The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-14
NENTTCT DR.. A. E. BUCHANAN
UuN11UA 1898 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.
EngIish's-"Hon. John Grigsby.

EnRAlSn' s--"tOns JOnm OfIBSDy."
1t is a delightful feeling for theatergoers
to know what they are going to see in adj
vance of buying their tickets and they al
ways have this feeling when Sol Smith Rus
sell comes 10 town. The audience that
greeted Mr.. Russell at Englishs last night
went prepared to laugh and likewise to shed
a few tears of sympathy. OF course, the
audience can never tell what particular set
of circumstances will be employed to amuse
in a Russell play, but it is generally we'll as
sured what sort of character Mr. Russell will
have and the people would probably be dis
appointed if the playwright took liberties and
sprang a surprise. There is no surprise in
Hon John Grigsby," except in what he
does; never i'm the way he does it. Russell is
always most lovabe character and he
makes Grigsby another Of those sterling
honest and self-sacrificing fellows found in
the story books. The authors treatment
seems to falter in spots and iii places tn,
character may show evidence of plain, I'M
adulterated farce, but when Russell speaks
with fun or cause a tear to start. The strug-
giles of the Illinois lawyer, whose clients
are mostly poor folks, are not made as pa
thetic as might be, the interest in the char
acter of Grigsby being overshadowed be-
fore the close of the first act by melo-
dramatic incidents in the work of scheming
politicians. who set about to ruin the future
IF the lawyer
The story, laid before the war. gives on
portunity to color the action with the pre-
Vailing conflict in those days, when there
were two parties in every Northern State
divided on the slavery question. The author
has concocted plot in which the slave SYM
painters attempt to secure a decision from,
GIlgsDy, whom they have placed on the
supreme bench, that will virtually make
1lllnols slave State. Grigsby heautiftllIv
foils their scheme and exposes much ner.
sonal and political rottenness in the char
acterS or the men who have sought to de-
tame the State. The play is brought to a
beautiful conclusion, all the situations he
ing admirably adapted to RusseH's style of
humor and pathos The audience last night
was plainly enamOred of the PLAY and fire.
quently offered tiattering evidence of its de-
light After the first act Mr. Russell was
called OUT Tor one OF his dainty talks, which
are always enjoyed.
The play itself while at all times enter
lalnlhg ana anording no ground for criti-
s Sisrn on that score, is to be criticised for
Its old-fashoned melodramatic features Of
plot as well as for the license with history
Whlch the author has taken. Surely there
was more than one supreme Judge in Uii
nois before the war and the placing Of
Grigsby on the bench would not have been
enough 10 make slave-law valid even had
there been an opportunity. While the slave
question was being holly discussed nj the
tlme or the play there was nothing to
JuStlly q playwright IN assuming that an
attempt was ever made to introduce slavery
IN that State. The author Is also yacuely
indefinite about the old law that is alleged
TO be In the statutes giving any-
one the right to throw a girl
in jail for preaching against slavery
II there ever were such a law it would
nave been equally operative against every
campaign speaker long before the memora
bic Lincoln-Douglas campaign Charles
Klein, the author, has assumed facts In
Hon. John Grigsby'' that do not 30 down
with the average thinking playgoer and TO
that extent the story OF the plav loses i'm
Us appealing force. There are crudties in
character treatment that should also he
done away with. The stain should be re-
moved from Nellie Ogden's name. and the
love interest between Grisby and the school
marm could be better brought out. Yet The
nnes are so bright and Russell handles the
situations so admirably that 1t seems almost
Ike taking liberties TO hint at criticism.
me play is wholesome and the Characters
are entertainingly natural The in
PRODUCTION Of the 1872 veteran and
the Mexican veteran is novel
eonceit but i IS only ene OF the
snany things IA the play which make il
nard 70 believe that Charles Klein origin
49, the idea Of the drama. 1t Is so rural