The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-02-07

his work If his portrayal of the role lacked
the artistic finish that Mr.. Harvey's in
depreciation would have had. IL was only
natural The role OF Sydney Carton =
very trying one, and added TO his new
undertaking Mr.. Imeson has all of the
staging of the production resting upon his
shoulders. IL Is almost too arduous task
for man To accomplish, and unless the
star of the company Is soon i'm position TO
return TO the cast, there is likely to be
another and more serious breakdown In
the organization. IL takes a man OF iron
to bear up under all that Mr.. Imeson Is
now experiencing. Despite the fact that
IL was necessary for him to be in the CEN
ter of the stage most OF the time last night.
instead of directing the movements of the
stage employees, the production, with the
exception of the last act, was given with
out a hitch. There are three pretentious
stage settings in the final act OF the play,
and there was a noticeable difficulty in
preparing them within the allotted time.
The story of the play is too well known 10
be given in detail here. The dramatlsti;
Freeman Willis. has done remarkably goou
work In preserving the strength ana poMeI
OF Dickenss masterpiece, "A Iale OF IMV
Cities; his dramatization is rlch IN tnat
elusive quality known as atmospheric It's
characters are almost as convincing on tne
stage between the covers OF the DUN
and its dialogue is always interesting anu
at times deeply moving. Inc slernns q s.,,
ties of the drama are made MANIFEST from
the first rise of the curtain, and 10 those
who revere the simple force or one or the
greatest DieceS of English 0cIlOn IL n1uSl
indeed be deep source OF pleasure 10 VIII
ness so faithful transferring OF the char
acters and scenes from the DOCK 10 the
stage. The interest begins with the nrst
speech that is uttered and increases as the
play progresses till the final tableau. when
Sydney Carton, drunkard and gentleman,
too weak TO make anything of his life, but
strong enough TO make beautiful sermon
of his death, goes bravely to the guillotine
for the love of a woman who has brought
some little sunshine into his world. The
its chief elements of interest The audience
is taken through the degradation OF the
drunken scene; through the quiet pastoral
beauty of DR.. Manette s modest home In
the suburbs of London; through the turbu-
lence, unrest and violence of the Revolu-
tionary Tribunal in Paris to the final scene
wherein the noble sacrifice of Carton works
out the redemption of a once-abandoned
soul.
The cast was an unusually competent one.
William Haviland, the revengeful De-
FARCE, seemed very much in touch with the
spirit of the ood-thirsty times and did
an excellent piece of acting. Fred Wright
ST., played the part of old DR.. Manette
with distinction and Percy Anstey gave
credtable portrayal of Charles Darnay
The Mr.. Lorry of the play is not the Mr.
Lorry of the book, the dramatist having
taken the liberty of making comedy part
out Of the old bank employee. Mr.. Pat Alex
ander acted the part the playwright
meant that he should, but IL didn't seem
much like Mr.. Lorry, for all that. There
are only TWO 1emale parts Ol dly hhPOi-
lance in the play, and Miss Amy Coleridge
as Lucy Manette. and Miss De Silva, as the
trusting loving little Mimi (another char
acter that has been changed considerably
in the process of dramatizing the novel;,
gave very good performances.
The play, even without Mr.. Harvey, is
fine production and is well worth seeing.
The scene in the third act showing the
Revolutionary Tribunal is one of the most
thrilling ever depicted on a local stage, and
the work of the principals and supernumer-
aries last night in this scene was perfect.
The working up of the mob to that stage
where they are frenzied with desire fer the
blood of the aristocrats was piece OF stage
realism seldom equaled. Mr.. Imeson re-
ceived five curtain calls in the course OF the
performances He deserved even more. The
play will be repeated at a matinee this aft
ernoon and again for the last time here to-
night.