The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-12-18

lowe appeared in front OF the draperieS
that obscured the stage, leading the author
looked as If he would turn and flee in
continently. Several seconds passed before
unity and collect his thoughts sufficiently
He said:
Ladies and Gentlemen-It is rather a
difficult matter for me TO know just exactly
what to say TO you, except to thank you
very. very sincerely for your kind recep-
ton of this play and of my book. Less
than one hundred yards from this spot, and
| am glad to say less than one hundred
years ago, / was born laughter and ap-
pIauseI, and /, therefore, feel for In
dianapols. your city, which is also my city,
an affection which clings with tender pathos
TO the scenes of a happy childhood My
childhood in Indianapolis was a happy
one. Here 1 underwent all the ills that
childish flesh Is heir 70. ILaughter.1 Here
/ had the whooping cough and the mumps
and the stone bruise on my heel. sore toe,
sore shins and sore head. / would that 1
could have them all again. Laughter and
beautiful lines In English poetry-you Will
know who wrote il when l say 1.-THE
joys made out of ills like them are good
enough for me- Here I learned 10 fight
llaughterl, and I hope / have not forgotten
how Here 1 learned to bear meekly the
honors of infrequent victory, and here L
learned to bear proudly the pains and Ills
Of frequent and inglorious defeat. These are
value 10 one who has to stand in the great
white light-a target for the ever ready
and ever watchful critics. However, L
nave no fault to find with them. L nave
found them a goodly, kindly folk. They
have been too kline TO me. 1 hank them.
AS TO this play. which you have received
so kindly tonight, L feel that I can speak
impersonally and without vanity when l
say that / feel that IL is all that l could
expect. With the clever Paul Hester TO
dramatlze il and the brilliant Julia Mar
lowe to play il Igreat applausel, L think
a dramatization of the unabridged diction-
airy itself would be a success. lRenewed
applause.1 I really do not know what else
IN say 10 you, except to again thank you,
and thank you, and thank you. / feel that |
owe so much. not only for your reception Of
this play, but for the great kindness In
diaEapolis has shown me. / have had moth
ing but kindness from indianapolis and
State on earth. Tremendous applause and
cheering.] So / thank you again and agair.
and. although 1t is a little early yet, l wish
you all a merry Christmas and a happy
New Year" [Great applause.1
When one has recovered from the
glamour of the splendid production with
which the play is invested and reflects dis
passionately over the performance, the con-
clusion is irresistible that only two trt-
umphs of significant greatness were won
last night, and those by Mr.. Major and
Miss Marlowe. The author made the char
acter Of the beautiful, ~changeable princess
of such prominence In his book and Miss
Marlowe has succeeded so remarkably in
transferring 1t TO the stage that one can
have eyes and ears only for the one char
acter in the play and gratitude only for its
creator and it's interpreter. Words might
be multiplied in an analysis of Miss Mar
loves exquisite art without conveying an
adequate idea OF its enthralling charm.
In the garden scene with Brandon, where
Mary spurns her plebeian lover one second
and cries out for him the next; in scenes or
her fiercest anger, when occasionally the
DrPftV Inns give vent to words very like
oaths: when she abuses and caresses the
faithful Lady Jane Bolingbroke by dtful
turns; wnen she drives the KING, ner
brother, to the point OF distraction, so that
he declares IL England held another like
her he would hang himself and that his
kingdom might sink to hell and he would
have none of it; no matter in what mood
the princess reveals herself. she is yet the
woman with a heart, the lovable, woman
ly woman, fit mate for one of royal birth
and capable of making him who won her a
king indeed, regardless of his station. Even
the irascible king ultimately succumbed to
the potency Of her charm and admitted that
she might be able to wheedle him out of
his very kingdom for Brandon.
OF Miss Marlowe's supporting company,
little need be said. The regret must, how
ever, be expressed that the actress did
not look further and find a man better
fitted TO realize the character of Charles
Brandon Mr.. McRae is hopelessly lacking
in all the essentials for the part. Mr..
Charges took up, almost at a days notice.
the part Oh King Henry Will, winch was
wrested from the hands of Mr.. Harbury
only last Friday by illness, and this fact
fully accounted for his unfamiliarity with
the lines. In the last act, however. Mr..
Charges rose 70 the occasion and gained
the enthusiastic commendation that will
doubtless be accorded him throughout the
play for the remainder of the week. The
characters of Sir Edwin Caskoden, master
of the dance, and Lady Jane Bolingbroke,
Princess Mary's confidential maid Of
honor. was given delightful interpreta-
ton by Donald MacLaren and Miss Norah
Lamison. Claire Kulp displayed a great
deal of talent held in repression in the
small and repellant part of Mistress Anne
ing the part of Thomas Wolsey, Bishop Of
Lincoln, which was about all that was re-
quired of him. Miss Annie Clarke was ex-
cellent as Queen Katherine. Wilfrid North
portrayed the Dauphin OF France (Francis
D'Angouleme) in a manner to bring out
the repellance OF the character. In fact
the scene between the Queen of France
MARY Tudor and the Dauphin ought to
have been omitted entirely, if possible,
When the play was first PRODUCED atten-
ton was called to the fact that it showed
signs of needing revision in certain places.
This criticism is still just. Too much I'M
necessary and really tedious dialogue IS
contained in the first act, particularly.
act, containing the great bedroom scene In
which Mary hurls various articles or femi-
nine wearing apparel at her brother, the
king, and threatens TO appear before the
court in negligee attire, no one could find
fault. There is yet time for the needed
changes and these will doubtless be made.
AS il Is, however, the production is notable
and will be cherished I'm the memories of
all who witnessed it last night.
A few good seats remain for all the per-
formances yet to be given.
EasonnIo Tnnda-sTa M C-..I