The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-23
.oId Heidelberg, I'm German.

English's Opera House was crowded last
night with large and representative gath
ering of Indianapolis Germans. the occasion
being the first performance In this city of
the famous Teutonic play, SALT Heidel-
berg which has been so great success in
Germany and other European countries,
and which is now being presented in New
York by Richard Mansfield before enthu-
siastic audiences The play last night was
given in its original form by a company of
German players that has recently been ap-
pearing in Cincinnati and other American
cities having a large German population,
the performance being the first of series
TO be given during the present season under
the auspices OF the newly organized Ger
man Theater Company OF Indianapolis.
English's has held few larger, more at
tentive and more honestly appreciative
diences than that Of last night. The play
was received with the warmest evidences
OF approval, as 1t deserved to be, and the
players were given every Encouragement
from the rising OF the first curtain until the
pretty ending OF the play. There dis
tinctive old world flavor TO the entire enter
tainment. The quaint fatherland melodies
place usually occupied by the orchestra d.
rector and the reading OF a prologue In
verse by one of the members of the COM
pany at the beginning OF the performance
all OF these features tended TO make one
forget that the place of the production was
a modern American theater.
II Is no wonder that "Old Heidelberg Is
such a success, and the performance of last
night but made one all the more anxious
TO witness the English version of the piece,
Is the greatest Of them all Although the
German players put the play on the stage
worthy presentation. and. so far as the act
ing was concerned, 1t was all that could
have been desired, the company being ex-
aE IN The nearly every bic The
age merit that even those in the audience
having an imperfect knowledge Of German
found IL easy TO follow the action of the
play and to comprehend and appreciate it's
The story of the piece is a simple but a
German prince, TO whom the great world
outside his castle walls In Sachsen-Carls-
burg Is blank Surrounded by military
Karl Heinrich's boyish soul longs for free
dom. The opportunity comes when 1t Is
arranged that he shall be sent to the Uni
versity OF Heidelberg. From the pale,
t.mid. diffident prince to the rollicking
jovial Heidelberg student is transition
that takes place In the next two acts. Ger
man student songs, bits of gossip about
the Heidelberg boys and the typical Ger
man customs makes the scenes at the uni
versity most interesting and entertaining
study. Karl falls head over heels in love
with Kathie, the daughter OF an innkeeper
with whom nearly every student in the
college has al some time or other been in
IA eurated- Kathie has never loved any
body until the young prince turns up: In
him she places her trust and he returns
her devotion with all Of the youthful en-
thusiasm OF a boy in love for the first time
II Is delicious to see his honest fervor In
the midst OF his love affair an official from
the court OF Sachsen-Carlsburg arrives and
informs the prince that his uncle is dying
and that the young man must leave the
university and return TO affairs OF state
Karls sorrow at being obliged to give up
his happy student life makes contrast
to the boisterous good times that have Just
preceded His parting with pretty Kathie
Is pathetic.
reigning prince. His thoughts are ever with
dear old Heidelberg and the innkeeper's
daughter. and he has little heart for the
ruling OF a principality. When an old serv-
ant OF the university days appears upon
the scene the prince Is overcome with his
longing TO be back again at Heidelberg
and he makes up his mind to pay the scene
of his boyish joys farewell visit. He re-
turns to the university town only TO have
the truth brought home to him that. in the
mix with these good fellows again. Foam
ing stems drunk to his health and he
says his last goodbye TO the students. to
the castle on the hill, to the river Neckar
winding through the valley below-and,
alas. to kathie.
The play is at once romantic and tender.
humorous and pathetic. and 1t could not
fall OF success when well acted Hans
Binder gave capable performance of
Prince Karl Heinrich. Fraulein Elsa Corth
made a sweet and sympathetic Kathie and
the other leading roles Were spendidly
portrayed by Adolph Stein, Fritz Ham
boeck. Karl Roehler. Fritz Fischer. Alfred
Korowitz. Heinrich Loewenfeld, Fritz
Boeck. Helene Burger and Marie
Szwirschina. Frau Szwirschina. by the
way once lived In this city. and thirty
years ago she was one OF the players with
= little German stock company that gave
performances I'm a small theater on the
corner OF East Market and Noble streets.