The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-06

comes something more than a mere DOylSn
affection. and she. giving way 10 the same
impulses, after some indecision. permits his
advances. Princelike, he rides away on a
new journey, and-manlfke-he forgets: Inc
girl is left 10 bear the burden OF her shame.
XXX
A lapse of ten years is supposed to take
place before the opening of the play proper.
The first act begins with the jury room
| scene. 1t chances that Prince Dimitri
Neckhludof is on the jury that is to try
Katusha, known as 1.-The Maslova,' on a
charge of murder. Dismissed after her fall
by the aristocratic family that had been so
kind to her. the peasant girl has sunk lower
and lower into the depths Of degradation,
and is accused of having poisoned a man in
a disorderly house, Of which she has been
an inmate. The prince recognizes her as the
girl he wronged and wishes to acquit her,
but he is In the minority. The jury finds
her guilty, with extenuating circumstances.
and she is sentenced to be deported to ST.
IBERIA. A touch of caricature comes into
this scene despite its intensity. The jury
men, in their anxiety TO be done with the
business and get away TO their own affalrs
are very human indeed. Juries are pretty
much the same, no doubt, the world over.
Expiration is to follow. The prince learns
own-and that after being turned into the
, streets by his aunts she became a wanton.
Stricken to the heart, for he is the posses.
sor of a conscience, a real one, and not or
the easily-mOlded, make-believe sort
Prince Dimitri determines to devote the
| rest of his life to Katusha. He goes to the
home of Princess Marie, TO whom he Is
betrothed, and while u ball is in progress
he tells the young woman whom he was 20
have married that he is unworthy of her
and confesses that he is responsible for the
unhappiness of a fellow-creature. The
princess releasese him from their engage
ment and bids him do what he thinks meet,
4 hapnv III she has hplDp6 him 10 do good.
The scene of the woman's prison follows
and it Is wonderfully true to the book. 1t
is one of the most terrible scenes ever
acted on a local stage. The half-light. the
Notwithstanding degradation of the female
prisoners. the disease, the brutality, the
suffering-it is all too distressing for words
to convey. Katusha has reached the lowest
| depths. An atom of lost humanity, she Is
drinking herself to death. To her the
prince comes, filled with the resolve born of
his sufferings. She does not recognize him
at first. When she does she scornS him.
She laughs at his offer of marriage. and
then, with tigerish fury, she denounces him
as the cause of her ruin. She will not &C
cept any help from him, but the prince
swears he will save her yet-against her
The next act takes place in the prison in
Urinary and it is seen that Maslova, who
is employed in preparing bandages for fel-
low-prisoners, has begun TO comprehend the
words of the prince. Her dull mind begins
to realize something of the sacrifice he is
making and her appearance and manner
show an awakening of some self-respect.
The last act occurs three years later In an
exile's camp in Siberia. The weather Is
bitterly cold and the convicts, in their crude
huts, are suffering miserably. Among them
moves Maslova Katusha performing acts
of mercy and kindness. Influenced by the
devotion of Prince Dimitri and the noble
Thoughts of a fellow-exile, one Vladimire
Simonson. the resurrection of her soul has
been gradually taking place. The prince
comes to the -encampment and directly a
messenger follows him, bearing a pardon
for Katusha. The prince is about to give
her the paper when Simonson confesses TO
him his love for the woman and begs him
to sanction their marriage. Katusha. Is now
obliged to decide be zen the two men-the
one who wants TO Vt a wrong and the
mate in the cause OF. umanity. She has
grown TO love the priI e, but she knows
that she could bring no real happiness to
him. And so she makes her great sacrifice.
She dismisses him and gives her hand to
Simonson. deciding to live the remainder of
her life in the convict camp doing her duty
helping the weak and oppressed.
"Simonson and l will work together to
help the women of the streets" she says
fear. Now that you know, leave me. When
will we find another such moment for our
leave-taking?" It's easier-everythins is
so calm and beautiful-and we, too, are
moments"
"And for these moments we give our
lives" the prince answers. Its all clear
to me now-why We live, why we suffer.
It's Sucn a Simple tnlng 10 love. Love Is
everything. Yet men do not know it. You
have taught me the real meaning of ito
live for Others"
Go, Dimitri, while I have the strength.
and don't Look back" she tells him. And
as the pries>s enter and the cOnvicts sing
the Easter anthem-for the play begins and
ends on an Easter day-she cries: Christ
Is risen."
And the prince. raising his hand to bless
her, nswers Peace be with you"
OF the many characters in this unusual
drama only two are Of great consequence.
Blanche Walsh, as Maslova Katusha, and
Alexander Won Mitzel, as Prince Dimitri,
bear almost the entire burden Of the play,
and to them nearly the whole credit for
the success of the performance is due. OF
Miss Walsh's portrayal it must be said that
a stronger performance on the part of ar
emotional actress has never been witnessed
in this city. She exhibited power and range
of feeling that marked the genius. She re-
vealed the simplicity of the pleasant girl,
the brutality of the depraved woman and
the calm dignity of the penitent in a way
that was entirely free from theatrical in
tensity that stirred everyone who listened
to ner compelling words. She was never
overdramatic even in the scenes of extreme
passion, but was always remarkably i'm
pressive. Alexander Won MitZel gave a
superb portrayal of Prince Dimitri. In the
prologue he was the careless, gay young
man of the world. Gradually, through the
remaining acts, he showed the development
Of Dimitri's nobler qualities in a very con-
vincing manner. He looked and acted the
part well-nigh perfectly. The rest of the
cast was notable for the number of good
actors in small parts. Forster Lardner. in
the role of Kolossoff; William Travers, as
Mikiline; Nathan 7. Walker. as Judge
Niphoravitch, and Forest Flood, as Simon
son. all gave sincere portraits of their char
acters. while William N. Wadsworth
brought capital comedy talent to bear in
his rendition Of the merchant juror. Miss
Zenaide Williams was rather colorless as
Princess Marie, but all of the other feminine
roles were in capable hands, Jessie Ralph,
Mrs. Henry Vandenhoff, Jean Patriquin and
Ethylyu Clemens doing good work.
Scenically. IL was an admirable produc-
ton, the settings being well painted and
the atmosphere of the piece never lost
sight of. The costumes were picturesque
and the stage management thoroughly
praiseworthy. Resurrection was a per-
torrance that will not soon be forgotten by
the large audience that witnessed its pre-
sentation last night.
Melodrama at the Park.