The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-08
OEMTTCT DIR. A. e. BUCHANAN
OuAtAANA 1898 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS

The second performance of Diplomacy"
last night deepened the fine impression
made by the Grand stock company in this
play the previous evening. Mr.. Sheldon,
made up as Baron Stein to closely resemble
Bismarck. is, as was predicted, doing some
of the best work he has yet shown in In
dlanapolis. His scene with Zicka in the first
act and with the Beauclercs in the third
act show him to splendid advantage. "Di-
plomacy'' is especially fruitful in the matter
of strong scenes between the leading male
characters. The ones just referred to and
that of the second act, where Count OrloE
makes an unfortunate mistake, are among
the best of the performance. During all the
weeks of the Grand stock company'S sea-
son in this city there have been few in
terror settings more beautiful, both as re-
CARDS scenery and furnishings, than that or
the second and third acts of Diplomacy"
The first matinee of the stock company in
SardOu's strong play will be given this after
noon. There will be another one Saturday.
Too Much Johnson is the bill for next
week.
Two performances this afternoon and to-
night of The Air Ship at the Park will
afford opportunities to those in search of
farce-comedy with all the musical trimmings
necessary to a pleasant entertainment. The
opening of the "Cyrano'' engagement to-
morrow afternoon at the Park is awaited
with unusual interest. Seats will be on sale
tomorrow for Hyde's Comedians, with
Helene Mora, at the Park next Monday for
a weeks engagement. Some people appear
to ave an idea that the Mora who was
killed in a railroad accident in the East last
summer was Helene Mora, but such was
not the case. New songs that make up
Helene Morals repertoire this season are
said to be among the most attractive she
has ever offered.
The plot of "A Day and a Night
in New York" coming to English's
Thursday, tells of an old naval Of
ficer who, returning from a long cruise,
finds the boy whom he has left, grown to a
man. He is not, apparently, of the sort the
old salt was made of. having no knowledge
of the world and being devoted to sewing
circles and church fairs. The young man
goes to New York to select singers for d
church choir, and the father goes along, in
tending to show his son a little of the town.
The father falls in with a theatrical man
ager who says that he will introduce the
son at a private dinner party to a number
of chorus girls, passing them off as church
concert singers and the father is to keep in
hiding to witness the fun. An ex-lea6ing
lady of the theater puts in an appearance
and tells the manager the story of her life
after having left the stage. The smell of
the footlights brings back old longings, and
the result is that she, too, is invited to the
party. She turns out to be the sons sweet
heart, and there is an unusual scene follow
Ing, very unlike ordinary Hoyt scenes.
George Backus, who plays tn. impossible
professor IN Way Down East" which will
close its engagement at English's with to-
days matinee and night performance, tells
q story on how he queered himself with
Playwright Broadhurst, and the story is too
good to keep. In the first place it must be
known that the long-haired character which
Backus is now playing is the first grotesoue
unsympathetic part he has ever attempted,
and persons who know of his versatile talent
and how charmingly stellar he can be in
such a role as Billings in TOO Much john
son. or in straight pantaloon parts where
ELM light comedy prevails, are disan-
pointed on account of the poor opportunifv
IN the role. Those who never saw Rackns
IN anything else would not rate him high
That Is how Backus says he queered him.
sell forever with Broadhurst, the author of
What Happened to Jones'" Without ever
having seen Backus, Broadhurst had him
engaged on iattering recommendations 10
PLAY Jones IN the second production of thai
wonderful farce. He then released him IN
go with Way Down East but assured him
there was TO be a part in his new play. The
LAST Cnapter,' Just suited to him. Then
"BfoadhurSt went To see Way Down East"
Tor the purpose Of discovering how good
BackdS really was. Everybody had told him
Backus would be a find
Wen, Broadhurst saw me as the nro-
lessor, says Backus in telling the story
Dut ne never read 10 me the part in The
Last Chapter which he had promised 10 do
one day l cornered him and he gave me