The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-01

Henry E. Dixey in a Double Bill.
Two little plays new TO Indianapolis-one
Of English manufacture and the other the
work of a well-known American dramatist
were presented at English's last night for
the first time by Henry E. Dixey and an
excellent company before audience that
was small in size, but thoroughly appre-
ciative of the enjoyable double bill and the
merit of the players. The startling YER
satility of Mr.. Dixey has long been recog-
nized by theater-goers throughout the
country and his wonderfully clever work
last night in portraying two characters
that were entirely different from every
viewpoint was therefore no surprise to
those who had witnessed his many splen-
did performances in the past
The little play by Clay NJ. Greene, the
American writer, is but mere character
sketch. and served as curtain raiser for
the evenings entertainment. 1t is called
over Welsh Rarebit, and has but two
parts-Grandfather Tom and Grandfather
Dick, played, respectively, by Mr.. Dixey
and Scott Cooper. Two old gentlemen, one
man of the world and the other a man OF
the narrowest puritanical ideas, meet, as
has always been their custom once every
year, to engage in a heart-to-heart talk,
while the worldly Tom makes a rarebit in
his beloved chatting dish. Each of the old
fellows discourses upon the subject nearest
his heart-the welfare of his son. A mis-
understanding occurs, which leads to a bit
ter quarrel, and, in the midst of the heated
words that fow 1t is disclosed that the son
of Grandfather Dick-he of the puritanical
ideas-is a good -naught while the son
OF Grandfather Tom is good, honest man.
This discovery brings about a pathetic rec
onciliation and the two old men, the best
of friends once more, start away together
arm-in-arm and bound for their club. It's
a mere trifie of a play, but ii is true in
sentiment and 1t was delightfully."- acted.
Mr.. Dixey as the worldly grandfather.
genial and at peace with everybody, pre-
Sented delicious picture OF a warm-heart-
ed old man-the kind that would come home
sa ms tu OF haa tb I9r the se
balls at him a short time before, and Mr..
Cooper's portrayal of Grandfather Dick was
an excellent bit of acting.
Facing the Music" the English farce
which followed, proved to be one of the
brightest, wittiest and withal most laugh
able little plays seen In Indianapolis in
long time. James Henry Darnley. who
wrote 1t, is evidently skilled in the "busi-
ness Of the stage, for the piece is the
work OF a master hand. While based on
farcical comedies, 1t is put together in such
an expert manner as to seem quite new.
The action of the piece occurs in the fiat
lean racehorse owner In the fiat above
lives another John Smith, who is a curate
in the Church of England. The American
Smith has taken advantage of his wifes
absence In the country TO entertain a chum
of his named Jack Desmond, and the
night before the opening of the story the
two men have been on a spree together.
In returning home through the dense Lon
don Fog Smith was robbed, and he believes
the thief to be young woman whom he
met by chance and whom he assisted in
finding her way. The wife of the curate
comes Unexpectedly to London and, having
the address of the fiathouse in which her
husband has just secured apartments, she
takes possession of the first fat. upon the
door Of which Is the name John Smith, and,
as luck will have 1t. gets into the fiat of
the American. When the man of the turf
comes home and finds a woman in possess
sion he jumps to the conclusion that the
newcomer Is the woman who stole his
for blackmailing purposes. He calls in a
detective, Sergeant Duffell, who proceeds
to make miserable MESS of the whole
thing by inventing theory that Mrs.
Smith and the curate are members of a
notorious gang of thieves for whom Scot
land Yard has long been searching. The
unfortunate American gets deeper and
deeper into the mire at every step and the
complications come thick and fast until
| nearly every character in the farce is
| driven almost to insanity. The explana-
| ton which smooths out the troubled wa
| tiers does not come until a moment before
the curtain falls. so that the action of the
piece is brisk until its very conclusion.
Mr.. Dixey as the American Smith showed
| that as an actor of light comedy parts he
has few equals. The part did not call upon
| brought out his natural humor in a de-
| lightful way. He was handsome, easy,
graceful and breezy throughout-and al
ways funny, too. f. Newton Lindo played
| the role of a sober-minded little curate in
a comical manner, and George Backus as
Dick Desmond, Joseph Allen as Col. Dun
| can Smith and Scott Cooper as the blum
| dering detective gave the admirable por-
] trayals to be expected of such finished &C
tors The women of the company were all
| charming. Grace Heyer appeared the
curate's wife, Mabel Smith, and played the
| part in a sweet, winsome fashion. Miriam
Nesbitt, as the other Mrs. Smith, was very
| pretty and displayed the right amount Of
| spirit for the character. The role of a
vtvactous actress-the woman with whom
the American Smith has the encounter in
the fog-was taken by Gertrude Gheen in
an exceptionally clever manner and Adella
| Barker as the housekeeper at the fiat made
| a good deal out of a small part
| All in all, Mr.. Dixey. his splendid COM
| pany and the double bill make up an even
ings entertainment that theater-goers can
hardly AFFORD to miss. lover a Welsh
| Rarebit'' and Facing the Music will be
| given again at English's tonight, the per-
| Torrance this evening concluding the en-
| gagement.