The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-07
STUART ROBSoN'S VISIT
WITH A FINE SUPPORTING COMPANY
HE PRESENTS A GOOD PLAY.
Small Audiences Enjoy One of the
Treats OF the Season-Henry f.
Dixey's Splendid work.

II Stuart Robson should drift into many
sucn rnappreciative places Indianapolis
he would have TO abandon his present tour
and one OF the most delightful comedies
ever put upon the stage would meet an un-
just and untimely fate. However, fortu-
nately there are cities in the United States
whose amusement loving people do not re-
quire in advance notices of plays line TO
the effect that ''Mr. So and So presents
piece that has run for 1000 nights consec-
utively in New York and LOO in London"
The audience at Englishs yesterday after
noon was wretchedly inadequate to the
surprising quality of the production. The
few that were present, however, entered
heartily into the spirit OF the play
presented by Messrs. Robson and
Dixey, assisted by the charming Flor
ence Rockwell and a host OF talented
players such as few stars feel able to
carry about with them a road tour.
The audience last night was considerably
larger. but more enthusiastic than that
of the afternoon.
To Augustus Thomas. playwright great
credit is due for evolving a play that is so
thoroughly permeated with the invigorat-
that period Of literature. There is
just one obstacle in the way of Mr..
Thomas's comedy becoming a permanent
universal success. 1t is a piece that
can never be properly portrayed except by
a company of stellar actors. Think of
poor playwright attempting to represent
DR.. Samuel Johnson. His work would be
a travesty that would not be tolerated.
In the hands of Robson and his carefully
selected organization the play seems like
a bit of the life of the period transferred
bodily to the stage. 1t is as refreshing as a
deep draught of some strengthening cor
dial, as entertaining a gathering of ia
nous raconteurs. Many attempts have
been made at presenting a play within
play representing a stage upon the stage,
but none more daring in conception or
more entirely successful in execution than
that contained in the second act of "Oliver
Goldsmith. Here the rehearsal of ''She
Stops TO Conquer" is given with minute,
but never tiresOme, detail. The hired cla-
queur wakens from his mapping at inter-
walls, reused by the luSty merriment of DIR.
Johnson, and breaks out into roar after
roar of contagious laughter. The stage di-
rector labors with his people until they
speak their lines to suit him. Suddenly
Goldsmith, the author, runs down the aisle,
closely followed by David Garrick and the
pair assume direction of the proceedings
all to the bewilderment of the real audi
ence until they comprehend the delicious
ness OF it-when their approval breaks out
In storm of applause that is only stopped
by one of Mr.. Robson's characteristic cur
tain talks, delivered in his funny, discon-
nected way, punctuated with frequent evil
dences of approval from his auditors.
The third act is as pleasing in its way
as the second, although not so unique. In
both the comedy work of Henry Z. Dixey
was fully abreast OF that contributed by
Mr.. Robson, which is high praise indeed.
The fact is that the author, had his order to
write the comedy been given by MesSrs.
Robson and Dixey jointly. could scarcely
have shown the latter more generosity. In
his two widely divergent roles of David
Garrfck and Constable Twitch, with an ex-
quisite bit of byplay in the temporary
character of a cab-driver. Mr.. Dixey did
some character acting that could not be
excelled. So completely did he obliterate
his personality in that of the constable that
many OF the audience did not believe that
1t was really Dixey playing the part, think
ing rather that a typographical error had
been committed in the programme.
Miss Florence Rockwell as Mary Horneck,
the "Jessamy Bride" looked and acted
sweetly enough to cause even greater havoc
among masculine hearts than the play
ascribes to her. Miss Ellen Mortimer as
Catharine Horneck read her lines in an
admirably fresh and breezy manner. Mr..
Walter Hale'S portrayal of Edmund Burke
was also a noteworthy feature The cast is
too large to admit of individual mention.
1t must suffice to say that it contains few
weak spots.
The costumes and scenery are fresh and
handsome, and the settings beyond invid-
Gus criticism. If Mr.. Robson's cavalier
treatment at this engagement does not de-
ter him from venturing a second, he will
doubtless be greeted in a manner more
commensurate with the merit of his Offer
ing.