The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-17

The greatest of the problem plays. Henrik
Ibsen's Ghosts will be presented at Eng
lish's this afternoon and evening by the
distinguished American actress. Mary
Shaw. and a fine supporting company
which includes William Elliott. Charles
Swickard, William Thompson and Virginia
Kline. Ghosts has been called a drama
OF heredity. The play is in three acts. There
Is no escaping from the doom that is fore
Swallowed in the opening scene for the son
laden with the sins OF his father. Nearly
every word spoken reveals the steady
movement forward of the tragic motive.
The publication Of Ghosts" brought down
upon IDsen's head a perfect storm of rigor-
Gus criticism. Critics that had previously
been friendly turned around and attacked
him furiously. while the general public and
outcry. oddly enough, Ibsen seemed TO be
amazed TO find his play thus received. He
declared that the work was his expression
of the truth as he saw 1t. He was de-
nounced right and left as an enemy Of
society But as years have passed by the
world-or a great part of 1t, at least-has
learned that Ghosts" Is really a powerful
drama, unpleasant though il may be. Many
actresses have appeared in the role of Mrs
Alving. but Of those seen In the character
in America 1t remained for Mary Shaw to
make an unqualified success in IL.
Ghosts tells the old truth that the 'sins
of the father viii be visited upon the chill
dren. Mrs. Alvfng's husband was a man
who lived the most dissOlute life. She thus
describes him In the play: After Oswald's
birth thought Alving seemed to be a
little better. But IL didn't last long. And
then / had 10 struggle twice as hard, fight
ing for life and death so that nobody should
know what kind of a man my child's father
was Ii Is her love for this son oswald
and her attempt TO shield him from his
Inevitable fate that makes the drama so
-Io..fI attract largo audiences
Nine. Wiehe, who is called the Lolita Of
the Partisan stage" Is soon to be presented
by Charles Frohman in New York In the
little plays which she made famous in
Paris. All of the pieces will be done in
French and as the plays are all short, sew
erai will be given each evening. This will
be an experiment never tried before In
York will take TO 1t. The little Partisan has
Just arrived in this country She is a COM
edienne, singer. dancer and pantomimist, all
in one. and Is said TO combine In her acting
the most delightful of the qualities that
made Rejane and Judic the idols of French
theater-goers. Nine. Wiehe was so sea-
sick in crossing the ocean that she told a
New York interviewer she would never re-
turn 10 her native land unless she could
make the trip by rail or In an airship.
xxx
Sunday school societies, church organi-
Tic atAl 0AAAC = (I40c IL
country have been persistentIy giving anna
teur performances of scenes or playlets
made from Mrs. Alice Hogan Rice's popu-
lar little books, Mrs. Wigs of the Cab
bage Patch" and "Lovey Mary" From the
very outset IL seemed as If there was a
popular demand TO see the delightful figure
OF Mrs. Wigs in some dramatic incarna-
ton. however crude. The play which has
been made out of the two books by Mrs.
Anne Crawford F1exner is likely To at
rranf much arfanff0n RVNrVWhpTo liz will
be seen at English's next Monday evening,
with Madgs Carr Cook In the leading role.
other principal characters. The sale or seats
for the performance Is now progressing.
The Grand's programme for next week
promises TO be another very attractive one.
Adolph link, the famous liIiputian come
dian, will be one of the chief features. and
Captain webb's wonderful performing seals
will again give their surprising exhibition
on the Grands stage. The Jack Theo trio.
European cquilibrists. and the Three Zolas,
acrobats from foreign vaudeville houses,
Will have interesting acts to contribute,
and other entertainers on the bill will be
Charles Kenne, a clever singer and mono
loeuist: Lavender and Thomson. in an
amusing sketch; the Howard brothers,
banjolsts, and Lawson and Nanon, In a
novel specially.
The Gay Morning Glories Company will
give the last two performances of its en-
gagement at the Empire to-day. The show
Is a good one. Next week the Empire will
have the Moonlight Maids Extravaganza
Company, an organization that scored a hit
when seen In this city last season. A new
musical travesty entitled a Ridto Round
err. win be given. Toma Hanlon. a local
~favorite, is at the head OF the company.
xxs
With the matinee and evening perform
ances to-day the engagement Of Hearts
Adrift" will close at the Park This play
Is Offering, among other features popular
with the lovers OF the meIodramAtic. one