The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-10-31
ADJUSTMENTS.
Jefferson In "Trip Van Wrinkle"
at EngIish's.

The announcement at the head of this
review sets forth two of the greatest mar
wells of the waning nineteenth century
Joseph Jefferson. man past seventy, still
presenting rip Van Winkle," after over
thirty years of continuous appearance In
a. One is at a loss to know which to accord
the paIm-actor or play. The reason why
Mr. jefferson is still greeted by overflow
ing audiences when he appears in the
same old play must be sought in both man
and drama. The dean of the American
stage is a man of wonderful personality.
OF irresistible magnetism. His audiences
hang on every word he utters. as If 1t
were 1.-The voice Of a god and not man"
that speaks Yet the most winning person.
alities occasionally pail on an audience. so
that IL cannot be said the people go to see
rip Van Wrinkle solely because Jeffer-
son plays the title role. They flock to see
the production year in and year out be-
cause they like the quaint, ludicrous char
acter Irving drew with such marvellous
fidelity. Rip Van Wrinkle is scarcely a type
OF man that would be held UP to emula-
tion- He is essentially worthless vaga-
bond. a yBsage tipster, loafer, ne'er-do-
wRll. whose hopeless sottishness finally
forces his own wife to drive him from her
possesses a strange power to charm 9TH
ers. IL not Gretchen. The village children
cluster around him when he takes his ease
at the tavern and go trooping after him
when no sallies forth on one of his hunt
ing expeditions, the fruitlessness of which
SO exasperates the long-suffering but not
patient Gretchen. When Rip reels and
leers and says between drunken hiccoughs
:. 'Ere's 10 yerself and family. and may
fhrxr q I've nd no
fails to raise a laugh, and he says 1t a
great many times in the same evening. In
TACT, last nights audience was laughing
pretty much all the time.
Mr. Jefferson devoted the greater part Of
his curtain address, which was delivered
at the close OF the performance. TO deny
his last appearance Il have never started
any such rumorr said he, land / can as
such large audiences. and so o. long as as YOU
shower upon me such generous applause,
] shall continue to visit YOU L really think
you are about as much TO blame for me
coming here year as-er year as l am
Mr. Jefferson's audience last night was
one OF the most magnificent assemblages
OF English's Opera House. The orchestra
was crowded from view, chairs were placed
In the aisles and quickly filled. while the
space In the rear OF the house was filled
With spectators who stood throughout the
performance The rapt attention given to
the great actor all the time he was on the
st3ke, WHICH WAS the greater part or the
performance, and the almost constant
laughter that greeted his lines indicated
that neither he nor his play have lost
whit OF their ancient charm. "Rip Van
Wrinkle affords scant opportunities for
others in the cast TO distinguish them
selves. Ffoliot Paget was accorded per-
sonal triumph. despite her manifest unfit
ness for the character OF Gretchen John
Jack was recognized as the great char
acter actor with Mrs. Fiske in Tess of
the D'Urbervilles' a few seasons ago and
received a cordial greeting. notwithstand-
ing the repellance of the part he played
Derrick Won Beekman. the man who plot
ted Rips DOWNFALL in order to win his
property and wife. Two clever child act
resses are in the company. Virgie Glyndon
who plays little Heindrich, and Ipha Ye-
nair. who fmpersonates little Meenie W.
W. jefferson and Joseph Jefferson, jr, two
OF Mr.. Jefferson's sons. are assigned parts
IN the play, but are prevented from dis
playing any particular talent. The scenery
used in the present production OF RIP
Van Wrinkle" Is exceptionally beautiful