The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-01-15
ADJUSTMENTS
"Arizona. at Engiish's Opera Hou,

"Arizona" at Engiish's Opera House.
Arizona" Augustus Thomas's virile
drama of life in the western part of the
United States, returned TO English's Opera
House last night, after a years absence.
and was given a reception of extraordi-
nary warmth. Since the play was seen
here last, it has been recognized in New
York and other cities of, the East as ex-
actly what it is-one of the most brilliant
plays ever evolved from the mind of an
American dramatist. The characters in
this play stand forth sharp and clear and
distinct as the work of a skilled lapidary,
and, to continue the metaphor, they have
all the sparkle of finished gems. For each
one of Mr.. Thomas's wonderful character
fZations is a gem, from the ugged, honest,
o~utspoken, thoroughly lovable cid mali
Candy down through the entire list tC and
Including the rare exotic In character draw
ing, Tony Mostano, Mexican ~vacquero, and
the little timid. shrinking wild flower of the
desert. Lena Kellar, daughter of the Ger
man sergeant. The many-sided nature OF
the playwright is revealed in Arizona"
much more plainly than in Alabama"
There are rough places-not essentially de-
fects-in Thomas. So there are in this
deep. sympathetic tenderness and less of
the rugged part. Arizona is a marvellous
combination of both. Few companies that
come out of the East TO show Westerners
the plays that originate in that section of
the country are OF higher grade than the
one that is presenting Arizona here. ] w.
Cope could not be improved upon in the
character of Henry Candy. he has simply
drawn the role over his own personality.
Edwin Holt as Colonel Bonha is a typical
army officer of "the regulars" with whom
duty Is always paramount. hattie Earl is
admirably cast as Mrs. Candy, the woman
who has her own way In most matters and
who delights in the presence of military cf-
fcers because 1t gives her a chance to APP
nnnn In nnA nf hA. HDA InnaAa NInA4~s
Serrano needs no other proof Of ability as
an actor than his delineation of Lieutenant
Dalton, the young officer who is man
enough 10 sacrifice his prospects to protect
a woman's honor. Too much space would
be required in an attempt to adequately
describe the attractive personality n
matchless art and grace IF Olive May in
the character OF Bonita Candy. Walter
Hale has succeeded in portraying the char
acter of Captain Hodgman. which is despic-
able to the last degree. with so much skill
that one almost forgets to despise the man
even when seen at his worst. Gorge O'Don-
nell Is simply delightful as Or. Fenlon. each
appearance on the scene being like a breath
OF fresh air coming into a heated room.
Miss Louise Closer was instantly recog-
nized on her entry last night in the char
acter OF Miss McCullagh. a school teacher.
as \ former indianapolis girl. and the
greeting accorded her was disconcerfing
Her part was minor, but handled with deli
cacy. A more brilliant character delinea-
ton than that OF Tony Mostano by Edgar
hdo HOl btCu Witnessed In anv
other play for many seasons, III ever. AL
most as clever was the work of William
Haworth as Sergeant Keller, the German
American, OF broken speech, whose ejacu-
lation of the words ZACH. Gott," when
informed that his daughter loved a Mexi-
can was so capitally done that IL provoked
one of the heartiest outbursts of merri-
ment of the entire evening. The eakne
In the cast lay in the fact that Miss Jane
Remark did not quite measure M TO the
standard set by the others in her imper-
ssonation OF Estrella Bonham. There are
great possibilities for emotional acting in
them all possibly the piece might have
been thrown further out OF perfect bal
ance.
The same careful attention that has been
paid 70 the selection OF the players has
been devoted 10 the scenery and stage d.
rection OF the production. The thrilling
climaxes. which the least .'shadow or
variableness Of turning" would nave rem
dered farcicai. demonstrated that back Of
what the audience could see was an in
visible master mind who had planned
every detail. Arizona" viii be repeated
tonight.