The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-18
IBSEN'S POWERFUL PLAY
MARY SHAW AND COMPANY IN
"GHosTs. AT ENGLIsHs.
SpIendid Actors Interpret the Rather
Gloomy Piece In n Thoroughly
Artistic Manner.
Considering that Henrik Ibsen is a pro-

which he hlTnSeI does not even attempt TO
solve-and that most Of his prose dramas
are avowedly cold-blooded pictures of the
dark side Of life as he sees it, it must be
said that Ghosts" is a most wonderful
play. The Grabbed old Norwegian poet is
ike a surgeon exhibiting his skill before
an assembly of students in hospital-the
expert with the knife, who carves a dead
man into pieces in order to show the seat
OF the disease that killed him; and having
accomplished that purpose, washes his
hands OF the matter and dismisses his
audience.
Ghosts" was enacted in Indianapolis at
Englishs yesterday afternoon and evening
by of the strongest little companies of
players ever seen in this city. There were
out five people in the company-an that
was necessary for the Interpretation of
the tragedy-and each one of the players
was artist Two audiences of moderate
size gathered at the theater to witness
these representations of a play that has
been widely discussed, bitterly condemned
and lavishly praised on two continents,
and there scarcely by a doubt that the
majority Of the spectators present watched
every movement OF the actors and listened
10 every line that was spoken with the
most profound attention and with a hor-
rjble fascination.
Ghosts" is a typical Ibsen play but it
Is far more actable than any of the rest of
his dramas. 1t is unlike "Hedda Gabler''
and a Doll House" in that the charac-
ters are all more true to life, while its
technical details and dramatic construc-
ton are well-nigh perfect. Judging from
yesterdays performances, the presentation
on the stage of an Ibsen play by compe-
tent players is far more illuminating and
convincing than dozen readings of the
play could possibly be. Good transIations
OF lbsen's works are easily ODtainable and
most people who read at all have read
part or ali OF them Some of these
readers have INDUCED in unnecessarily
strong protest against everything Ibsen
has ever written. while others have gone
20 the opposite extreme and made them
selves ridiculous by exaggerated idolatry
nj these literary horrors. The truth of the
matter would seem 10 be that some of
Ibsen's plays-"Ghosts" first of aIl-are
worthy OF being acted before matured
audiences when the plays are accented for
what they really are-pitileSs illustrations
OF some terrible truths which humanity
cannot bear to face.
Undoubtedly IN some OF his dramas Ibsen
mas taken exceptional cases to present
as his problems Gin 'Hedda GabIer' the
case seems altogether improbable if
rot imposstble); but sadly enough, the
greWsOme story told in Ghosts only too
oIten mas its counterparts in real life
as any expert brain specialist will tell you
ana, In fact. did have a parallel in this
city not long ago, the case being Identical
U Win that OF Mrs. Alving and her son
oswald, with the exception that the boy
lived TO become an idiot-and still lives
IN another part of the country.
XXX
The ghosts" of this Ibsen drama are
metaphorical ghosts-the sin of dead
father visited upon his child, and the sur
viving influences that cling like blight upon
the soul Of a noble, true-hearted woman
endured martyrdom with her dssolute hus-
band while he lived, and after his death
devotes the rest of her tortured life to rear
ing her son. Oswald, In the delusion that
his father was good and honorable man.
only TO md, as the youth attains manhood
that he Is doomed from birth by inherited
disease-that his brain reach only a
certain stage Of development and must then
collapse. Oswald. while student of paint
ing in Paris, has learned from a great
physician that he (the young mani has been
worm eaten with disease from his birth"
Il couldn't work. Oswald tells his mother,
in a burst of anguish. Il wanted to begin
upon a big picture, but my powers seemed
TO fail me; all my strength was crippled;
everything swan before me-whirling round
and round. Oh. it was awful state. AT
last sent for doctor. and from him /
learned the truth
With sure premonition of his end. Os-
valid extracts from his mother a promise
that when il becomes necessary ''-mean-
ing when his mind begins TO fail him-she
viii administer TO him, with her own hands
"A deadly polson-which promise She is evil
IDENTIFY preparing TO fulfil as the final cur
tain falls.
The drama is al in dialogue\ There is
little or no action Consequently il must
be interpreted by thoroughly capable play
ers fail completely The presentation
of the tragedy By Mary Shaw and her four
| supporting actors is distinctly a success
The acting OF Miss Shaw throughout the
play has everything to do with the impress
| sion which the drama leaves. Unqualified
commentator has in the past been giyer
her embodiment OF Mrs Alving, and wit
Messing her performance In IndianapoH.
but brought conviction that this cOmmenda
ton has been very justly bestowed. The
role Is a most peculiar one, and cannot b'
judged by the usual standards of criticism
and comparison, but IL would be Difficult
TO imagine the character portrayed in
more masterful manner. Her show or Mrs
Awnings deep, motherly love, her despair
ing grief as she realizes the doom of he
boy her expression of utter hopelessnes
as she sees the end approaching-all OF thes
emotions were pictured with unfailing eff
fectiveness. And then. too. the early scenes
with Pastor ManderS were points OF un
usually fine acting. The pastor, with hi
narrow beliefs and his nice conventionality
crates upon the soul OF MFs Ay fae AM AM
without putting IL into words. Mrs. Alvini
appreciates Manderss friendship, but, in tn
mans strict regard for what the worl
thinks" is terribly ironical.
What do you say haunts you?" ask
Nanders, during one or their dialogues
He cannot comprehend her
Ghosts" answers the woman. when
head Regina and Oswald in there SCENE,
70 see ghosts before me. / almost thinl
we're all of US ghosts, Pastor Manders
Its not only what we have inherited from
our father and our mother that walks il
It's all sorts of dead ideas and Iifeles
old beliefs, and so forth. They have III
vitality, but they cling TO US all the sam
and we can't get rid Of them. Wheneve
] pick up a newspaper seem TO see ghost
gliding between the lines There must b
ghosts all the country over, as thick as tn
sand OF the sea. And then we are, one an
all so pitifully afraid OF the lighti''
Her scenes with Manders, in which sh
tells him of her loathSome life with he
shameless husband were powerful in thei
intensity and her closing intervals wit
Oswald, when fate is seen to be tightenin
| a relentless grasp upon them both. wer
! accomplished so impressvely and with sue
artistic avoidance of all that was excessiv
and unnatural that her acting was surel
- nj NTH a