The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-24
"Arizonav mt English's.

When the curtain rises on Augustus
Thomas's powerful comedy drama, "Ari-
zona," those in the audience that are famil-
lar with the great Southwest-whether they
have lived among its picturesque surround
ings or have but gazed upon its mountains
and its deserts from snug section in
fast-fying Pullman-will feel as If they are
actually back again where the air Is like
champagne and where the dry sage brush is
forever rustling in the swift desert wind
The local color Is all there. Thomas has
wonderful knack In transplanting some
particular locality to the mimic stage. In
his Alabama" one could almost catch the
scent OF the magnolia trees and the rose
bushes, and in his Arizona" one half ex-
poets to brush the alkali dust from ones
clothes between acts. Plays Of this stamp
are not so numerous that theatergoers can
afford to let the opportunity slip by to wit
ness their presentation when they are with
in reach. and Indianapolis evidently APP
preciates this fact, for there was a good
sized audience present last night when
ARIZONA" began its second engagement in
this city.
The play is a stage story of the lives and
loves OF men and women living in one OF
the most ruggedly beautiful, but at the
same time one of the most Isolated and
lonely spots in the civilized world. ORA
stage but in Arizona they are logical
and convincing, and at no time during the
progress OF the play does the audience feel
that an pi,sx oeiT The slrrinS climax
comes, of course, just the same as In all
other dramas, but IL seems genuine and
free from all theatrical environment, and,
instead of causing one to smile at its arti-
ficiality, leaves one absolutely interested
even after the curtain has fallen. The
great merit of the play lies in the fact that
do a
ton, its characters are all so human. Peo-
pie are pretty much alike the world over,
but men and women living in little COM
munities cut off from the rest of the world
by mountains and dreary wastes of desert
land are not so engrossed in hiding their
feelings from their fellowmen as are the
inhabitants of great cities. When a dis
turbing event comes into the lives of these
people the eruption Is not smoothed over
with affectations of indifference, but. on
the contrary, the human emotions express
themselves nature intended they should.
Mr.. Thomas has caught the spirit of the
life among these obscure settlements In the
great West, with the result that his char
acters seem to be real people living real
lives.
AS the play was seen in this city last
season and was reviewed in detail at that
time, IL is not necessary to repeat here the
story that IL tells-a story that is humorous
as well as human. and fearful as well as
full and impressive, the scenery and dressing
of the play being not only picturesque but
complete and accurate in all details The
company is OF such general excellence that
AZ would seem almost ungrateful to find
any fault at ALL Miss Edith Lemmert as
the weak, easily tempted wife, does not
possess the emotional power necessary for
q convincing portrayal of the part. but she
has a most pleasing personality and in
scenes where no demand is made upon her
for emotional work she gives satisfac-
other members of the cast act with full ap-
probation of the value of their respective
Characters. a better young actor than
Dustin Farnum. who is now playing the
part of Lieutenant Denton, has not been
seen in Indianapolis this season. He is
natural In the lighter scenes or the play
and forceful in the dramatic portions. w.
]. Cope as Candy, the ranch owner, and
John II. Burke as Colonel Bonham are
both excellent in their parts, and Leslie
Matthews acts the unsympathetic role oil
Captain Hodgman with a thorough under
standing of the contemplate nature OF the
man whom he is picturing. A little mas
terpiece OF acting is done by Frank cam
peau as the Mexican vacquero, Tony, who
when he learn the Americana tongue
learn the good an bad alike Ben Deant
not only plays the small part of the army
surgeon very well. but is largely RESPONSE
bic for the superb stage management. as
the play Is being put the boards under
his direction. Miss Agnes Muir is dainty
in the ingenue part of Bonita and Miss
Eleanor Wilton, a capable actress, is good
as Mrs Candy. Charles f.. Graham makes
the character OF the German sergeant ar
interesting one. and Miss Alma Bradley, as
his daughter Lena. whose young life has
been almost shattered through the decep-
tion OF the heart-breaking captain, looks
and acts her part in a manner that could
scarcely be improved upon.
The play was enthusiastically received
last night IL Is seldom that an audience al
English's applauds so heartily in the middle
OF an act that the actors are Obliged &c
wait for the hand-clapping to cease before
continuing their lines, but such was the
case last night upon several occasions The
play is deserving OF large audiences at TO.
days matinee and evening performances
"vivian's Papa" Well Received.
WASHINGTON. JAN Cleo Dietrich
STEMS new play. ''Vivian's Papa" was pre-
scented TO a large audience at the Columbis
Theater tonight. and received fatterin,
reception. President Roosevelt's children