The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-14

Enacted by a company that is excellent
In every particular the stage version of
Lady Roses Daughter was given at
English's last night for the first time in
Indianapolis before a well-proportioned and
fashionable audience. AS a dramatic struc-
ture the new play undoubtedly has its
faults-the principal one being that II Is
lacking in action-but in consideration of
the broad and deep meaning Of the play.
the sincerity that both original author and
interpreting dramatist have revealed in
every line. and the accurate picture that is
presented of certain people and conditions
OF the times. these technical faults may
easily be forgiven.
George Fleming-or Constance Fletcher,
TO be exact--has done her work in prepar-
ing the stage version OF the book very well,
taking into account the difficulties she had
TO encounter. A complete dramatization of
any one of Mrs. Humphrey Wards books
would be an impossibility and has not been
attempted in this instance. To offer COM
plete stage production of a powerful work
OF fiction not the chief object of con-
sideration. but TO provide an actable play
for a company Of very capable players, and
consequently only such material has been
selected from the book Will afford q
tolerably coherent story of the life and
love Of Lady Rose ChantreyS ilIegitimate
daughter. known as Julie lie Breton. The
play Is bold. just the book is bold, but
the subject Is handled IN an admirably skill
full manner throughout, and the impression
made last night was distinctly favorable.
If Lady Roses Daughter is not free
from revealing life with a forceful truth
that Is somewhat distasteful, sill the work
cannot De eonseenti3vsy concerned 1 tre on
everything OF which she writes with thor
ough understanding of her subject and with
unfailing mastery OF style. In this c. Sc she
had a story to tell about an unackno NIedged
granddaughter of an English peer, placed
by accident in the most blue-blooded circle
of London society, and this story is told in
q way that Is at once absorbingly interest
ing and intensely human. The complex
nature OF the heroine. Julie lie Breton, re-
sulting from noble antecedents and unfor
tunate circumstances of birth, is shown in
wonderfully analytical manner. The forces
and frailties OF her character are brought
out as only writer of genius could paint
such a picture.
As readers of the noval are aware. Lady
Il ose's Daughter" IL or such an intricate ma
ture that IL would be almost impossible to
set forth here in few words the detailed
story so that II would be entirely intelli-
gible; In fact; ;, 1t is , almost necessary for
to appreciate the play. While the stage
version Is so cleverly arranged that any
one can follow the story understandingly,
yet IL is the auditor who has already d.
gested the plot and studied the characters
that will get the most enjoyment out of the
story in its theatrical form. Julie lie Bre-
ton, OF course, dominates the scene through
cut, but there are other characters that are
scarcely less deserving of attention. Lady
Henry, Jacob Delafield, Captain Wark-
worth Sir wilfred Bury, Mr. Montressor.
Lord Lackington and the Duke and Ouch
ess OF Crowborough are all real men and
women. for the portrayal of character is
one Of Mrs. Humphrey Wards greatest
gifts.
Fay Davis may not be the Julie LIE Bre-
ton as drawn by the artist, Howard Chand-
Ter Christy. who illustrated Mrs. Wards
book. but she Is better than that; she is
the Julie lie Breton drawn with a powerful
pen by the author of the story. Miss Davis
Is a slender, frail woman. with an unusu-
ally expressive face, and with character
istics that are unlike those of any other
does not adopt any certain school of act
ing; her school is her own, and a very
be a great actress, but she is perfect within
her limitations, and the character of Julie
lie Breton Is easily within her grasp. She
Is graceful without posing; she is wonder
fully natural even In scenes of deep emo
ton. while in the lighter passages her art
Is beyond criticism. She does not possess
the extraordinary physical allurements
that several other actresses of the first
rank possess-unless you take into account
those charming dimples in her cheeks and
charms one with her spirituality and her
magnetic personality. Her success last
night was of the most pronounced descrip-
ton: and after her admirable emotional
scenes at the ending of the third and
fourth acts she was obliged TO respond to
numerous curtain calls. acknowledging APP
plause that was nothing II not sincere.
A better supporting company than the
one with which Mr.. Frohman has sur
rounded Miss Davis would indeed be hard
TO bring together. The Lady Henry Of
Ida Vernon was incomparably fine. She
brought out strongly every phase OF the old
ladys nature, her conception of the char
acter being vigorous and effective draw
ing. Guy Standing was at last seer in
Indianapolis as the hero OF play instead
OF the villain. His last appearance here
was with John Drew, when he played the
italian trouble-maker in THE Mummy and
the Humming Bird" and most OF his other
stage creations or recent years have been
along similar lines. Although he has many
mannerisms that cause him TO be pretty
much the same in all parts that he under
takes, he Is very capable actor and his
rendering OF the role of Jacob Delahed
was always convincing. William Court
leigh made a very handsome Warkworth
and acted his somewhat disagreeabie part
successfully. although he seemed rather ill
at ease during his first scene with Miss
Davis.
W. H. C-ompton. an excellent actor
played Lord Lackington i'm a way that
could scarcely be improved upon. Arthur
Elliott gave a faithful portraiture OF Sir
Wilfred Bury, and James carhart and Her
bert Mckenzie were well cast I'm their
respective roles of Mr.. Montressor and the
Duke OF Crowborough. Louise Drew. a
daughter OF John Drew-and she looks so
much like her father that the resemblance
causes comment-appsared as the Little
Duchess" Evelyn, and displayed much
ability for light comedy work. furnishing
some touches OF humor that were all the
more valuable because OF the seriousness
sf the play as a whole. Elizabeth Stewart