The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-26
ADJUSTMENTS.
ssThe Adventure OF Lady Ursula" at
English's Last Night.

furnished excellent entertainment to
large audience at English's Opera House
last night with Anthony Hopes comedy,
1.-THE Adventure of Lady Ursula" That is
70 say, the audience was entertained as
soon as the interesting portion of the play
was reached, which was well into the third
act The parts of Mr.. Hopes comedy that
are good possess such unusual merit that
one wonders why he could not have made
the rest correspond more nearly. AS in
some Of his novels, the author, in writing
the only play he has yet attempted. de-
voted too much time and space to prelim-
inaries. Had he seen fit to inject into the
first two acts little more crisp. witty dia-
logue his fault could be moro readily con-
doned- There is undoubtedly plenty of ma
terial in the piece for one Of the brightest
comedies presented in recent years and this
should be taken and worked over. Several
of the situations in the third and fourth acts
are of more than common cleverness, pos
sibly their brilliance is enhanced by the
almost deadly prosiness of the lines that
precede them. The production Is greatly
helped by its appropriate scenic surround
ings.
In the character of Sir George Sylvester,
the voluntary recluse from feminine eyes.
Mr.. Morris does remarkably polished
piece OF acting He portrays a man who
always kept the standard OF his gentility
at the highest point, even in an age when
men were accustomed to handle a woman's
name with surprising license. Sir George
rarely elevates his voice above the con-
versational tone. delivering a challenge to
duel with as much sang froid and cour-
tesy as he would have displayed in hand
Ing a lady her handkerchief. However, he
understands perfectly the art of speaking
humorous lines with abundant JUNCTION
TO make them quickly comprehended.
Though scarcely parting his lips In so
Morris was the direct cause of much mer-
Timent among his audience.
Miss brakes entry was greeted with as
hearty applause as was that of Mr.. Nor
ris She demonstrated early in the play
that she Is quite as much at home upon
the stage as she was in her earlier work
rs a newspaper woman. In fact, Miss
Drake Is at times a little too much at
ease TO give the effect of perfect dramatic
art. She gets too confidential with her
audience occasionally. A more beautiful
woman has seldom been seen and admired
upon the Indianapolis stage Whether at
tired in the garments natural to her sex,
as Lady Ursula, or in the masculine garb
OF the false brother, she could not hide
her beauty OF face and figure, two char
acteristics which. added to one another. re-
suited In her discovery to Sir George. This
discovery. however. makes the finale OF the
comedy so attractive that the drop Of the
on the part OF the audience In their seats
for few seconds.
The principals have, for the most part, an
adequate supporting company. Frederick
unevenly, at times very good and again
very bad. his good work, however. more
than balancing the poor. Mr.. Hugh Fo :
tmpersonation OF Parson Blimboe Is an ex-
cellent piece OF character acting, is also
that of Mills. Sir Georges servant, done
by Fred E. Cook. Cyril Young, as Quilton.
Lord Hassenden's servant. is also accept
able. Mr.. w. b. Downing looks so hand
some ia the role of Castleton that one Won
ders why he Is not classed in the galaxy
OF matinee girl heroes
Henshaw and Ten Brock at Park.
The Park had a very pleasing change
OF bill yesterday afternoon. when John E.
Hensaw and Miss May Ten Brock gave
their revised version OF "Dodge's Trip to
New York" The piece is conglcmeration
of features that cause one to rack his brain
In an effort TO think where he has seen or
heard them before. In addition. there are
burlesques on well-known stage people
and a host OF clever new specialties, so
that the entire effect is agreeable. The
entertainment would only suffer in length
IL some of the tiresome things were elm
mated. which are evidently employed as
padding. Mr.. henSndW would DO act OF
justice by linking with his own name on
the programme that OF Harry Crandall,
instead OF Miss Ten Brock. since Mr.
Crardal! II Henshaws partner I'm the entire
performance. and right worthy one Miss
Ten Brock is little else than f1gurehead
--of ample proportions. She tries to sing
and II Ia TO the credit OF the chorus that
her failure Is not more conspicuous Hen
shaw and Crandall are great team of
funmakers. Their take-on on Primrose a.
Vests Ministries Is one OF the best comedy
sketches OF the season. They also scored
heavily with their songs. That's the Cause
OF IL" and There Is Moonlight on The
Lake Next 20 them I'm point of popu-
larity was the remarkable acrobatic dance
executed by Ben +. Grinnell. who will be
remembered one OF the principals In
"An Easy Mark which went 90 pieces out
West not long ago. a catastrophe that
would never have occurred had the rest
Of the company been as good as he Edith
and Birdie chappelle completely won over
the house with their sand and acrobatic
dancing and ce7taffio1 work. They showed