The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-17
ADJUSTMENTS.
Julia Arthur i'm s.More Than Queer"
mt Eng1ish's.

No one knew better than Miss Arthur the
powerful hold she had upon the affections
of Indianapolis theater-goers, but even she
was plainly surprised at the marvellous re-
ception accorded her last night. 1t seemed
as IL a general order had been issued days
ahead OF her coming. commanding all the
members of society's most exclusive cir
cfes to turn out, and in their most gor-
geous attire. The entire lower floor of Eng
lish's Opera House was a picture Of beauty
and fashion such as can only be seen upon
the rarest occasions. In honor OF the
greatest theatrical events The advance no
tees of Miss Arthur $ production had given
the right to expect something Of unusual
splendor, but even the most interchangeable
follower of such events must have been
amazed at its extraordinary beauty and
richness. IL is no exaggeration TO say tnat
nothing like last nights production has
ever occupied the stage OF any theater In
Indianapolis.
An occurrence that aroused the curiosity
of the audience and created no little APP
prehension was the appearance before the
curtain of a representative OF Miss Arthur,
who maze the following PREDATORY re-
marks: Ladies and gentlemen. L am re-
quested by Miss Arthur to make an an
ucuncement. Miss Arthur carries an ex-
ceedingiy heavy show. There are three car
loads OF special scenery and. owing TO our
late arrival, 1t was hard to unload, not
w~ithstanding the big staff of people we
have behind the stage. and, as you will see
wlen we are through the performances, II
Is absolutely the most complete production
any one would wish to see. Now IL takes
time and II takes labor to place everything
in shape. and. therefore,, We ask your for
bea-ance for about ten minutes llaughterl.
just about ten minutes ana then we will
begin, and 1 think you will concede IL Is the
very best performance that has been in
this house in a number OF years. The
truth of the assertion made at the outset
of this review could not be better demon
strated than by the fact that such a speech
as the foregoing was completely forgiven
and forgotten in the masnihcence OF the
scenes and tableaux that succeeded II.
The secret Of Miss Arthur's wonderful
acting defies detection When one looks
long at her beautiful. expressive face,
crowned with a mass of jet black hair mere
becoming than any royal diadem, IL seems
that therein lies her power. But when she
speaks, and the rich. vibrating, thrilling
tones of her voice stir the atmosphere, now
with a sweet, subdued ge~ntleness, again
with the volume and effect of a trumpet
blast. one finds himself saying, 1T is the
voice." 1t is neither, nor both. 1t is the
two combined will the nature of a true
woman forced out OF the depths OF the
actresses being by her consummate art,
forced out into full view of the people.
where they may admire, wonder at and
weep with Ii. When the end Of Josephine's
lOnk WEAKLY uODtltSS SlEuSklc d&d1HSl liz
relentless determination of a man who be-
Heved himself to be a creature of destiny
came at last and for love she voluntarily
laid aside her empress's crown and signed
the fatal decree, the women in the audi
ence, at least, saw through a mist of tears
that Napoleon's prophetic words at NAL
maison had indeed come true and that she
was more than queen" 1t is a charm
ing portraiture of the empress whom her
people loved, that Miss Arthur gives. and
one that will live In the memories of all
who see it, One cannot forbear doubling,
however, whether, IL Josephine were in
deed such a peerless woman as Julia Ar
thur paints her. even Napoleon could have
divorced her.
A character that has become historical
Is difficult, almost impossible of portrayal
upon the stage. So many conceptions of
him are In the minds of the public that any
one mans idea OF his personality must
needs provoke discussion. And yet for this
very reason the portrait given by one man
Is as much entitled to respectful consfdera-
ton as that of any other. William
Humphreys delineation OF the Man of Des-
tiny does not at all points ht with the
popular ideas concerning him. but II must
De recognized as a piece OF work of very
nign art. There were situations I'm which
Mr- Humphrey rose TO great Fights, and
there were others In which he was a triHe
disappointing. yet on the whole IL NAV be
doubted IL another could nave lone better.
frederick Hartley's Junot. who remained
fatthful TO his master to the point of de-
handing Josephine's signature to the de-
cree. but stopped there at the risk of life
itself. was without a flaw In conception
and execution.
Albert Brown. in the role of Roustan. the
Mameluke body servant OF Napoleon. dis
played extraordinary ability as a Character
actor. His recital of the way the Name
fukes won the day at Austerlitz raised the
audience TO a high pitch OF enthusiasm.
Mr.. Lawrence Hanley seemed TO be labor
ing under some disadvantage in his inter-
probation OF the character OF Lucien Bona
parte. Only In the scene with his despotic
brother I'm the fourth act, In which he de-
clared his unalterable purpose 10 Gins 10
wife and children against the royal COM
mand. was he near TO being satisfying
Florence Niles. who plays the little Ma
poleon-Charles. showed herself a child ac-
tress of much promise. There is little room
TO doubt the historical accuracy OF the
scenery employed in the production. The
coronation erect bore an unmistakable
resemblance TO a great painting and pro-
-voked a long succession of curtain calls.
Rare Judgment Is displayed In not marring
this scene by spoken words. Ii Is far bet
ter as a gorgeous tableau. The other
scenes. six in number. We're all of the most
delightful and satisfying kind. In fact.
its extraordinary lavishness and variety
suggests that Miss Arthur has, indeed,
spared no expense 10 please her public.
In this connection IL is hard TO resist the
temptation 10 draw comparisons between
Miss Arthur's production and others for
which double the price has been charged.
II she can AFFORD 10 give so much for no
more money than inferior attractions de-
mand IL would seem that some mistake
was made or injustice committed by her
predecessors. who arbitrarily raised the
established rates for their offerings. III
IS indeed gratifying that Miss Arthur's
generosity Is being so ~abundantly appre-
cfated.
More h Queen" will De REPEATED at a
specially arranged matinee this afternoon
and for the last time tonight Inasmuch
as this Is Miss Artbur's farewell tour,
there can be little doubt that her magnih-
cent audience OF last night will be twice
duplicated to-day.
xa.ra. 49, ~ - e