The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-10-06
IN new YORK THEATERS
INTERESTING GOSSIP ABOUT PEOPLE
AND THINGS DRAMATIC.
Outlook for the Season Neither DaH-
zIing Nor GIoomy-Pruise for
Blanche Bates-AbOut Ibsen.

SOME young girls-very young they were
between afteen and sixteen-as 10 what my
dramatic likes and dislikes might De
''Oid you see Hackett in Th Pride OF
Jenuico2' " one OF them asked.
II did, but only in the first act. The play
was so insultingly stupid that l left as
soon as that act was over
81 am sorry; you ought TO have stayed
until the third act, where HacAett comes
on in his shirt sleeves and a standing col
lar That man In a standing collar. on.
ssXes. Edith" one Of the other girls now
felt constrained TO remark, "he is nice IN
that scene, but I can't understand that you
don't prefer him in his court costume 1
tell you, there he is a dream!'
Here you have. IN an essence the "hoie
secret OF the success Of the class OF num-
meks TO which Mr.. Hackett and Mr.. Fav-
ersham belong. Nobody cares for their art
OF salent-how. indeed. might anyone care
for, what does not exist?-but countess
m~u.titudes Of irresponsible girls flock 10
adore their physical charms. the only moot
poiht being whether they look to greater
advantage in shirt sleeves or in court
cos ume.
One ought, then. not to consider II a mat
ter of regret. or a matter Of any kind, that
these two decorative clOthes-horses this
year have selected as vehicles for their
OWE exhibition. one and the same play an
old French melodrama which In its native
land has long ago been swept out upon the
dust heap 10 rot away unlamented. Yet 1t
seems strange that some friend Of theirs
should not have drawn their attention 10
the: existence. right here in the United
STATES. of p~laywrights perfectly able TO
o~~--.~4ot e. 90 fHrfIrfnu and rraa1Tun-
ably more successful melodramas. Recent
~ I had occasion to see again, at a per-
Torrance in Mr.. Sargent's Dramatic Aead-
emy, 1.-THE Girl 1 Left Behind Me" What
a capital play Messrs. Belasco and Frank
lin FyIes here made out OF genuine Ameri-
car MATERIAL OF course, it is melodrama,
but only very rarely does it ereak in the
joirts. All runs smoothly, and quite natu-
rally, and In one scene at least-whers the
old general tries in vain to shoot his own
daughter, 10 save her from dis~hOnor-dOes
the play rise to a higher and nobler plane.
Tho characters are drawn in bold, some
what heavy outline, but clever actors have
plerty of opportunity TO fill in more subtle
shades.
A MATINEE FAVORITE-
Forsaken by his accustomed luck, Mr..
Haekett this season is not drawing the
matinee girls, while Mr.. Faversham is.
Nobody is able TO tell just why. In my
candid opinion Mr.. Hackett is every bit as
handsome. and wears precisely as pietur-
esqiie toggings as his dark-eyed rival. And
Don Caesar de BaZan" is not a worse
play than 1.-The Pride of Jennico," for the
obvious reason that since the deluge no
worse play has ever been stitched together
than that pride" However, Mr.. Hack
- ro,Ir - ooo woary frIfroo him 70 frrr
--nsrnihg better next time.
Turning now TO the real actors, I must
be allowed to express my qualification at
seeing that Mr.. John Drew has left the
evil haunts OF the matinee idols where he
strayed as "Richard Carvel." This season
Mr.. Drew is just as manly. discreet and
thoroughbred as only he knows how to be,
in : pretty. though neither deep nor very
strong, comedy. by the Englishman Mar
shaii-''The Second in Command
Speaking of Mr.. Drew. I wonder that he
seems unable TO persuade his charming
niece, Miss Ethel Barrymore, TO lake some
lessons in voice culture. If she keeps
speaking as she now does, she will in a few
years have no voice left, as any specialist
will confirm. And what a pity hat would
bel for Miss Barrymore, with her big eyes
anc child-like smile. is easily the first oil
all the very young girls on our stage al
the present hour. She has not yet devel-
ope.d a marked Individuality. but she is the
lucky owner Of potent, personal fascina-
tior-a quality no money can buy, nor any
school teach!
Mr.. SOthern. another true artist, has
come out IN a lachrymose and verbose
drama. by Sir Henry Irving's son. If this
young man keeps writing only such plays
he will never be known by any other desig.
nation that Sir Henry's son. And in the
long run that must be wearisome.
PRAISE FOR MISS BATES.
One CT cur eminent actresses, Mis-:
Blanche Bates. will tour the country il
Under Two Flags" When you see hei
I'm indianapolis you will agree with me
that here is a woman of genius-so c%onvinc.
Ing, so full-blOOded and intense in all thai
she does. The papers announce that she i.
: planning some matinee performances o.
fbsen's 'Hedda Gabler.' II she gives on,
in your city. you may be prepared to wit.
ness, possibly for the first time. IbseT
p~layed-as he should be-by an artist who's,
intellect is just as strong as her emotiona
powers, Miss Bates follows Ibsen IN hi.
delvings into the human soul: she under.
stands his subtle psychological hints ant
suggestions. discards .aH conventionalit
when acting his characters-never tries. q.
i have seen other actors do. to bring dov1
Ibsen's oddly futtering birds with a Max
i'm CUR.
Another very different actress. whom
should like 20 see in Ibsen parts, though no
those interpreted by Miss Bates. is Mis-,
Maud Adams. Physically she recalls tn,
great Betty Hennings, the Danish actres.
who created Nora in ~ Dolls House" ans
to fhis day stands unexceIIed In the mart
There are. however, also some point o.
\ intellectual resemblances. and I feel con
WINGED that Miss Adams would make no
only an interesting Nora, but also a touch
ing Hilda Ia The Wild Duck"-anotbe
part in which Mrs Hennings reached IN,
Sublime. But so far Miss Adams promise
up only Barrie and Shakespeare. Need
remark that the adverb "only" applies ex
causively TO the formerO
Jan In all, the outlook for the dramati
season Is neither particularly dazzling no
depressingly gloomy. Mr.. Clyde Fitch Ia
already brought out, in PHILADELPHIA. a,
adaptation from Emile Angler. The Mar
rage Game" and promises an origina
play with the stylish and distinguish
Elsie De Wolfe in a leading part.
II GERMAN THEATER
L hear that Mr.. Norman Hapgood's bool
on THE Stage in America" is having
steady sale. 1t is gratifying to reflect tina