The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-12-14

Miss Kathryn Kidedr and her company
presented at English's Opera House last
night an original melodrama of the revolu-
tionary war. Theater-goers have seen a
number of plays on the subject in the last
two years, but with only one notable excep-
ton. and that Clyde Fitch's Barbara
Frietchie." they have been dramatizations
of popular novels. Molly Pitcher was
written frst-hand by Glen Marlborough. a
writer for the stage who had before this
produced farces only. He was attracted to
the dramatic episode of the battle of Mon
mouth. in which Molly Pitcher took her
husbands place at a cannon. loaded and
fired IL at the British and was rewarded
later by General Washington commission
ing her captain of the continental army.
The playwright gave his re-created Molly
Pitcher several other wild adventures She
incurred the enmity of Anne Carew, an
English actress. who was in Philadelphia
at the time OF the revolution. Mollys lover,
Captain Darlington, of the British forces,
fought a duel because OF some slur cast
on her and then hid from the guard in her
house. Miss Carew, too, was in the house,
and after Molly told the soldiers that Car
rington was not there the actress betrayed
him and he was led off to prison. Molly
got her revenge soon afterward in Nine.
victor,s fencing academy. In bout with
take. Molly wounded the actress.
Still more sensational was the second of
Molly's adventures. Dressed as an orange
girl and assuming an Irish brogue, she
went TO a military prison at which Caring
ton was stationed TO warn him of a plot
against his life There DIR. Kane, friend
or the Yankees, who recognized Molly un-
der her disguise. told her that the prisoners
had planned an uprising and that they
would be assisted by their friends outside
the walls. The signal for the outbreak was
n shot. intended
to fire the shot. but he was himself ar
rested on suspicion of having given infor-
nation to the continentals. Molly deter
mined TO take his work. The British Col.
Cunningham tainted her with a paper dan
gerous to her lovers life and she snatched
IL from him and took II to the fireplace The
colonel drew bis revolver and said that il
she put the paper in the flames he would
shoot her. That shot Molly knew would
bring down the Yankees. so she risked her
The coloncls shot smashed a mirror. The
Yankees stormed the place within and
without and the English were overpowered.
The incident Of the cannon at the battle
of Monmouth, of course. utilized by
Mr.. Macdonough- lie made a change in
that the man whose place Molly took was
not her husband, but her lover. He was
American-born and deserted the British for
the American cause. At the end of the
story the continentals had been generally
victorious and Molly and Darlington were
about to be married.
Last nights audience seemed to find the
narrative exciting and there was applause
after each of the desperate affairs in which
Molly Pitcher engaged. Miss Kidder is an
excellent Coincidence, as she has proved in
plays of fine quality. AS Molly Pitcher she
often is vivacious. as in her joking with
the British officers when they think her an
Irish orange girl ar : she is intensely Sc
rious when the situation demands. But the
play is frankly melodrama and makes no
appeal above other noisy plays OF its sort.
1t is not true to history. proba bility or HUI
man nature. Nevertheless. il is as interest
ing as other stage devices having to do
with that same strenuous period. and many
thousands of playgoers have been enthu-
siastic over them Miss Kidder's assistants
are equal TO their tasks. which are not In
any instance great. and the scenic feature
OF the show Is extensive. Two performances
will be given to-day.