mr..
Platt Is pleased at the general applause its
presentation has met with in the smaller
experienced actress who has reputation for
intelligent appreciation OF character. and
Mr.. Plat seems we'll satisfied in putting
the play in her hands. He Is also pleased
with the other members Of the company,
among whom Is Miss Kate Fletcher, of this
city, long in the cast of James O'Neill s
Monte .CriSto.