The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-20
ADJUSTMENTS.


The revival of Tom Taylor's comedy,
IAN Unequal Match, by the stock COM
pany at the Grand last night demon
strated again that 1t is a sad mistake
to delve so far into the past TO secure
a play for production In these times. Mr..
Taylor's play was undoubtedly fine COM
edy in its day and ore can understand
that 1t might have drawn together and
entirely satisfied large audiences. The
popular taste has. however, changed
greatly in the past fifteen or twenty years.
The dramatists Of to-day realize that they
are writing for people who think rapidly
and naturally they waste few words in
getting at their points If characters in
modern plays occasionally drawl, they
nevertheless have something clever to say.
Tom Taylor's play has its clever lines-in
fact, almost the entire third act is beyond
serious criticism-but one has to sit through
such a lot of dreary dialogue that the
pleasant places are not fully appreciated
when reached. The same men that con-
troll the local stock company produc
ing in Cincinnati this week the splendid
play of modern authorship, Rosemary,
In which MIR. Drew starred with great sue
cess three seasons ago, and Mr.. Skin
vintage are available for stock use
True, they cost money in the way
by stock organizations in other cities and
the returns Justify the expenditure. The
Grand stock company has been strength
ened by changes. so that 1t Is now most
capable company. Since the fault does
not lie with the actors. Ii must be with
the plays produced, for surely no one VINO
has seen the beautiful creations or Scenic
Artist Slippers brush could attribute 1t TO
him
has a double character to play, that OF
Hester Grazehrook. who changes from a
simple rustic Yorkshire lass TO a naughty,
drawing, cold woman OF fashion within the
short space of one year. As the Yorkshire
maiden Miss Linthicum is almost absurd;
as the leader of the smart set. Lady Arm
cliffe she is delightful In the last act she
wears handsome gown Mr.. kirkland has
the leading masculine role of Sir Harry
Arncliffe, and is little more than accept
able, his reading of the lines at times be-
ing absolutely without. feeling. Miss lett
as Lady MontresSor appears in a combina-
ton OF dress and makeup that is gro
tesdue and her delivery of the lines as
signed her Is so far from the way they
should be read that her part assumes the
air OF burlesque instead OF straight COM
From the foregoing it must not be as
sumed that there Is no good work done In
the play Alfred Fisher is splendid IN the
character of Sir Sowerby Honeywood. both
as TO makeup and reading OF lines. Miss
Maynard. as Lady Honeywood. is adj
mirably repressed and gracious. Thomas
NJ Reynolds almost breaks up the per-
Torrance by the deliciOusness of his COM
edy in the part of Blenkinsop. His make
up, too, is beyond reproach. Frank Deni-
thorue reveals really astonishing talent in
the CHARACTER OF Boerhaave Botcherby, the
aaack doctor. A bit Of character acting
that ranks nearly equal with that done by
Mi Reynolds Is the lofts OF Frederick
Wallace. Mr.. Wallace also adds TO his
laurels with his low comedy bit OF the
commander of the Dukes regiment of
two soldiers. katherin Fisher is making a
great deal out OF the role OF Bessie Heb
bIethwaite. her Yorkshire dialect being ex-
ceilent. Hugh Ford is a great disappoint-
ment I'm the character of Grakebrook. He
seems TO have acquired a fair imitation of
the Yorkshire talk. and at the same
time forgotten utterly to acquire with liz
native fiuency OF delivery. The most OF the
evening he talked as though he We're learn
ing new language Miss De Vaux is very
charming In her small role OF Lady Cur
lewis.
IAN Unequal Match will be presented
morrow and Saturday afternoons