The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-03-09
ADJUSTMENTS.
Kelley and shannon i'm "My Lady
Dainty" at EngIish's.

Herbert Kelley and Efie Shannon made
their second appearance this season at En-
glish's Opera House last night. presenting.
however, a new play from the facile pen
of Madeleine Lucette Ryley. entitled MY
Lady Dainty" The company supporting
these popular players is by far the best
they have ever brought 10 this city. The
characters. with the exception of that por-
trayed by Mr.. Kelley. seem to have been
written for those who impersonate them.
Mr.. Kelcey's powers are held in repression
by the limitations of the part Of William
Vane Oglethorpe, but in the few strong
passages allotted him he rises fully to his
reputation as a consummate portrayer of
a man of the world. In this instance he
represents a man who is redeemed by the
love of a good woman, and naturally makes
a better impression than he did in The
Moth and the Flame" In the role of
Jemima Jeffrey ("My Lady Dainty'), after
wards Mrs. William vane Oglethorpe and
still later Lady Oglethorpe Miss Shannon
has opportunities to portray almost every
emotion belonging TO femininity. She scored
a veritable triumph last night and at the
end of the third act was called before the
curtain several times. Many of the most
pleasing lines of the play are spoken by her,
and in a manner to Dr.ng out their full
strength and beauty. The delicate bit about
the "Kobies'' admirably illustrates Mrs.
Ryley's style. Referring to these imaginary
imps she makes My Lady Dainty say,
'sThey take hold of ones nerves and stretch
and stretch and stretch until they are like
tight ropes. and then they dance on them"
Another delicious sentence Is, 1T is not
the disappointments of life but the waitings
that KILL" The play is sad to the point of
gloominess In parts. but In almost every
instance a ray. sometimes a burst. of the
sunshine of wit strikes through or
the darkness. In the New Years night
scene, for example, when NJ Lady
Dainty" had begun to think her husband
had cast her of and was plunged into
brought smiles TO her face and the faces OF
the audience by reading a deliciOusly art
less and funny letter from his young sister.
Then came the ringing or the chimes,
speeding the old year and welcoming the
new, and the wife's declaration of faith
In her husband and determination to go TO
him. The play abounds in interesting and
cleverly drawn characters. One of the best
OF these is Mrs. Richards, a servant, who
has seen better days and who is ultra
sensitive. This character Is portrayed de-
lightfully by Isabel Waldron. Rev. Francis
Folger. a clergyman, is excellently imper-
sonated by Richard j. Dillon. Mrs. Folger,
who Is so progressive ana VINO pants
pictures OF Venus and Adonis, is shown to
the life by Louise Bryant. The character of
Robert Rocket, the young man who has
loved MY Lady Dainty" in secret, is
scarcely second In Importance to that of
Oglethorpe. and is portrayed with all the
dignity and grace and finish possible by
Guy Bates Post, a capital young actor who
Is for his brilliant work in
THE Children of the Ghetto. William
Boag as Berry Settlers has created a new
type of villain and one hat even the gal
lery may appreciate and applaud. William
A. Evans has the ungrateful role or Felix
Montague-Smythe, a young man VINO, IKE
Mr.. Aston. Is ashamed of his native coun-
try. but makes a distinctly favorable Inn
preston by the excellence OF his work.
Miss Monte Donico's initial appearance last
night was the signal for an outburst or
applause such as she and other members
of the Grand stock company grew accus-
toned TO receiving during their connec-
ton with that organization. Her part IN
the present play Is trifling. yet handled
satisfactorily. Miss Winona Shannon also
has a small part. tina Of Carline Kavanagh,
i'm which. however. she is pleasing. Lot,
the office boy, was cleverly played by Will
liam Weston. The services of three un-
commonly clever Juvenile actors-Edward
Argyle, Willie Fink and Loretta Healy-are
employed TO portray the Folger children,
who are of the healthy type that is fond
of PLAYING Buffalo Biz and such games.
INV Lady Dainty will be repeated this
afternoon and tonight.