The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-18
new YORK SHOW GOSSIP
LEANDER RICHARDSON WRITES
ABOUT VARIOUS NEW PLAYS.
Captain Marshnll's Latest Work-Miss
Tyree i'm "Gretna Green"-'sThe Bird
in the Cage"-Notes of Interest.

NEW YORK, Jan. 14-Tuesday evening at
the Empire Theater marked an unusually
festal occasion upon the return of the regu-
lar stock company of this playhouse after
an absence that had continued since last
spring. This return signalized also the
opening of the fourteenth year of the organ
ization and the eleventh year of the En-
pire Theater itself. both under the manage
ment of Charles Frohman. The house on
Tuesday night was filed to overfowing with
the stanch friends of members of the COM
pany individually and collectively, and the
as each came into view were almost tunul-
tuous in their fervor. AS for Mr.. Richman
and Miss Anglin, the leading man and
woman, they were welcomed in manner
that took the form of a real ovation. The
play serving as a vehicle for the homecom-
ing of the ladies and gentlemen of the EN-
pire stock is called THE Unforeseen" and
is from the pen of Capt. Robert Marshall
the author of such admirable comedies
His Excellency the Governor" 1.-The Sec
ond in Command and "A Royal Family"
The play opens in a Paris hotel, to which
Henry Traquair, young Englishman, who
is a good deal of a cad. has brought Mar
garet Fielding, the pair having eloped from
England to be married. While Margaret is
standing upon the balcony she is seen by
two of her countrymen, Captain Haynes and
Rev. Walter Maxwell, the last mentioned a
young country vicar who is in Paris for the
purpose of taking treatment for his falling
eyesight. Maxwell greatly admires the girl,
and when he and his companion call upon
her betrothed in the hotel she is only saved
from being placed in embarrassing po-
sition by being introduced as Mrs. Traquair,
although the ceremony has not yet taken
place. Indeed. before the young people are
to be united the prospective bridegroom
learns that he is financially ruined through
the failure of his bank, and he abruptly
breaks off the engagement, at the same
time preparing to commit suicide. Marga-
ret manages to- get back to England without
being detected, her former lover shoots
himself according to programme. and her
ministerial admirer becomes totally blind,
He falls in love with her and she with him,
and they are welded without the formality
of any reference TO their early meeting in
Paris. They are very happy, and the hus-
band, who has never given up hope OF hav-
ing his vision restored makes another trip
to the French capital for medical aid leav-
ing his wife behind. On his return, the spe-
cialsts having been successful in their oper-
alton upon his eyes, he recognizes Margaret,
and. believing himself TO have been de-
ceived. he is on the point OF repudiating her
entirely. when his friend Captain Haynes
comes along with letter written by Ira
QUAR- just before his death, explaining the
true situation. This rather original plot is
clothed in lucid, sprightly and often brilliant
English by Captain Marshall, who, with
the possible exception of Arthur Pinero. is
quite the most superior writer among the
English dramatists of this time. .'The I'm
foreseen" will surely have an extended stay
at the Empire.
One more Clyde Fitch play has been
placed on view in New York in ..The Bird
in the Cage" which came TO the Bijou
Theater on Monday evening to remain for
five weeks only. The stay is limited to this
space for the reason that the Bijou, as well
as every other frst-class playhouse in New
York, has its season completely filled and
could readily dispose of twice as much time
If some system of expansion could be in
vented. THE Bird in the Cage" tells the
story Of young girl with whom three
different men are In love. Two of these are
brothers, the owners of a paper manufac-
tory left to them by their father. The third.
Ernest Johnston. is foreman OF the factory.
and the girl. Rosalie by name. cherishes a
secret affection for him. For the sake OF
her aged and invalid aunt. however. Rosa
lie consents TO become engaged to the elder
of the two brothers. who promises to care
for the old lady during the remainder of
her life. The younger brother has base
purpose in making love to the girl. and by
a trick very nearly succeeds In compromis-