The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-04
aHeart. of Oak. wednesday.

James A Herne has in indianapolis, as
indeed, In almost every other city in the
Union, a large and enthusiastic following
who possess unbounded faith in his ability
to construct as we'll as stage plays that
will meet their approval. This friendship
has not been gained as the result of a mere
popular fad. but rests upon very substan-
tial foundation. "Shore Acres" the product
of Mr.. Herne's dramatic ability, strength
ened by his skill as a stage director, has
become a household word among patrons
of the higher drama The announcement,
therefore, that Hearts of Oak" another
OF Mr.. Herne's plays prepared for the
public under his personal direction, is COM
ing to Englishs Opera House for three
performances this week, Wednesday and
Thursday nights and a special matinee
Thursday afternoon, will be sufficient to
provoke the Hveliest interest.
Hearts OF Oak" like Shore Acres" has
It's scenes laid upon The coast of New Eng
land. The same delightful atmosphere and
the same air OF domesticity pervade 1t that
made the other play such a source of ex-
haustless pleasure. At the same time the
story is an entirely different one and the
subject is treated in such way that little
similarity exists between the two pieces.
In Hearts OF Oak the principal charac-
ters are Terry Dennison, Ruby Darrell and
Chrystal (the latter named for one of sr.
AerneS daughters.) 1t Is supposed that
long before the opening of the play Terry
Dennison, rough, good-natured sort of
Fellow. more boy than man, has accidental
~ come across two little waits. the girl
Chrystal and the boy Ruby. Out of the
goodness of his heart he adopted these two
little children and raised them into man
and womanhood. At the time of the rise
OF the curtain. Ruby, who had become a.
sailor, is expected to return from a long
cruise. Chrystai is all anxiety, since. be-
fore he sailed, she had promised him to be-
come his WIFE She has kept this fact q Sc
cret during her lovers absence. Terry
who has by this time reached middle age
discovers that he too, loves Chrystal and
Ing between the young people. tells her of
his affection Although astounded and
deeply grfeved at the revelation, Chrystal
feels the weight of her obligation to her
benefactor so keenly that she consents to
become his wife. Ruby sanctions this
change in their plans upon his return, for
the same reason that moved Chrystal
After Terry and Chrystal have been mar
rled some time he discovers the truth
about the sacrifice she has made for him
and resolves to go away on long voyage
telling the two young lovers III he has not
returned at the end OF five years 70 assume
that he is dead anu carry out their original
Intention which he had unWittingIy pre-
vented. There is touch Of pathos In the
closing scene of the play, but IL ends hap
PLY, nevertheless. and the comedy element
running through its several acts makes IL
highly entertaining. A special feature of
the performance will be some fine singing
by the Hearts of Oak Quartet
In the cast producing Hearts of Oak
are f. p. Sullivan, Nat Jones, James
Eiiote Enneking, Marie Adair and little
Margaret Cecil