The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-15
Theatrical Notes.

William Gillette's splendid production OF
Sherlock Holmes" entertained another
well-pleased audience last night at En-
glish's, and will be given tonight for the
last time here. A better melodrama than
this clever dramatization of Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle's Accordingly interesting de-
tective stories has never been seen In In
dianapolis. The performance is uni
formly good that II would seem ungener-
Gus to find any fault with ii at all There
Is scarcely any divergence on the part of
the players from high and even grade OF
merit. Through an oversight there was no
mention made IN the review of the play
which appeared in these columns yesterday
of the fine work of Edgar Selwyn in the
character of the butler. Foreman, one or
the best character creations I'm the entire
drama MIR. Selwyn, who has been mere pc
fore in other parts OF a widely different
nature, is giving a most praiseworthy por-
trayai OF the faithful follower of Sherlock
Holmes-the cx-convict who, when he once
becomes the servant of the detective, Is
willing to undertake any risk for the sake
of aiding the man whom he has grown TO
look upon as something little less than a
god In the first act Mr.. Selwyn brings out
all of the natural "sneakiness or Fore
mans character before he has uttered ten
words Later on I'm the performance this
actors work is admirable in its intensity.
No lover OF nigh-class melodrama can at
ford to miss Sherlock Holmes" especially
as William Gillette and his present ade-
Quate company Will never be seen here IN
the play again.
In all probability Erglish's will be sold
out by the time the curtain rises tomorrow
night on 1.-THE Altar of Friendship" with
those favorite players, Nat c. Goodwin and
Maxine Elliott, in the leading roles. There
has been a great demand for seats, and
the management of the theater anticipates
one OF the largest audiences of the season.
There will be three theater parties from out
of town attending the performance. An
engagement of Mr.. Goodwin and Miss FL
lott Is always an event OF the greatest IN
terest 10 local theater-goers. This Is the
last time the two will be seen together In
this city for some time to come. Miss FL
liott's first starring venture will begin
early next season. as soon as she returns
from visiting her sister, Gertrude Elliott,
in England. and Mr.. Goodwin will present
his spectacular revival of "A Midsummer
Nights Dream" playing the part of Bot
tom, the weaver. early next September.
Everybody who recalls the delightful act
ing OF these players in when We Were
Twenty-one" will be DESTROYS of witnessing
their present performance of Madeleine Luz
cette Ryleys latest play.
XXX
There are other professional banjoists
now before the public who give perform
ances that are more musicianly than that
presented by Frankie Piper this week at
the Grand. but there are no others who
can compare with him when it comes to
Gexterous manipulation of the strings of
this peculiar instrument. Mr.. Piper says
that ne is giving his attention TO trick
banjo playing for the reason that vaude-
VILE audiences want novelty above all else,
and he believes the wisest thing is to give
his audiences just what they want. He
~ f1ta fo
dent when he gives some of his straight"
selections. and If he chose to go about his
work from a purely musical standpoint he
would easily rival Polk. Collins and the
other celebrated banjoists who have at
tracted so much attention in the vaudeville
theaters OF America and England. There
are several excellent features in the
Grand's programme this week. but Mr.
Piper seems TO be the most pronounced
hit OF the bill.
1.-THE Volunteer Organist" is proving a
strong drawing card at the Park. AL
though not as good from literary stand
point as Clyde Fitch's pastoral play. Low
ers' Lane" which recently appeared at the
Park. 1.-The Volunteer Organist' is a clean.
well-written play and is even better
a.iapted for presentation in the popular
price houses than is the Fitch piece. Few
theater-goers know that this play was
adapted from popular descriptive song
written ten years ago by William GRAY. a
New York song writer who is well known
TO vaudeville people. OF course the play
Is an elaboration OF the musical work but
the story IL tells is just about the same
as the story told In the song There will
be two more performances OF the piece to-
day lyon Yonson." play which is one
OF the most familiar and best liked OF
comedy dramas. comes to the Park to-mor-
row for a half weeks engagement NeIse
Erickson is now playing Gus Heege's old
role OF the Swedish emigrant. and is said
IN ri a he Char
acter. The company contains a number OF
wcli-known people.
THE Holy City" a biblical drama by
w. B. Hurst. which was produced two
weeks ago by Manager w. NJ. Wilkinson is
meeting with great success during its tour
or the smaller Eastern cities. and IL is like
~ TO prove something OF sensation when
aesu Ia New York In the near future. While