The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-21
"we Are King" at EngIish's.

Walker Whiteside has deserted the classic
and the romantic and has turned his atten-
tion-for this season at any rate-to COM
edy that borders on comic opera without
the music. I'VE Are King is the title of
his new play. 1t was written for him by
Lieut.. Gordon Kean. Englishman. who
was bent upon satirizing the book-drawn
drama of his fellow-countryman Anthony
Hope. The new piece was presented in
Indianapolis at Englishs for the first time
last night before an audience OF moderate
size.
The dramatist, In calling his play satire,
disarms criticism of his borrowed plot, the
story OF the play being very similar TO that
OF the Zenda romances. Lieutenant Kean
has evidently intended his production to be
highly exaggerated and, frankly admitting
that the whole thing is altogether lacking
in plausibility. has had clear sailing into
the smooth waters from which he himself
has ingeniousiy removed the rocks that
might have brought about a shipwreck.
The situation seems to be that Lieutenant
Kean preferred to fit new characters and
a dialogue into old story, rather
than to build entirely anew from the
foundation up. BY clubbing the piece
satire-a Kean satire, might say-the
author employed an original method of get
ting around the writing of an original play.
AS the piece stands 1t is not TO be taken
seriously, having no other object in view
than the entertaining of an audience for
two hours or more. The majority OF the
spectators last night appeared 10 unQ the
play entertaining, to judge from the APP
plause with which they greeted 1t. I'VE
Are King is not likely TO appeal very
strongly to discriminating theater-goers,
however.
The story. briefly told, is that of young
club man OF London, who is sent forth TO
an imaginary German principality on an
assignment for a big English newspaper.
Anthony Hope called his fanciful pr nci-
paty Ruritania. Lieutenant kean has hit
upon the name Of Hamburg. The news
vic uvh Il
ner. bears a wonderful resemblance TO the
reigning monarch, just as the Zenda pris-
cner resembled King Rudolph and several
conspirators. in the Hope play. succeed
I'm substituting the Englishman for the real
King. who is a brutal sort of person. King
Hector-that's the fnonarchs name-is to
wed a Charming princess of an adjoining
principality. for reasons of state. She comes
to Hamburg in disguise TO see what man
ner OF man she Is to wed, and falls in
love with the mock monarch. OF course
the susceptible newspaper man falls in
love, too. this being the most natural fea-
ture In the play, and Ii Is discovered that
the visitor from London has a mark on his
breast that shows him 10 be a descendant
of the royal family OF Hamburg and really
entitled to the throne The other king Is
very fortunately killed at an opportune
time and the play winds up with the sug-
gestion that the lovers are united and that
all's well in Hamburg.
Mr.. Whiteside. dressed in modern clothes
and provided with a comedy role, seemed
quite newcomer to the local stage. He
that has none OF the tragic and. very little
of the dramatic about il. His acting as
Gustavus Venner, was by far the best
feature of the play, for although he oc-
Customary allowed himself to fall back into
the sombre voice and manner of heavy
work" mis- performance, as a whole was
enjoyable. The acting of the supporting
company was in no way inspired Miss
Wolstan presented attractive appear
ance as the princess, but never rose above
the conventional in her various scenes. Mr.
Mitchell was acceptable in the character of
Count Saxendorf-the counterpart of Sapt
in the Zenda stories-and Mr. Hammond
was not very convincing as Baron STAN
bach. Miss Keys was pretty as Julia and
Miss Hardiman handsome but ineffective as
Baroness Stanbach. Mr.. Cliffords portrayal
of Klass. a hunchback lodgekeeper was
overacted TO such an extent that il was
laughable. and the same actors playing of
the character OF a mountabank, known as
s'The Raven. was scarcely less exagger-
atcd.
The play was beautifully mounted IL Is
evident from the expensive and very at
tractive stage settings that Mr.. Whiteside
has a good deal of faith in the piece The
setting representing the garden of the royal
palace at Hamburg, on an autumn day.
with the dead leaves scattered over the
ground. was as pretty stage picture as
has been seen at Englishs for some time.
The stage management was excellent, too.
I'VE Are King" will be given at the matt
nee this afternoon and repeated for the
last time here this evening.