The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-08-13
NEWS OF The THEATERS
a CHARACTER OUT OF LIFE IN 4
MELODRAMA AT THE PARK.
'sL%aughing Ann" Pathctica1Iy Real.
but Unattractive to Lovers
of S~entimentnI Plays.

Once in a while a life-like character is
found in the melodramas that are offered
SO frequently at the Park Theater. They
appear as il by accident; 1T is easy to
guess that the playwright. after distorting
his main personages to suit the discon-
nected ~"climaxes' on which the play de-
ponds TO excite it's audiences. creates one
of the minor characters according to some
person he has come into contact with IN
his own life. These infrequent and strange
ly true characters OF the melodrama sell
dom appeal to the adventure loving audi
ences. because they seem to them common
place and dull.
Laughing Ann is OF so little Importance
in IAN Innocent Sinner the new play
presented at the Park Theater yesterday,
that she is doubled with Mrs. Smiley,
and one actress, Florence Harrington,
takes both parts. When Ann enters the
activity she wears a fancy gown under an
old coat too large for her. A man has
been murdered near the village, and she
says she saw him killed b. the heroine
Of the play. She has a half-demented
laugh and a loose speech.
The judge and the prosecuting attorney,
two white-haired Soutberners. ask Ann
the p~erfunctory questions about her name
and residence. ''You know me we'll
enough" she replies. and then goes on
to say that she is so unfortunate as 10
have been started on a bad life and TO
have continued in it. The judge and the
attorney, who are held in esteem by the
respectable persons of the drama. do not
seem embarrassed by the wOman'S state
meEt-but they are conventional melo-
dramic characters.
After Laughing Ann has finished her ac-
cusation against the heroine, the hero
springs forward and cries, THE testimony
OF such a woman is not worthy of belief.
Here came the proof at yesterdays perform
ances of the play that the audiences had not
recognized the reality of Laughing Ann, for
they applauded the hero for his attack on
the unfortunate woman. III the nero nad
been the villain he would have been Kissed
for this, but the audiences at the PARK
have been educated through a long course
rived at is not TO be changed by sporadic
applications of pictures of real life. The
character of Laughing Ann is only roughly
sketched by the dramatist. because OF its
unimportance. but it is interesting, and
Miss Harrington plays it well.
Another popularity is that the heroine,
brother of the hero. but she is so woe
BECOME and is so truly loved by the hero.
who finally marries her; that the audience
Ann is far more to be pitied than the hero
inc. but she is so truly grotesque i'm her
misery that the audience has no sympathy
for her. The heroine dresses in youthful
white gowns and wears white stockings
and slippers.
can Innocent Sinner" excited the audi
ences to applause frequently yesterday. \
strong element of horror is brought into
the play by DIR. Jacobs, a diabolical person.
crooked in body and soul. who hypnotizes
the heroine. whom he wishes to possess.
He is the murderer OF the hero's brother.
but he fastens the blame on the girl. He
confesses I'm the last act. The makeup Of
Mr.. Pickens in this part is especially pleas
ing in its ugliness.
The other member of the company are
capable and the play moves easily. The
seriousness of the drama is broken between
the acts by songs by Harry Harrison. Ma
belle Moore, Miss St. Clair and the Two
Little Macs. The Macs are two small and
pretty girls who sing and do a ragtime
dance together so brightly that they de-
lighted the audiences Yesterday. Caught
i'm the Web another melodrama. will take
the place OF IAN Innocent Sinner"
Thursday.