The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-13
"The Girl with the Green Eyes,


The general interest aroused among local
theater-goers by the production Of what
has come to be considered Clyde Fitch's
best play was attested last night by the
large audience which assembled at Eng
lish's and by the earnest attention the play
received. Many Of Clyde Fitch's plays,
witty in lines and clever in construction.
are, when taken as a whole, disappointing.
with the Green Eyes" Despite the fact
that the fourth act Of the piece seems
IN Hli Keeping sev with he f ana three anas acts az Is IL ha must
be said that this new comedy from the
pen OF Americas most prolific playwright
IS an admirable piece Of dramatic writing.
star Is new TO this city, her performance
must be considered a positive triumph,
sine, sim D- there = can ao,s be e, scarcely a doubt that
the most intricate and trying parts ever
written for an actress.
AS an example of irst-class workmanship
this new play Of Mr.. Fftch's commands
respect. The plot is ingenious and the con-
struction neat. strong and compact, while
the lines. as is usual with the clever writer,
are exceedingly bright and amusing In
the comedy scenes and convincing in the
emotional portions. There is unfolded the
etOIy Oh one John AQStl0, VINO mas won.
without opposition the girl of his choice,
jimmy. as she Is called by her friends.
Austin finds. upon passing the portals of
matrimony, a severe trial awaiting him.
For Jimmy is by nature a very Jealous
woman and, quite unconsciousiy, Austin
fans this flame that burns within her heart
scapegoat brother has, during a profuse
sowing OF wild oats, contracted q mar
rage with a servant girl. and later has
married again-a girl Of his own station in
life this time-but without having taken
first wife.
Austin to %unravel, telling him that the
hearts Of his family would be broken If
the truth were known. So the newly mar
ried Austin undertakes the task Of straight
without explaining matters to jimmy. He
Is In constant correspondence with the Sec
jimmy. made desperate by What she cony
siders his faithlessness to her, upbraids
him In a burst Of passion. for his conduct,
Of the true state OF things by her brothers
second wife. Austin leaves her. She i'm
h,,. a. saSS NJ sutS,oe uy aspnyxiaclon
husband. who has repented of his hasty
action In going away from her I'm anger.
Their clouded matrimonial career is there
fore cleared. and all ends quite happily.
x
It would seem that the only fault with
s@A9 EroJ eSAaG III tAo III IlC
last act, Is the fact that the leading male
characteristic husband who so brainlessIy
refuses to tell his wife his reasons for hold
ing secret meetings with another woman
entirely fails to win the sympathy Of the
audience. The playwright evidently in
tended to show that Austin's course was a
most tustiiable one, but the sympathy of
the spectators Is altogether for the I'M
happy jimmy. But the characters are nat
uT1l. and there Is Intense ORA matiC interest
In several or the scenes. while a good deal
OF real comedy is sprinkled throughout the
play The talked-abou scene in the
second act, where a number Of the char
acters are grouped about the nude statue
OF Apollo Belvidere. and commenting upon
the work or art according to their indi-
vidual views. Is amusing. perhaps. but II is
in questionable taste, and the play would
have been none the worse If some OF the
lines In this scene were eliminated.
XXX
Clara Bloodgood. as Jimmy Austin, acted
her din1cult part In a way that showed
her to be q thorough artist. She struck the
true note OF the character In the first act
the wedding scene-and never for q moment
throughout the play did she seem other
wise than the jimmy Austin that she was
portraying. In the wedding scene her face
seemed to radiate with the sweet con-
fusion OF the bride. and her acting in the
second act was a most artistic mingling
OF love. jealousy and humor. And In the
great scene OF hysterical emotion in the
third act she disclosed q power that en-
titled her to be ranked with the greatest
emotional actresses or the country. There
was absolutely nothing that could be
called ARTIFICIAL In her rendition OF this
passage or intense suffering. Real tears
came into her eyes. her pleasing features
became contorted with the anger and out
ragged pride that was filing the soul of the
jealous woman. and everything she said,
everything she did. seemed wholly genu-
Inc.
The supporting company was well-nigh
perfect Robert Drouet played the hus-
band well. and although the role at times
repealed sympathy, he made IL very in
teresting by a forceful performance. Jes-
sic Busiey was capital IN the character OF
Miss Cuilingham. the part being one that
suited her comedy talents most admira-
bly,. and Lucille Watson did some splendid
acting as the miserable servant girl, Mag
gle. who had been discarded after becom-
ing the wife OF the rascally brother. Rose
Flynn gave a good portrayal OF the sec
ond wife. ard William II. Tooker and Grace
Henderson were well cast as the parents
OF the "~green-eyed girl" Frank Dekum