The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-31
Mrs. Fiske in "Becky sharp,

MIS-. tlSke IN 'BeCky sharp.
The long-anticipated production of Lang
don MitchelTs great dramatization of
Thackeray's widely read novel, Vanity
Fair" under the title of Becky Sharp"
with the brilliant American actress, Mrs.
Minnie Madden Fiske, impersonating the
heroine. will be seen at the Park Theater
Friday and Saturday nights and Saturday
afternoon of the current week, April 5 AMI
6. There has been an extraordinary adj
vance sale for all three OF the perform
ances, but the fact that the Parks seating
capacity surpasses that of any other local
theater makes it's exhaustion we'll nigh
impossible, even with a great advance sale
such as there has been. The local theater-
going public, with whom Mrs. Fiske has
for many seasons been a prime favorite. is
TO be congratulated on the securing Of the
Park Theater for her engagement, which
promises to be the most brilliant of the
present theatrical season. A peculiar fea-
ture of the arrangement of seats at the
Park on all floors, even to the remOtest
part Of the top gallery. is that there is no
seat in the house from which a clear view
of the stage may not be had. Also, as is
we'll known to regular patrons of the house,
49, "a NAC W. AtAA CIV OA-
surpassed, so that purchasers of seats for
any of the performances will not need to
worry about being annoyed by posts or in
ability TO see or hear everything that
transpires in the play.
Theatrical records disclose but few at
tempts to place Thackeray's masterpiece
on the stage. Its first recorded dramatiza
ton was that of John Brougham, which
was presented i'm BurtOn's Theater. New
York, Jan. %, 1S49, when the novel, Vanity
Fair was in the first flush of its popular
1900 rnfl aIn . II -
was announced TO play the part of Joseph
Sedley, but was taken III and his part was
indifferently supplied by a Mr.. Raymond.
BrOugham played RaWGOn CraWley. Eight
tons with that comedian in the part for
which he was originally intended. 1t ran
with some success. but no other notable
production of the play or of any other from
this novel is recorded, although there are
notes of other versions in the English an
nails. Vanity Fair" although a book that
has held its popularity. seems. up TO the
time Of Mrs. Fiske's production, to have
eluded the efforts OF playwrights to make a
standard drama from its material, probably
because of its diversity of interest. the null
titude OF it's characters and the lack Of an
actress equipped TO play Becky Sharp ac-
ceptably.
Fiske's play from the Thackeray novel, has
done what any playwright must necessar-
lily do in order 10 evolve from this story a
drama that Will hold the stage. He has
concentrated from VANITY Fair" the
salient dramatic incidents tina are based
on the character OF Becky and confined
his list of characters TO those that directly
affect the fascinating heroine and figure
with her in the incidents OF the story. Ger
tainly the chief drama in Vanity Fair is
the drama of Becky Sharp. and II We enjoy
Becky on the stage as Thackeray pictured
her and as he described her doings. we
certainly enjoy a remarkably interesting
drama.
In Becky Sharp patrons OF the higher
form OF the drama are introduced to that
bewitching adventures at the house of
Miss Crawley, upon whom she has SO clev-
erly made a favorable impression in spite
of opposing circumstances One familiar
with the novel knows that at this period
of Becky's career she first showed the
ripper characteristics of the woman or ur,g-
inality and resource. She had shed the
chrysalis OF her immaturity, her wings
were developed and her claws sharpened
But here she had overreached one OF
her most ambitious purposes She had
made the mistake of marrying Rawdon
Crawley when she could, had she but
known il. have secured Sir Pitt
Crawley. who held the title of baronet.
Moreover, she miscalculated the strength
and endurance of the resentment of Miss
Crawley. Rawdon's hopes for whose money
had been dissipated by his marriage. In
tne first act are introduced many of the
drama. and the act skillfully reflects
Thackeray's own spirit of comedy in situa-
ton and in dialogue. Then the play moves
TO Brussels. where the great ball given by
the Duchess OF Richmond on the eve of
the battle of Waterloo is pictured elab-
orately. and where Becky. after various
encounters. figures Enthusiastically in the
scenes of fright that follow the alarms of
war. Thence the main characters move
10 CurzOn street. London. where Becky.
having insinuated herself into society. en-
pIoys her wits TO simulate prosperity. OF
course the climax of this period is fur
nished by the sensational encounter be-
tween Rawdon Crawley and Lord Steyne
in Becky's apartment. The last act pic
lures the changed conditions of Becky at
Pumpernickel where. in s~habby-gentee
guise, she associates with persons quite
different from those that frequented the
Curzon-street domiciie.
AS a production. Becky Sharp is un-
usually notable In both scenery and cos
tunes. and the company that Is gath
cred about Mrs. Fiske is made up OF tall
ented players selected for their peculiar