The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-09

GRAND-vaudeville. 2:15 and S:15 p. m.
PARK-"The Bandit King" 2 and d. m.
EMPIRE--Burlesque and p. m.
Probably no woman known to history has
figured more extensively in fiction than has
Peg Wellington. whom Frances Aymar
Matthews has made the principal figure in
her new play OF Pretty Peggy" which
Grace George will present at English's the
last two nights of this week. Peg Woff1ng-
toms early life. the people by whom she
was surrounded, and, above all, her ro-
mantle attachment for David Garrick have
made her a constant temptation to authors.
great and small. Charles Reade, most no
ticeable Of these, used her in his novel
Peg Wellington" which, with the assist
ance Of Tom Taylor, he afterward turned
into the two-act drama Masks and
Faces" Stockwell and Burton, and even
Wilkie Collins also twisted the biography
OF Mattress Wellington TO suit themselves.
although Doran, Macklin, George Anne
Eellamy and j. Fitzgerald Molloy were Ia
Boring in turn to make known the facts in
&he life of the actress. Singularly enough,
feg Wellington has generally been present.
ed on the stage elderly woman. As a
matter OF fact, she was but seventeen when
she played Ophelia at the Theater Royal,
and she was not turned twenty at the time
of her meeting with Garrick. Horace Wal
pole described her as IAN impudent-faced
Irish girl" and Hogarth pictured her as a.
mere lass. Miss Matthew's play begins at
an even earlier period of Pegs existence
the period at which she was a protege of
Mime. Violente at a booth in st. Georges
court. Dublin. Miss George, who is scarce
ly twenty-five herself, and very girlish in
manner. should be admirably fitted to ap-
pear in this role.
With its wealth of bewitching music and
pretty girls, ''F'lorodora," which has en-
joyeG such an international success, will
come to English's tomorrow evening for
three performances-two nights and a mat
inee. Although this attractive musical
comedy has been heard in indianapolis
three times before, there has been a good
demand for seats and IL looks as IL this
fourth engagement would prove every bit
as successful as the previous local visits
OF the merry piece. The company which
Messrs. Fisher and Riley will present in
"F1orodora" here this time has already
appeared In all the principal cities In this
part of the country and seems to have at
Among the better known people with the
organization are Anna Boyd. Louise
Moore. Lillian Spencer, Budd Ross. Karl
Stahl. j. A. Wallerstedt and NJ. j. Smith.
The chorus contains fifty voices, and the
prominent musical director. Thomas H.
Chilvers, Is accompanying this show on its
present tour. Aside from its now very IA
miliar music, "Florodora" is surrounded
with pretty scenery. and the costumes are
an important factor in the production.
XXX
The seats for Mrs. Langtry's engagement
will be placed sale at Englishs box
Office this morning. The famous English
actress comes for a single performance
next Thursday night, when she will pre-
sent THE Crossways," the joint work of
herself and j. Hartley Manners, the lead
ing actor OF her company. The plot of the
new play was suggested to Mrs Langtry
while she was sojourning at Monte Carlo
last winter, and the main incidents are
founded on facts that came into her posses
sion at that time. While travelling through
England she began work on the manu-
script. and with the assistance of Mr.. Man
ners the play was completed i'm less than
two months. She first produced IL in a ten
tative fashion at Manchester and then
gave IL fine presentation at the Imperial
Theater. London. with King Edward in the
audience. just before she started for her
present tour in this country. 1t is not a
problem play and Is said TO have no dis
tasteful features such as protruded them
selves in 1.-The Degenerates.' the drama in
which she was seen during her last Amer
lean visit
Mrs. Fiske next season will make the
most extended tour she has undertaken in
recent years. and will visit all the larger
cities of the country with her great produc.
ton of MARY of Magdala.'' During this
tour she will appear in several cities In
which she has not been seen in six years
those cities now being open TO her and &C
other independent stars and companies by
the Independent Booking Agency. which is
rapidly securing theaters at all desirable
points In this country. Mrs. F'iske Is nov
filling engagements In several cities. tn,
contracts for which made IL necessary fol
her TO curtail her engagement in Mary oi
Magdala" at rhe Manhattan Theater. New
York. to fifteen weeks. In spite of the fac
that IL was playing to crowded houses a.
the termination of its stay at that theater
Before undertaking her extended tour mex
autumn. however. Mrs. Fiske will play q
drama
Considerable interest is evinced in the
appearance this week at the Grand of Nine
Hermann. the widow OF Hermann. the
Great. She is the only woman conjuror or
the stage with the exception OF littl,
tied with being one OF the most interest
Ing entertainments TO be seen In vaudeville
Her speciality Is called THE Magic OF ths
Orient" and besides its many puzzlins
features OF legerdemain, II admits of al
elaborate stage setting and handsome cos
tunes. Other prominent entertainers or
the Grands current bill are Mr.. and Mrs
Robyns. whose little twenty-minute play:
cal comedian OF ability. Billy clifford. tn,
monoiogist. singer and dancer: Paulin,
Moran. with her little pickanninies: Galetti
with his performing dogs. and cara anC
Zara. In a ''Iighting-change act' OF th.
IL should prove an Unusually good one.
Xxx
There Is magic I'm the title 1.-The Bandi
King to those pIay-goers who are fons