The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-09-06

- tAN CN1N 1G1N
on the butterly's wing, is her teasing. pre-
eminent characteristic. Critics have de-
scribed her as elfsh, diaphanous. analysis
defying, mysterious. almost weirdly win
some. Elusiveness is. perhaps. her domi-
nant note as an actress. Away from the
footlights the woman is a recluse. Asceti-
cism is the keynote of her life. If she had
not taken to the stage early in her career
and grown to look on il as second nature. 1t
is probable that she would have taken the
veil and passed her life in a convent. Yet
the asceticism of Maude Adams is without
austerity. it is a wholesome merriment
welded with stern simplicity, the lovely
serenity of the scholar. a smile upon the
brooding features of the monk. the sun
light playing upon the Golf of the nun"
XXX
1t is hard to understand why Indianapolis
theater-goers did not turn out in larger
numbers during the engagement of Henry
f. Dixey the first part OF last week. Two
miserably small audiences in attendance at
a delightful double bill presented by such
admirable actors as Mr.. Dixey and his
supporting players does not speak very well
for the city's discrimination in a theatrical
way. There is no better character actor on
the American stage than Henry +. DiXey,
and a better company than he now has with
him would be difficult to organize. Facing
the Music proved to be a very bright little
entertainment-expertly built and of live
ly action that was unusual. The little cur
tain raiser, over a Welsh Rarebit,'' was
only a character sketch, but il was de-
licious as such. Mr.. Dixey was much dis
appointed at the poor support given him
by Indianapolis theater-goers.
at was the talent of a little girl that
first gave Mrs. Burnett the key to dramatic
success says Alexander Fl. Ford. in
Everybody's Magazine. "In the fall of 1887,
Edward Sothern produced at the Lyceum
Theater, New York, Augustus Thomas's
version of "Editha's Burglar" So great
was the personal success of the child star
that few remember that Sothern was chief
in the supporting cast, or that the brilliant
little masterpiece was Thomas's dramatiza-
ton of the Burnett story; while the name
of Elsie Leslie is indeiibly associated with
the part of Editha. 1t was the instantane-
Gus success Of the Elsie Leslie play that
made Mrs. Burnett q dramatist. Smarting
because of the fame secured by a dram
atist who had pirated her plot. she deter
mined to herself adapt Little Lord Faun-
leroy for stage purposes, and Elsie Les
lie was made the star with a supporting
cast such as no child has ever had before
or since"
Hanlon Brothers "Superba'' will be at
the Park all CT the next ~week-State fair
week. 'Superba' has been playing annual
engagements in this city for many years
and has retained its popularity. This sea-
son it is PROMISED that it will be almost
entirely new. One of the ideas utilized by
the Hanlons for pantomime purposes is the
international yacht races and in the de-
velopment of this idea. Topmast and his
friends participate in a race for the Amer
ica's cup that is said TO be both grotesque
and entertaining. Among the new vaude-
vile features of "Superba" is an English
octet, 1.-The Eight of Hearts," which was
imported for the production. This is a
bevy of music hall girls. whose dancing is
one of the features of the pantomime. The
Mozart comedy four and Carrie Behr. in
German songs and limitations, are among
the other features.
Howell Hansel, who was for one season
the leading man of the old Grand stock
company in this city, and who has many
friends in Indianapolis, writes to this col
umn that he is now heading his own COM
pany in a new drama, called The Men
of Jimtown." AS the title suggests, the
play is founded on and deals with the
male element of Jimtown, a new town that
has just been opened up and settled on the
border of Oklahoma Territory. Mr.. Han
sells season begins o-morow i'm Washing
ton, opening with a Labor day matinee at
the Academy of Music.
xxx
In an article on Charles Warner. printed
in a British paper. this English actor, who
is now in New York, is described as most
magnetic and human. There always is
glow and fervor about his stage work, and
always feeling his part intensely he makes
others feel. At many points in his work
he fairly electrifies, and from first to last
commands attention and wins respect
His greatest successes have been achieved
in melodramatic roles, such for instance as
the part of Coupeau in Drink" in which
he is to tour the country
xxN
r. G.. knowles, the monologue comedian,
is perhaps the first vaudevillian TO write
a book of short stories of real literary
merit. Many people Of the vaudeville stage
have written chatty, interesting stories OF
their own stage life in its various phases,
but Mr.. Knowles forgets his own person
atty in hisN new effort, and gets to the un-
der side of human nature wherever he finds
it. The volume is now being brought out
by NJ. Witmark & Sons. the New York
music publishers, who occasionally engage
In book publishing.
While it has been officially announced
that William Fl. Crane will open his sea-
son i'm a dramatization of Leon Wilson's
interesting novel. THE Spenders' (the pub
LEGATION in serial form of this delightful
story is commenced I'm to-day's Journal),
it is said that the comedian will be seen
later on in an American adaptation of Oc-
tave Mirbeau's comedy, Les Affairs Sont