The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-14

"A Capitol Comedy" a play in four acts
by Paul Wilstach was presented at En-
glish's opera House last night by Mr.. Tim
Murphy and his company. The cast:
Senator Dinsmore. Mr.. George Oliver Morris
Senator Bert-....Mr. J. Xerxes Hinton
Murray ThOrp-.-.-..:. Mr. James Durkin
Edgar Dinsmore..-.-.Mr j. H. Montgomery
John PaslOwe.. Mr.. y. j. Griffin
Alternately ........-..:.-.M Mr. John S. Marble
i'u'ier 'a' Di..siliore Mr. Edgar L. Stewart
Doorkeeper Ito Senate). Mr. Arthur Lester
A Capitol guide. Mr. BENJAMIN Howard
(. A Capitol visitor. 80. Mr.. Edwin Davenport
/ Phil "a Senate page. Mr.. Dudley Marble
Mrs. Mason. .............Mrs Aubrey Powell
Mrs. Mcknight. Mrs. Anna Grey
Mrs. GaylOr. ....... Miss Jeanette Ashbaugh
Louise Dinsmore-.....M Miss Dorothy Sherrod
The performance of this play in this city
IS Of especial interest because Mr. Wilstach,
the author, is an Indiana man, but it is
more important that he has tried to write
of life at Washington in this day. His play
is Of the affairs of Joel Gay, who has in
herited a claim for land that his father
attempted to get Congress to recognize for
sixteen years. The son gives TO any per-
con that asks a prOmissory note calling
for payment within year. He gets repu-
tation for being millionaire who is throw
ing away his money. He sincerely expects
proved Miss Dinsmore. daughter of Sen
ator Dinsmore, calls on him for donation
TO a hospital in which she is interested.
He gives her a note for $500 and tells his
story, and she impulsively determines to
lobby his claim through Congress. They
fall in love with each other at first meeting
Senator DinsmoTe, who is brought to favor
the claim by his daughter, trades his vote
for an Arizona land bill for Senator Bert's
for no IOGlf 10 fh.a
last moment il is discovered that Bert's
bill is a steal, and Gay calls Senator
DinsmOre TO retract his agreement with
Bert though IL means the defeat of the
Gay claim in the Senate. Finally Gay sells
his claim to a syndicate, realizing hand
sOmely. and wins Louise DinsmOre for his
Bearing on this principal matter are the
love of Murray ThOrp, of Minneapolis for
Louise Dinsmore and the reformation
through Gay and the gratitude to him of
Edgar DinsmOre, who has plunged into dis
sipatiOn after leaving college. Thorp's
family is owner OF part OF the property
claimed by Gay, and has succeeded through
bribery and other influence in protecting
its fortune. His antagOnism to Gay re-
suits in loss far greater 10 him than one
OF property, the loss of Louise's love, in
which he had progressed as far as warm
friendship before Gay appeared.
Cay is young man, and Mr.. Murphy's
manner is a bit too mature, because of his
carrying into the part the middle aged
mustinesS that he has used so successfully
IN his previous plays since ne gained his
"A Texas Steer" If he could cast off this
eccentricity for the purposes of his present
task, Joel Gay would be a Characterization
10 be proud OF in the finest held of the
dramatic truthful portrayal Of contem-
porary life. Mr.. Murphys gentle person
Atty, which wins the hearts of an audience
from his first entrance the stage, his
quick sympathy. his absolute seIf-posses-
sion, his thorough knowledge that deep
emotion is quiet-his ownership of these
rare and valuable qualities make it the
more unfortunate that he should not be
n ord
state Of what may be termed quaintness.
His best opportunity In Mr.. Wilstach's
play is in the second act, at Senator Dins-
more's home, when, after he mas brought
young DinSmOre in. drunk, without the
family and its guests knowing II, and the
boy has staggered down stairs TO disgust
his father 10 the point or being ordered
from the house, Gay pleads for the fathers
forgiveness Of his son and wins il. And
another chance for the actor to show
strength follows this incident, when he and
Thorp quarrel and Gay shakes his finger
these two scenes Mr.. Murphy quit his un-
natural weight and came forth youthfully
and buoyantly last night, bringing his
emotion home to his audience. His humor-
Gus scenes were delicate and effective In
Al. the part of Gay is the best thing Mr.
Murphy has done, the most vital, ana II
should go a long way toward putting him
In the high place his friends believe he =
entitled 10.
Mr.. WiIstach has attempted to cover too
much ground in his play, and would nave
Dseh wise 10 nave LETT some OF the ldeeriaI
simplifed with profit. 1t is too much OF a
freak, even for a man with the marked
personality of Gay, for him to give prom
issory notes to the amount of $500 TO beg
ging persons. No man OF balanced mind
would do II. Another mistake seems TO be
In the part of Phil the eleven-year-old
page. The boy is too full OF wisdom and
long words, even for a product or the SEN
ate chamber Children always are awk-
ward on the stage and clever and boyish
as the little player that has this part Is,
he mars the picture. The play would have
been stronger with the Arizona bill COM
plication out OF it. for this smacks some
what OF meIOdrama. However. IL IS pleas
ant 10 recall the better side Of the work.
the bright dialogue, written evidently Dy a
man that has studied, which so rev moo
EN- playwrights do before he mas written
Most Of the characters are ninety uIa"n.
The senator's are digni1ed, the women are
gracious and OF live generosity; Even
young Thorp, who in conventional urdIIa
would be the VILLAIN" is as a man WouIo
be under his unfortunate circumstances
Miss Sherrod as Louise Dinsmore II
charming as she always has Deen' anu
she Is happier in the present part man sire
was In her previous and too girilsh CHAR