The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-05-09

and sis D. m.
aGRAND.-vaudeville 2:15 and Sis D. m.
PARK--.SaEho," and p m.
EMPIRE.-Bsrrlesque and p. m.
Mile James: I'm ''The Little Princess"
A most cbarsming bit of a play Is THE
Little Princess" Mrs. Frances Hodgson
Burnett's naturalization of her own story.
Sarah Crewe.s' presented at EngIish's last
night for the first time in Indianapolis be-
fore a good-sfzed audience that gave fire.
quent expressions of pleasure at the man
ner In which Che pretty. dainty little story
was carried across the footlights. 1t Is
companion piece to Little Lord Fauntle-
roy and possesses an attractiveness that
will doubtless make it as enduring as Mrs.
Burnett's delightful comedy of child life.
The simplicitt''. tenderness and sweetness
of THE Little Princess cannot fail TO
impress an Audience and send each spec
tator away from the theater in a happy
frame of mind. Intended in the first place
for. the amus.sment of children. it proves
equally amusing to older people. the pic
lures offered being so true to the life of lit
tie folks. so 'deliciously innocent, and so
full or pretts juvenile exaggefation that
the play-goer,is a fault-finder and cynic
indeed. who cannot give himself up COM
pletely TO MS enjoyment or SUCH novel
little entertainment.
II the play were not worth seeing for any
other reason il would still command atten-
ton on account of the really wonderful
acting of Mile James, who, as the little
heroine OF twelve years, gives perform
ance that is "a perfect gem. 1t is most
impossible 70 ;realize that this young player
is actually twenty-five years old and proud
OF it-that she has even portrayed grown
up parts with credit, appearing on one
occasion as young mother In a drama
OF New York life. Sarah Crewe is sup
posed to be but a child and Miss James
does not lool. a day over the twelve years
that the little girl Is supposed to have lived.
Her voice, Ter gestures, her every move
snent Suggest the child of twelve, and her
acting OF THE character throughout could
not possibly be improved upon. Among
a number OF Juvenile players-for nearly
every role CT Importance in the piece Is
played by 81 child-Miss James seems to
be In her proper environment, and one finds
IL hard to pscture her anything but the
dear, sweet little Sarah that she imper-
The story 81 told with rare charm. Sarah
Crewe Is a papil in Miss Minchins boarding
school In london. Her father, Capt. Paul
Crewe. OF the English army, being very
wealthy, has left her at the school during
his service IN India, intrusting his money,
meanwhile. 20 his friend, Mr.. Carisford.
The latter invests his own and the captain S
money in a; diamond mine, and later on
learns that she mine has proved failure.
Captain Cresye dies, broken by the news or
his lost IOTtl-1es ana MI. CdrlSIOrQ Is Strlck-
en- with BRAN fever. Sarah, who has hith-
erto had everything that her little heart
could desire is suddenly made a charity
pupil at the school. as she has no relatives.
She Is treated with cruelty and neglect,
made to slsep in garnet infested with
rats, scantiIy clothed and all but starved.
Mr. Carisford finally RECEIVERS from his sick
ness. Then The learns that his investments
have proved very profitable after all, and
that mis- and. Captain Crewe's fortunes have
grown larget than ever. He knows that the
lffs fc ltxrsx.
where In Tendon, and, being an honorable
man. seeks to make restitution, exerting
every effort 20 find her. However. his search
proves fruit,ess, and. bowed down with re-
morse, ne Gnce more becomes an invalid.
by chance lie has taken a residence next TO
Miss Minefin.s school, and one day he
catches sigfst of the pitiful little Sarah. His
heart Is tcsIched with sympathy for the
poor. forlorl little thing He directs his
I.ascar servants to go to her garnet while
she Is asseeq and transform her miserable
Now comes delightful scene. The child
seeks her lonely bed in the garnet where the
nature. begins to play like she is warm
and happy and comfortable and free from
care. and, with her little head filed with
these sweef imaginings, she falls asleep.
Then into 3he room through the window
come the oSliet Lascar servants, and they
proceed to change the wretched quarters
into yerisable fairyland- Sarah wakens.
and. believing that she must be dreaming,
prays that she may always dream. Her
Joy when ;she finds that she is really
awake. ane her delight in the beautiful
things thas have come so myteriously
''frori the yairies'' furnish a scene inter-
mingled with humor and pathos, that must
be seen TO sbe truly appreciated. The out
come of tie story Is that Sarah and Mr..
Carfsford happen to come face to face Just
when the lend OF the chld's dead father
had aboul given up all hope of ever find
ing her. Sarah's knowledge of life in In
dia, where .she was born, leads Mr. Carts
ford TO Question her. and. of course he
discovers the Identity OF the poorest little
girl OF th4 schoor-who straightway be-
comes a rith little girl once more
The NUMEROUS Juvenile players ably assist
Miss janet In carrying the play to success
Little Berry, Morse as Lottie, a mischieyous
tot. gives a remarkably clever perform
Ance, and the same may be said OF Master
Donald Gallagher I'm the role of a naughty
boy FredeStcka Going as jessie and Mamie
Mc&anus, May Barton. Lorraine Frost and
Leila Frog In their respective child char
acters. Mss Helen Tracy Is excellent as
the severe school mistress. Miss Minchin:
Miss LouiAe Galloway does some splendid
character Acting as the scullery maid.
BECKY. ana Mrs Felix Morris Is satisfac-
tory In the small part OF Mrs Carmichael.
Frederick Murphy portrays the Lascar
servant. Ram Dass. In creditable style. but
the Gtaer snen OF the cast are rather moor
IN their paf-ts. Fortunately these parts are
OF such little importance that the mad
eQuacy OF Shefr interpretations does not in
terfere TO any great extent with ones en-
.oynent os the play. The little piece Is adj
nairabIy sfs,gsd In every detail one OF the