The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-24

GRAND-High-clas vaudeville, 2:15 and
PARK-"At the Old Cross Roads," and
p. m.
EMPIRE Burlesque. 2 and p. m.
UNIQUE-Variety, and d. m.
"The Earl of Pawtucket" will have its
last two performances at English's to-day.
Ii is one Of the brightest comedies ever seen
the American stage, and its interpreta-
ton is well done by the company now
presenting IL here that theater-goers may
dismiss all doubts as TO the merits Of the
organization. When it was learned that
Lawrence D'Orsay would not appear with
the company the we'll posted play-goers who
had followed the brilliant career of the piece
imagined that without the much-talked-
about English actor 1.-The Earl of Paw
tucket' would be like Hamlet without the
melancholy Dane. But Manager Kirke La
Shelle struck upon the right when
he engaged Frank Monroe To play the title
role in this organization, for Mr.. Monroe
has shown himself equal TO the emergency.
His portrayal of Lord Cardington differs
from that of Mr.. D'Orsay in many respects.
but is just as amusing. Furthermore, he is
succeeding in doing what few American
actors could representing a perfect picture
of the British ariStocrat without exag-
gerating the snObbish mannerisms beyond
Lord CardingtOn is amusing but not ludi-
crous: he discloses the supreme self-satisfac-
ton and superb stupidity of the blue-blood-
ed BritiSher in the most natural manner
possible and at the same time holds the
sympathy Of his audience by artisticalIy
bringing out-apparently quite unconscious
ly-the manly qualities of the high born,
well-bred chap from across the water. Marie
Pettes gives an excellent portraiture of the
fair American Divorce, and the other men,
bers of the company entirely compe-
tent. Splendid bits of Characterization
are done by A. Piper Thomas as Mr. Hooper
and William A. Evans in the small part of
Lord Cardington's valet, Wilkins. The COM
edy is so good on the whole that theater-
goers are actually indebted to Augustus
admirable theatrical Offering.
Augustus Thomas has written some very
amusing dialogues in 1.-The Earl of Paw
tucket" Here are some of the clever
speeches:
Harriet-Aunt Jane. this is Senator Bar
ker.
Jane-My. how those comic papers exag-
gerate our public men!
Later on Jane meets the senator and an
argument takes place
Jane-Are we criminals or insane-we
women?
Senator Barker-wen I've never met
Lord Cardington has been introduced To
Harriet Fordyce by Arthur Weatherbee.
Cardington-You are stopping here in the
hotel. of course?
Harriet-Yes.
Cardlngton-Think of il, Miss Forayce 1
may see more of you'll mean oftener, you
know.
In his attempt to appear American, Lord
Cardington for a moment forgets himself
Harriet-Didn't Mr.. Weatherbee say you
were married man?
Cardington Weatherbee? Weatherbee
must have been spoofing.
-SpOofing!-what?
Contingencies in jest-that is, oh, yes
talking through his hat.
The Chicago brewer. Hooper and Carding-
ton are talking of Jane.
Hooper, wired Jane day before yes
terday.
Cardington-wen she's probably got it
by this time.
Hooper-But she wired you. She was able
Cardington-Yes. Now, you know 1
should think If a person was able TO send
telegram that person would be quite
strong enough to receive one, though per-
sonally ! find sending them much the
more difficult of the two
Hooper has appeared on the scene just
as Cardington is about 20 declare his af-
lection for Miss Fordyce. much to the an
noyance of the Englishman, who is forced
into introducing the lady as his wife
Cardington-My deah, allow me to present
Mr.. Hoopah. of Chicago Mr.. Hoopah will
have a glass of wine with US, then he s
going 10 depart Immediately.
indianapolis should be particularly inter-
ested in the stage version of Kipling's
.'The Light That Failed" since the dram
atist, Constance Fletcher, who writes
under the name of George Fleming is a
daughter of the late James Coolie Fletcher.
who was the eldest son OF Calvin Fletcher.
one OF the pioneers OF Indiana Miss
Fletcher was born i'm Italy i'm 1858, and has
always lived abroad She has written sew
eral novels and plays. The best-known of
her dramatic works are Mrs. Losing
ham," which was produced in 1894; The
Canary" produced in 1888, and "A Man
and His Wife" produced In the same year
few years ago by Charles Frohman. Her
latest efforts have been her dramatization
OF The Light That Failed" and Lady
Kensington Square. London, in the house
that was occupied by the court mads-of-
honor when the royal court was held in
Kensfngton Palace 200 years ago. She does
much OF her own work, however. in her
winter home the Palazzo Capello. in Ven
ice. She wrote her most successful book
"a Nile Novel,, when she scarcely
twenty. She was intimate friend OF
Robert Browning Miss Fletcher is at pres
ent at work on new play for Forbes Rob
ertsOn.
Two performances of THE Light That
FAILED will be given here by Mr.. Robert
Sun and Gertrude ElliOtt-one on Friday
night and the other at the Saturday mat
fnse. On Saturday evening Hamlet" will
be the BILL The seat sale for this i'm
pcrtant engagement opened at English S
yes terday with heavy demand.
Nine Eleanor Petrelli. once a world-re-
nowned opera singer. and widow of Prince
Won Petrof. of Russia. died In an obscure
hotel in Chicago yesterday alone and In
want. save for the charity OF strangers