The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-11-29

rest of the writing. which, though done
with meaningful phrases often POLITICALLY
rich, seems stilted and unnatural at this
time. whatever may have been its worth
when the play was first presented many
years ago.
This is not to say that the e%xtrinsic
attributes Of the drama are not interesting
put that tney are not essential 10 the
theme and incumber ii. The most prom
inent of these attachments is Pepe, the
jester. who is impersOnated by William
Norris. The character Pope is not an
unusual one in the romantic drama. Here
he seems an embodiment of the bitterness
In LanciOttO's nature engendered by ms
deformity. Pope runs about like a squir-
rel, grinning maliciously into the faces OF
his patrons and making sport of Ian
ciottO's marriage. He seeks revenge on
the Malatestas for having deprived him
Of his dignity as a man and making MN
a fool. When he goes TO Lanciotto 10 e&-
cesca he knows Lanciotto will XIII MN.
Mr.. Norris succeeds in giving the audlehce
the creeps with this Indignantly gro
tesque material, but neither ne nor any
other actor could persuade an audience Oh
the reality OF Pepe.
AS LanciOtto. Mr.. Skinner calls up a
memory of him in 9Th Kings Jester.
a play from Victor Hugo,s novel, The
Kings advertisements, which MT. skin
ner acted at the Grand Opera House when
he was newly a star. In mat play ne
was deformed and brOOded somberly over
his troubles. His dignity and his emotion
al versatility, besides his aDliity TO look
Lanciotto. make him effective In the char
acter. 1t offers opportunities Tor display
Of strength and subtility.
Aubrey BOucicault as Paola and Marcia
Van Dresser as Francesca embody these
Characters gracefully and satisfactorily
until they arrive at the Incident of the kiss
in the garden and then there Is an ap-
| parent lack of intensity in their passion,
though there is, too, a cOmmendable alb
stinence from noisiness. Miss Gertrude
Norman does a pretty bit of acting as
Rita, Francesca's maid.
NJ NT.-rf- fc not 1auc aanonfo,,ortc IN tho
performance than Mr.. Skinner. He shows
the same keennesS that marked his work
as Pinchas in THE Children of the Ghet-
to-" but his present character is small
and conventional at the side Of the OPP
portunity given him by Mr.. Zangwill in his
fine study of the London Ghetto.
The cOstuming and the scenery of Mr..
SINNERS presentation Of Francesca da
Rimini' are rich. At times the stage is
filled with soldiers and men and women
cOurtiers and in the cathedral choir boys
this Francesca da Rimini' is successful.
cast and scenes:
Malatesta. Lord of Rimini and head of
Lanciotto. a deformed warrior; Mala-
testa's son Skinner
Paolo, MaIatesta's son Aubrey Boucicault
Pope, Malatesta's Jester -. Mr.. Norris
Guido da Polenta. Lord of Ravenna and
head of the Ghibellines e. A Eberle
Rene. a troubadOur Fletcher Norton
Oaruinai' iiieiu Frederick Won Rensselaer,
Lucen..o. friend of PaOlo Walter II. Pyre
Torelli. friend of Paolo Waller Lewis
| Captain ..................F. Won Rensselaer,
| Messenger Marx FentOn
| officer diva Dillon
| Taddeo. a page Gloy
Francesca, Guido's daughter ............
Marie Van Dresser
Rita, her maid .........Gertrude Norman
Bridesmaids and Maids of Honor, Misses
Barry. Padden, Allen, Wilson.
Act 1. Garden of the Malatesta Palace,
Rimini.
VIENNA.
Act. III. Courtyard of the Palace, Rimi-
nj.
Act ". Scene 1.-The Cathedral Cloister,
Rimini. Scene 2-The Cathedral, Rimini.
Act V. Scene 1.-The Garden Nook, Ri
mini. Scene 2-Lanciotto's Camp.
Act vi. Francesca's Boudoir, Rimini.