The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-03-04
second in Command" Mt EngIish's

PARK.-''A Poor Relation" and p.
EMPIRE.-Harry Bryants Burlesquers,
and p. m.
Second i'm Command" mt EngIish's.
1t was extremely difficult for those in
the audience at English's last evening TO
realize that they were not eavesdropping
or peering into the inner lives of officers
of the Tenth Dragon Guards, for the
story OF The Second i'm Command" as
acted by John Drew and the admirable cast
of supporting players was not permeated
with the atmosphere OF affected stage
emotions and buffoOnery that have detract-
ed from the Interesting stories of many
comedies. To have staged and presented
Robert Marshall's latest comedy, "The'
Second in Command" with other than
cast such as supported Mr.. Drew last
night would have been an insult to the
playwright. Few plays have ever been
written that contain such rich, wholesome
comedy mingled with sweet love story
and pathetic incidents, as Mr. Marshalls
latest contribution.
Hearts ached for Major Christopher Bing-
ham (Mr. John Drew, lovingly nick
named Kit and 'Bing' by his comrades,
when, after years of hard luck in the
service of the English government. he fell
deep in love with Muriel Mannering, only
TO lose her, after they had become en-
gagged, to Lieutenant Colonel Miles An
struther. his superior officer. He hoped to
forget all on the battlefield, as his troop
was ordered TO South Africa for active
service, but at the last moment his hopes
met another rebuke by orders from the
War Office that he should remain at home.
hone N IN he a
burning for years, coming as il did just
after his sweetheart had asked him TO
release her from the engagement was more
than a bitter disappointment TO him, and
he gave way 10 his emotions and wept.
He bad loved Muriel Mannering for her
self. She had fallen in love with the pic
ture of an officer she had seen in a maya
zine. That officer was Lieut.. Col Miles
Anstruther. Miss Mannering and the lieu
tenant colonel did not meet until after
Major Bingham had won a promise from
her that she would become his wife al
though she had told him that he had
rival in the face she had seen in the maya
zine. The first success of Major Bingham
came in the first act of the stage version OF
the story. On the third annual request for
Miss Mannering's hand she consented to
become his wife, only to regret her action
Anstruther. her dream-ideal, entered the
room and she was presented to him. Her
arched eyebrows and emotion at meeting
him face to face told the colonel that she
loved him.
week later Miss Mannering's brother.
Lieut.. Sir Walter Mannering, member of
the troop, made known 10 his sister that he
might be forced to leave the army because
of his pressing debts. which amounted to
$1,000 He suggested that a mOney-lender
had intimated that he could advance the
MOI NInnnnrincr We haNOma
engaged to a wealthy man like Lieut.. Col.
Anstruther. Miss Mannering had asked
Major Bingham 10 release her from the
engagement because she loved Lieut.. Col.
Anstruther. The latter had provided Major
Bingham with a check TO be paid TO young
Mannering for the settlement of his debts.
When Colonel Anstruther suggested a toast
because he had just won Miss Mannering
his promised wife, young Mannering de-
clared that his sister loved Major Bingham
and had only consented to the marriage
with Colonel Anstruther in order that his
debts might be paid.
Major Bingham, believing that all was
perior officer that Miss Mannering loved
him and substantiated the story told by
her brother. Colonel Anstruther then wrote
a note to Miss Mannering releasing her
from the engagement just before his de-
parture for South Africa.
Ordered TO remain at home and remorse-
full because he had come between Miss
Mannering and the man she loved, Major
Bingham sought the War Office and re-
ceived orders to go to the front. While in
battle Colonel Anstruthers horse was shot
beneath him and he fell to the ground un-
conscious. Major Bingham rode back amid
the shot and shell and carried the colonel
on his horse to a place of safety. He then
cOnfided to him that he had lied when he
declared that Miss Mannering loved him.
as il was the colonel she loved. Major
Bingham was ordered home because of
wounds received in the battle, and soon
afterward his fellow-officers were sent back
to England. There Colonel Anstruther met
Miss Mannering and a happy reconcilia-
ton was effected. Major Bingham met his
only good luck when he was presented with
the Victoria Cross for the valiant deed in
rescuing Colonel Anstruther on the field of
battle.
The story is told in four acts and the
stage settings are beautiful Mr.. Drew had
in the character of Major Bingham a role
that fitted him like the veritable glove. AL
ways pleasant and lovable, his keen sense
of humor uppermost at all times, his re-
verses and hard luck ever evident, he fur
nshed one of the truest characters he has
given to the public. He made an admirable
officer and he was ever becoming to the
soldier uniform. Those who saw Mr.. Drew
last year in Richard CarveI' appreciated
the wonderful contrast so much in favor of
his character in 1.-The Second in Command. 3"
Few in the audience knew that the char
acter of Muriel Mannering was not acted
DN MISS IDA conquest. III HeT pace was
Miss Margaret Dale. who will be Mr.
Drew's leading woman next season Miss
Conquest has been suffering with a severe
cold for three weeks and she has gone TO
Boston TO be treated. but will resume her
part in the cast next week in Boston. Miss
Dale joined the company yesterday. She
studied her role on the train route to
Indianapolis and had but one rehearsal
with the company prior 10 last nights per-
Torrance. Her conception of the character
of Miss Mannsring, noble and womanly, in
love with an ideal, but ever ready TO pre-
vent herself from wounding one who loved
her. was exceptionally good considering her
lack of rehearsal. She wore her own gowns
i'm last nights performance because. she
said. she would feel more at home in them
Guy Standing was the Lieut.. Col. Miles
Anstruther. a fine appearing soldier whom
women could not help admiring. Miss Ida
Vernon was Lady Harburgh Miss Louise
Drew was Nora Nining and the remainder
of the cast which is well balanced, is the
same as presented the play in New York.
The Vaudeville at the Grand.
Jessie Couthoui and Edgar Atchison Ely
do the smartest things in the new bill of
vaudeville at the Grand. Miss Couthoi is
a close observer and "A humorous imitator
and her department store talk is excellent
This was mmicked here recently by little
Winona Winter. Miss Couthoui falls short
in the rest of her work. She uses an old
oh horh i'm ba