The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-06

much as IL is simply the outcome of the
feeling of his characters. He imagines his
characters and their idiosyncrasies. and
makes them create their own story. Moth
ing is held back in the unfolding of the
pltiful story of Iris Bellamy-a story or
moral degradation. And this is what has
caused all of the argument over the play.
Because of the hopelessness of arriving at
conclusion as TO whether art and morality
should be allowed to go hand in hand. 1t
would seem fitting TO put the matter aside
and consider Iris" merely as play.
As an example of dramatic architecture
1t is we'll proportioned and harmonious. 1t
is a dark view of life A grim and sadden-
ing earnestness pervades the whole drama,
and as a psychological study it is more in
tricate than any other of Pinero's plays
that have been seen in this city. To outline
the story briefly Mrs. Iris Bellamy, by the
terms OF her late husbands will. only en-
joys the wealth which makes life worth
living TO her so long as she remains
widow. AS she is extremely extravagant
and IL xurious by nature, she must either
remain as she is or marry a very rich man.
Unfortunately for her she has a passion for
poor but handsome young fellow named
Laurence Trenwith. who is going to leave
England, where the action is then taking
place, IL try cattle farming in British CO.
lumbia. In thoughtless moment Iris en-
cages herself TO Frederick Maldonado. a
brutal but very wealthy financier of Spanish
extraction. Later on she regrets having
promised to marry him and throws him over
she goes TO Italy, followed by the fasclnated
Trenwith, and the two form what they call
"a platonic friendship" She and Trenwith
are talked about, Of course by the society
folk VINO love to chatter pleasantly about
vanishing regulations. and young Trenwlth
at last puts an end TO the gossip by starting
away to British Columbia. He leaves os-
tensibly by morning train, but slips back
under cover of darkness and passes most OF
the night with Iris in her villa, leaving In
the early morning. Now Ii is that Iris,
beautiful, but sadly lacking in mental
strength, falls ready victim to trap set
by Maldonado. Her solicitor disappears,
after embezzling her fortune. and the Span
lard, who has been awaiting his revenge for
being thrown over, leaves checkbook with
Iris, having placed large sum in her bank
at her disposal.
Iris is of too cowardly a nature to face
the privation of poverty, and she signs
checks freely. She is accustomed TO having
plenty of money, and she can't get with
out it. And so she is ensnared by the spider,
who has thus woven his web. In the fourth
act she is found living with Maldonado at
his fiat in London-his mistress. Her
friends, with one exception, have turned
from her with scorn. Trenw1th, having
made a fortune across the sea, returns to
England eager to make Iris his wife. The
woman confesses her folly to him. hoping
that he will forgive her and take her back.
But Trenwith refuses to forgive, and he
leaves her forever. But before he goes NAL
donado learns that he is with Iris, and,
llSlelllllS W Tain VI TIC lONOlS,
becomes enraged. His anger is like that of
a mad bull He turns Iris out into the
streets, and then, in tremendous 0utburst
of fury. caused by jealousy and baffied pas
sion. breaks all of the furniture in the room.
| smashing II into atoms. The curtain falls.
There Is much else to the story, but the
| foregoing composes the main incidents.
| There is one character in this gloomy drama
that is honest and lovable-Croker Harring-
ton. a true gentleman, who loves Iris to the
| bitter end-loves her in spite of everything
with an unquestioning fidelity which is
made dignified only by his supreme unself-
| ishness.
| Virginia Harmed has made a most earn
| est study of Iris Bellamy and her acting
| commands respect at all times, if the char
| acter she portrays does not. Iris is pitt
| fully weak, terribly mistaken woman, but
| not to feel sorry for her, she is pictured
| by Miss Harmed, is to be strangely lacking
| in human sympathy: The actress exhibits
emotional power and range or feeling that
she has never before evidenced. If any
| fault is to be found with her Interpretation
| of the character it is that she let's deep
emotion become hysteria at times. But, for
| the most part, her acting is superb and in
| the last scene, when Iris is turned adrift
| into the world, with nobody to blame but
! her poor, shallow self, her performance is
| wonderfully effective.
| The role of the fiery Maldonado is taken
by Henry Jewett, who impersonates the
| the part in which the English actor. Oscar
| Asch, made such pronounced success last
season. If Mr.. ASch'S Interpretation of
| the Spanish financier in any way bet
| ter than that of Mr.. Jewett ii must have
| been the work of genius. The part is a
most unusual one, but 1t is played by Mr..
| Jewett in thoroughly convincing manner.
| especially in the strong closing scenes of
| the drama when his acting is admirable.
! William Courtney makes handsome and
| natural young lover of Laurence Trenwith,
| and Hartley Manners, Croker Harring-
| ton, the unfortunate who loves Iris so
| hopelessly, is always in touch with this
unique character. Miss Ethel Winthrop is
| interesting in the part of Fanny Sylvan,
| in what little she has TO do, and Stanley
| Dark plays the role of the London solicitor
creditably. There are several other char
| acters in the play, all well acted, but none
| Of them of much Importance, the sombre
story being enacted almost wholly by Iris,
| Maldonado, Trenwith and Harrington.
Iris is a wonderful play, splendidly pre-
| scented. But it Is a terribly distressing
| play.