The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-21

ing the civil war, while the two rivals
were at the front. the INSCRIPTIONS Rigby
had intercepted some love letters meant
for the other man, and, going nome on
Surlough, had succeeded in winning the
woman. The county chairman has always
hated him for this contemplate action But
Just when he is going TO give the story
of the embezzlement to the editor of the
newspaper Mrs. Rigby pleads with him TO
spare her the shame Of II all and Hacker
agrees to hold his tongue on her account
The last act Is net so strong as the pre-
ceding three acts. 1t takes place In the
town hall on election night and shows now
young Wheeler is elected by small ma.
jority and how he also wins back the glrl
OF his heart. while the father or his sweet
heert is forced TO take back seat
The County Chairman may not De a
great play but. as stated before. Ade
shows in IL such undeniable ability Tor
theatrical writing that there is hardly
drama that will place him I'm the foremost
rank of American playwrights
XXX
The company has been very carefully Sc
lected and IL would be difficult, indeed, 10
find players better suited to the parts
Maclyn Arbuckle at last has role that
suits him perfectly and as Jim Hacker,
the county chairman. he is wholly success
full. Mr.. Arbuckle is an actor who has
been "miscast" time and again by man.
ayers who failed TO recognize his strong
points. Last season he was seen In IN
dianapolis in the support OF the Irish COM
edian, Andrew Mack, and though he played
his character In the old Irish comedy ORA
ma as well as ii could have been played,
one could not help but feel that ne was
cut out for better things. His opportunity
has come in this new AIDE play ana ne
has been quick to grasp IT. HIS lmpers
sonatiOn of the shrewd country lawyer ana
practiced politician is one or the pest
pieces of character acting seen in this
city in many day.
Earle Browne is good as Tillford Wheel
er. though little too heavy at times, and
Charles Fisher does excellent work IN the
intensely disagreeabe part of Elias Rigby.
Willis T.. Sweatnam scores one OF the most
pronounced hits of the play in a delight
fully humorous portraiture OF the negro,
Sassafras Livingston, who like the colored
fellow that Frank L. stanton once wrote OF,
about, manages to lazy along through life
in de way dat de Lawd meant TO nfggahs
to do" There is no better impersonator OF
negro character on the stage than Sweat
nam and his acting In this piece Is per
feet. Ed Chapman is seen to much better
advantage as a 'store-box orator" than
he was when he supported Ezra Kendall
last season in 1.-The Vinegar Buyer while
w. ]. Gross is capital as Uncle Eek. an old
settler, who insists upon talking OF the
pioneer times. The remaining male roles
of Importance are we'll taken by George
Ricketts,, Harry Holman, Fred Book, Il. X.
Phillips and Fred Santley, the latter
young boy. who shows much ability.
"A charming performance Is given Dy
Dallas Tyler in the part of Lucy, the
sweetheart of the young candidate. Miss
Tyler is pretty and graceful, with a voice
of much sweetness, and everything she has
to do is done well. Anna Buckley, as the
orphan, "Chick" Elzey, furnishes some in
imitable comedy scenes, and Rose Baudet,
an excellent actress at all times, is good
in the part OF the commanding Mrs. Bris-
coe. Grace Fisher is seen simpering
milliner. who makes 1t point to become
acquainted with all the travelling gentle
men," and her work is among the several
excellent character bits in the play. Chris
tine Blessing does creditable acting in the
small part of Mrs. Rigby. In fact, of the
many speaking parts in the piece, not one
of them is poorly interpreted. Scenically
the play is very attractive and the stage
management is admirable from beginning
to end.
1.-The County Chairman" is on the whole,
such an enjoyable entertainment that 1t
should be seen by all lovers of good. clean
amusement. George AIDE himself will
rive in Indianapolis, to-day from French
Lick Springs, where he has been taking a
short vacation, and will be present at the
performance tonight to look 1t over be-
fore the production is taken to New York.
The play will have its initial presentation
in the metropolis next Tuesday evening at
Wallack's Theater, and If it proves the
success there that IL was in Chicago, and
that il was in Indianapolis last night, 1t
will have a long New York run. Here's
to its prosperity!