The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-06
STOCK SEASONS CLOSE
ACTORS AND ACTRESSES COMPELLED
TO RESORT TO oRAToRY.
Matinee Girls I'm the Afternoon and an
Enthusiastic Audience at
Night.

All day yesterday indications in and
about the Grand Opera House pointed to
a memorable finish of the stock company
season last night. The matinee audience
was the largest and most enthusiastic' Of
the season, and the biggest bunch of mat
inee girls ever collected together in the
vicinity OF a local playhouse assembled
in Wabash street at the close Of the per-
Torrance. waiting for their favorite mem
bers of the stock company to issue forth
from the stage entrance. The appearance
of an actor or actress in the little street
was the signal for an outburst of pentup
enthusiasm from the crowd. which COM
pletely filled the space between the stage
door and Pennsylvania street. Many citi-
zens hurrying home to the evening meal
stopped. attracted by the unusual spec
tacle, and joined the ardent admirers of
the art of Thespis in expressing their in
terest.
The days excitement, however, culmi-
mated last night In scenes and incidents
that far surpassed anything of the kind
which ever took place in Indianapolis.
The Grand Opera House was literally
packed to the doors. All the boxes, stalls
and seats on the main and two gallery
floors were occupied, while several hundred
men and women stood in the rear. Among
those who stood were ]. ]. Murdoch. man.
ager OF last years stock company, d. III.
Hunt, one of the Cincinnati proprietors of
the organization; George A. Dickson, Of
the firm of Dickson & Talbot, and Charles
A. Layman. All of these gentlemen agreed
that iast nights audience excelled in num-
bers and enthusiasm the similar one which
assembled a year ago to bid farewell to
the first stock company which ever oc-
cupied the Grand.
The countless witty sallics, bits Of bright
repartee and powerful situations with
which Lady Windermere's Fan" abounds
were all applauded vociferously or greeted
with uproarious mirth. There was no room
to doubt the success of last nights pres
entation of this clever society comedy,
from histrionic point Of view.
A SENSATIONAL INCIDENT.
The most sensational incident of the even
ing transpired at the close of the second
act. Curtain calls came thick and fast.
Miss Shannon made her appearance and
received boisterous greeting. but the
crowd wanted Miss La Verne also. When
tic ldllcE JOlucu Tie icdulI6 WouAdH Tic
center of the stage the applause became
deafening. Suddenly from the right box,
which was filed with people, a mass of
flowers were extended towards the stage.
Mr.. Kramer received them and, after read
ing the writing or tho cards attached, car
ried the floral offerings to Miss La Verne,
who was almost buried in roses. Mean
while the handclapping and cheering in
creased in volume. BY many in the audi
ence the apparent slight put upon Miss
Shannon was greatly regretted. 1t was re-
boquets should have been given to the lead
ing woman"
Both actors and audience knew full well
that with the final drop of the curtain on
the play season of speechmaking would
be inevitable. The instant Assistant Stage
Director Webb waved his hand as signal
to lower the curtain, he began to call
Justify Everybody on the stage in double
quick time" The members of the COM
pany who were not in the last scene of the
play and who had gone to their dressing
change of costume, came tumbling up
stairs and took their places on the stage
In breathless haste. Carleton Macy had in
tended to make his speech with his canine
companion. Rey del Rey, the large Great
Dane dog, at his side. Rey however, re-
fused to face theater full of noisy people
and no amount of coaxing could induce him
to go before the footlights. When the cur
tain rolled up, disclosing all of the princi-
pals of the stock company standing at the
rear of the stage, cries of Miss Shannon
Miss Shannon mingled with calls for
Miss La Verne came from all parts of the
house.