The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-28
"The stubbornness of Geraldine,

Clyde Fitch, playwright, compels admira-
ton. The freakiness of his Girl and the
Judge and the suggestiveness of his
''Frisky Mrs. Johnson" were partly forgot
ten by local playgoers after they had wit
messed his attractive "Girl with the Green
Eyes" two weeks ago. And now all is for
given, for the latest Fitchean comedy to
visit Indianapolis-"The Stubpornness of
Geraldine" which received it's initial local
presentation at English's last night-proves
so entertaining and so altogether delightful
that nothing but praise is due it. 1t is
work that shows its author to be keen
student of American life as whole. with
eyes that miss nothing, ears that hear
everything. brain that is perfect store
room of real wit and wonderful ability to
tell stage story as few contemporary
playwrights can tell it,
1t is not problem play, but sweet,
clever and straightforward little love story.
splendidly constructed and admirably
acted. 1t is play that keeps an audience
interested from tho rising of the first cur
tain to the falling of the last. Its first
two acts are somewhat talky. but the lines
are so bright that one does not miss the
lack of dramatic action. Strong situations
so artfully and presented so consistently
that they are very impressive indeed. The
large audience last night was immensely
pleased with the play and the players, and
showed it's appreciation In many outbursts
Of applause that rang true.
xxx
The title of the piece is not so we'll chosen
as it might have been, although, like all
of the Fitch comedies. 1t Is the sort Of title
that Immediately catches the eye. But 1T
isn't the stubbornness of Geraldine so much
as it is the loyalty of Geraldine that forms
| the theme of the story. 1t is loyalty pure
and simple that dominates the character
| of the sweet heroine. She herself remarks
| in the third act mo woman can pretend
| she loves a man unless she has faith In him
| And the only one who should be able 70
destroy that faith should be the man she
| loves And this is the keynote of the play.
| Geraldine loves truly and with her whole
| being, and with this great love comes abb
soute faith in the man who has won ner
The play is built around the trials that
| follow courtship which has its origin on
| a young American girl, is returning to her
! own country and her home in New York
after absence of fourteen years In
Europe. Left an orphan at the age OF hve;
| her guardian, a wealthy but grabbed old
| uncle, sends her abroad, from whence she
| returns only after the death of her rela-
| 1--WE, WHO mas Indue her HcI. IlSi Soh
| panion is Fraulen Handt, who for several
| years has been her governess. On the
| voyage home Geraldine meets and falls In
| love with Count Carlos Kinsey, a younger
| brother in a noble Hungarian family. who
is poor. but honorable. He Is recognized
| by Fraulein Handt. but he makes her
| promise not to reveal his title to Geraldine,
| to whom he is known as Mr.. Carman.
| Upon arriving in America Geraldine con-
| fides In Mrs. Wrighton, an old friend of her
| mother, and through the German govern
| ess Mrs. Wrighton discovers the identity of
| the count. The latter endeavors to form a
| company in New York to deal in Hunga-
| rian wines and during this business trans
| action he and Mr.. Wrighton are brought
| together. With the welfare of Geraldine at
| heart Mr.. and Mrs. Wrighton make in
| quiries about the nobleman from the
| American embassies at London and Buda-
Pesth and from them receive the informa-
| ton that Count Kinsey is a scoundrel. 1t
| is here that complications arise, and to go
| into the matter in detail would be to de-
| tract from the pleasure of intending pat
rons of the play. for the dramatist has