The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-08

performance. Belasco seems to stand alone
among the producers of this country.
Others show wisdom in not attempting to
rival his achievements, for poetic charm,
beauty, mysticism and atmosphere" APP
pear completely at the command of this
wizard of the stage. 1t will be a long time
outside of New York.
A new dramatization of solver Twist"
has been made by Beerbohm Tree, and the
characters of this famous Dickens novel
will again be seen on the stage in the near
future at his Majesty's Theater, London.
Beerbohm Tree will appear as Fagin, the
Jew. Oscar Asche, who made such a great
hit in New York with Virginia Harmed in
Iris" will be the Bill Sykes, and it is un-
derstood that Ellen Terry may possibly
play the part of Nancy. With such mag
nificent combination Mr.. Tree would be
sure of crowded houses for months. There
have been one or two dramatic versions of
"Oliver Twist before this. the most re-
markable being that in which Sir Henry
Irving played Sykes with such brutal force
that his acting was described as positively
awesome. Mr.. Tree, however. considers
Fagin the more effective figure in the stage
version, the scene in which the Jew incites
the house-breaker to murder his mistress.
Nancy, being the actors great opportunity.
The last time dramatization of the fam
Gus novel was seen in indianapolis Charles
Barron portrayed Bill Sykes to the Nancy
of Elita Proctor Otis.
The coming of the old English morality
play, ''Everyman," to this city for a three
days engagement at Englishs, beginning
Feb. 15 will arouse the interest of all stu
dents of literature and the drama in and
about Indianapolis. "Everyman" was pre-
scented to large audiences for a month or
more at Mendessohn Hail. New York, later
at Steinert's Hall, Boston, and lastly at
Steinway Hall, in Chicago. indianapolis is
very fortunate in being among the first
of the smaller cities to witness this unusual
theatrical attraction. In bringing the Eng
lish production of the ancient drama to
America Charles Frohman had little to
gain financially, and, come to think of it.
the little manager, who is usually consid-
cred wholly mercenary in all Of his enter
prises, really made fine and disinterested
move when he gave America the oppor-
tunity to witness the revival of the drama,
which was first acted in 146l. at a con-
siderable less expenditure Mr.. Frohman
could have imported an English musical
comedy and made three times as much
money. The theatrical trust. of which Mr..
Frohman is an important factor, has GER
tainly been a money-grasping concern. like
all other trusts, but in this case, at least,
the Napoleon of the American stage" as
ErOhman inaDtiY
termed. deserves more credit than he has
received. ''Everyman'' is sure to attract
much attention when presented in Indian
apolis, not only among students of stage
lore. but among those of religious bent as
we'll
Memory plays curious tricks upon the
people of the stage sometimes. The other
night in New York Robert Graham. who
has been one of the leading comedians of
the original "F1orodora" company ever
since the first production of that successful
comic opera, forgot his lines during the
second act. and was completely at loss
what to do. He had repeated those same
lines over 1000 times, and he says that his
brain was in a perfect normal condition
upon the evening that he fell down." II
hadn't taken a drink and / hadn't eaten
a thing that could have been responsible
for such a stupid break on my part" de-
clared the comedian after the performance.
Il just forgot 'em-and that's all there is
about it." Similar occurrences have been
noted here In indianapolis recently. Dur
ing the first local performance OF Henry
Miller and his company in 1.-The Tanning OF
Helen John Flood. who played the part