The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-26
BILLS THIS WEEK
NINE. MODJEsKA AND OTIS SKINNER
ENGLIsH's STAR ATTRACTIONS.
seThe Senator, VIII De the Offering at
the Grand-Park's Fine Pro-
grnmme-Empire.

Madame Modteska will be sure of a hearty
welcome on her temperance at Englsh's
Opera House tomorrow night. She has a
large personal following here and theater-
goers realize the position she holds in re-
gard to the legitimate stage in America.
The heavier tragedies would be in temporary
oblivion but for her, and one must be CRATE
full for her three nights and a matinee. The
plays in which she VIII appear would hardly
be attempted by any other actress now be-
fore the public. and they are plays that
could be repeated more often to the delight
Of all those who take an interest in the
better things the stage has to offer. She
will open her engagement tomorrow even
ing with Shakspeare's tragedy OF Mac
BETH" which will be repeated on Wednes-
day evening. Although the part Of Lady
Macbeth is not exactly the star part, there
has been no occasion yet. no matter WIKI
played the opposite role. that Modjeska did
not make it appear so. and she has had some
very brilliant Macbeths at that. The idea
Of giving two performances of Macbeth was
governed by the numerous replies to the in
vitaton to the public regarding her roper
tory. The other play. which, perhaps. has
become more associated with her name than
any other, that Of Mary Stuart" will be
the matinee offering of Wednesday,.
The most important feature of her en-
gagement, however, viii be the production
Of Shakspeare's Antony and Cleopatra on
Tuesday night, not only because it has not
been seen here in so many years. but be-
cause it will present Madame Modjeska in
an entirely new role. Unlike the Cleopatra
OF Sardou, with which every one is familiar,
the "Sorceress Of the Nile" as Shakespeare
conceived her, and which Modjeska will por-
tray, was a most human woman. She was
not only the Cleopatra of Plutareh's MARIA
tive and Of recorded history, but a supreme
type Of all that is fatal in woman. Shak-
speare's Cleopatra is a sort Of reorganization
of the innocent fascination of Rosalind and
Viola, the evil influences of Lady Macbeth
and all the fatal feminine qualities to which
man is exposed. 1t is such a Cleopatra
that Modjeska will attempt to protray,
rather than the gorgeous nineteenth-century
courtesan as Sardou pictured her, with all
his borrowing from the early English dra-
matist. Mr.. John c.. Fisher, who is direct
ing Modjeska's tour this year, is a man Of
means, and he is said to have spared no
expense in making a production of Cleopatra
pictorially attractive and historically cor
rect.
LII tragic stage mas Deen more ana more
neglected of late years, and its future in
Yites none but the most pessimistic refec-
tons. 1t is hardly because the public has
tired of Shakespeare and the classics, for
Mme. Modieska alone, whose following
rather increases than otherwise with the
succeeding years, may be quoted as a bril-
liant instance to the contrary. 1t is largely
due, no doubt, to the ever-growing scarcity
of tragic actors. 1t naturally takes an ex-
traordinary intelligence to create an illu-
sion when exploiting the themes of the
classic writers, and such intelligence unfor-
tunately is rarely found in the world of
grease paint and powder. The genius needed
to adequately portray the great h~eroines
of the classic authors, it would seem, must
be very much kin to that of the writers
in conceiving them. This would i'm a meas
IRE explain that, while Shakespeare spells
bankruptcy in the hands Of the mediocre
talent, it stin spells fortune when handled
by a Modjeska. A comparatively few years
ago she had contemporary rivals worthy
her mettle, to-day there is hardly one that
is within measurable distance of COMPARE
son, a condition which in itself is enough
to account for the decline of the tragic stage
in America.
That Modjeska should have taken up the
multi-emotioned character of Cleopatra as
conceived by Shakespeare speaks volumes
for her artistic ambition. especially in view
of the fact that her fame would warrant
her being accepted in her earlier triumphs
as often as she cared to repeat them. The
production is said to be as elaborate an af-
fair as this version of the play has had in
its history on the American stage, and it
promises to be one of the most interesting
events of this season.