The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-15
Maxine Elliott in cher own Way"


UNIQUE.-Variety, and p. m.
Maxine Elliott in cher Own Way"
Clyde Fitch usually succeeds in interest
ing his audiences intensely, even when he
persists in writing disagreeable plays of
bad manners. or tricky little comedies with
unlooked-for incidents One reason for his
success is his genius for dramatic construc-
ton; another is his sense of character. but
perhaps the strongest is his power of re-
producing on the stage the energies, temp
tations. emotions and experiences of real
life. Although he cannot resist an occa-
sional exaggeration of individual traits in
presenting his character drawings-exag-
gerations that often pass the boundaries Of
caricature-stiI there is much of real
human nature in most of his stage stories
that the average audience finds his offer
ings not only entertaining at the time of
their presentation, but worth talking about
afterWard.
Her own Way" the newest of the Fitch
can comedies to reach this section of the
country, proves to be an agreeable play
as well as an interesting one-and this is
something to be thankful for, when one re-
calls the mixture of cleverneSs and bad
taste displayed in THE Frisky Mrs John
son. and the intermingling of the delight
full and the unpleasant in The Girl with
the Green Eyes" Her Own Way is more
harmonious throughout than any play of
hangs together well, is full of the smart
lines to be expected of its author. and
shows the handiwork of playwright
skilled in the resources of the stage.
Its presentation at English's last night
marked the entry upon the local stage of
Maxine Elliott a separate star, and a
large and fashionable audience assembled
TO greet the BEAUTIFUL young woman and tall
Cntp0 actress. several.
deared herself to Indianapolis playgoerS
with her charming personality and steadily
increasing artistic ability. The play con-
tains but one weakness misunderstand-
ing between the hero and the heroine that
strikes one as being extremely theatrical
the sort of MISUNDERSTANDING that would be
almost impossible in real life. The hero
abiding to his rival without mentioning his
name, asks his sweetheart IL she loves him.
The girl answers that she does love him.
but ii is her own brother, a weak sort of
fellow, whom she has in mind at the time
She and the hero had been speaking of
this brother a moment before, and it does
not occur to her that her lover Is jealous
of another man. OF course, this is all
rather illogical, and, in the play that is
otherwise so human and natural, Ii stands
out somewhat glarfngly. But, after all, the
comedy is so good that to dwell upon it's
one weakness would seem quite ungenerous.
All of the action of the play takes place
in the New York home of Steven Carley,
the different scenes showing various rooms
in the handsome residence Mr.. Fitch may
always be counted upon for a surprise
scene of some sort, and in this piece he
starts off with novelty, for the opening
scene discovers the nursery at the Carley
home, with little Philip Carley enjoying
birthday party with his younger brothers,
Christopher and '"Toots," and Elaine, a
tiny bit of maiden from next door. It's
delicious scene and a most ingenious one.
for by the guileless prattIe of the four lit
tie ones the audience is made acquainted
with many of the characters that are to
come into the play and with the existing
conditions in the Carley household. 1t
appears that the family consists of Mr..
and Mrs. Steven Carley, Madame Carley.
the stepmOther of the head of the house,
and GeCrgiana Carley, Stevens sister, who
is a great favorite with the children.
CIeorgiana is loved by Sam Coast, rich
but vulgar sort of chap from the West,
and also by Richard Coleman, a New York
gentleman. She is in love with Coleman,
but her worshiping relatives do
everything in their power TO aid the suit
of the offensive Mr.. Coast Before the end
of the first act the fact is disclosed that
Steven Carley has been plunging in Wall
street and has lost all of his money. In
| the second act Coast becomes determined 70
| win Georgiana for his wife, by unfair
| means if not by fair. and leads his rival,
Il
| young woman has promised her hand to
| him. Coleman, who is an officer in a militia
| company, is about TO start for the Phil
| ippines (the Filipino war is in progress at
! the time of the play aid in his farewell
| with Georgiana the MISUNDERSTANDING
| With the soldiers, under the impression that
| the girl he loves is TO wed another man.
/ Stevens affairs reach a climax. He is
| ruined in business, and he is obliged &c
/ confess 10 his family that his speculations
| have all gone wrong. But Georgiana comes
| TO his rescue, turning over her own for
| tune to him. on the condition that he will
| not go back into Wallstreet with the money
| Steven, in whom the Wall-street fever fOI
| gambling in stocks is strongly imbedded
| gives way TO the temptation break his
promise, after being urged TO speculate
| again by Sam Coast. who wants the entire
| family To go broke so that Georgiana viii
| Steven loses his second fortune eight
| months later and admits TO his sister what
| a mess he has made of things Coast here
! presses his suit ardently. but Georgiana
/ who has begun TO understand the situation
| turns from him in loathing. The Western
| er, feeling somewhat cOnscience-stricken il
| having caused the family such great fnan.
| cial loss. is at least man enough TO secure
| position for Steven Carley that will enable
that unfortunate Spectator TO support hi:
| family comfortably. Despite her many trou
! bes. Georgana is overcome with joy upor
! receiving letter from Coleman in which
| he declares his love for her: but her happi
| ness is transformed to grief wheI
news comes from the Philippines that Cole
| mans company has been ambushed anC
| slaughtered by natives.
| In the last act GeOrgiana. who has losi
| much of her girlishness through the sorrow
she has suffered, is again obliged to say