The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-05
TO-Day's scIIedule>

TO-Day's schedule>
GRAND.-High-class vaudeville, 2:15 and !
PARK-"Kidnaped in New York. 2 and
p. m.
EMPIR.-Burlesque and p. m.
UNIQUE.-Variety, and p. m.
Maude Adams in ..The Little Minister
If there were ever any doubt as to the
place Maude Adams holds in the affection
of the theatergoing public of America all
question must have been promptly settled
during this season. when, after an alb
sence of two years, she has been reap
pearing before large and genuinely enthu-
siastic audiences through the country. The
charming little actress came back to In
dianapOlis last night and if she had been
the greatest artist that the world had ever
known her ovation could not have been
more honestly spontaneous. Englishs
Opera House was crowded to the doors.
Only once before during the season has
there been another such overflowing as
sembly, and that was when Joseph Jeffer
son appeared in his familiar old RIP Van
Wrinkle" Joseph jefferson and Maude
Adams-these two can pack an Indianapolis
playhouse at any time. while other dis
tinguished artists may go a-begging for au-
diences
But there is no fault to be found because
indianapolis chooses to play favorites
especially when the favorite chances to be
sunny little actress, whose fair face,
dainty gestures, coy glances and graceful
movements are a delight to see, and who
goes straight to the heart of an imperson-
alton with clear. sweet mind that lifts
the whole audience out of itself, as ii were,
and into a measure of human kindness
that makes everybody in the theater akin
The reception given her last night by the
Indianapolis audience that crowded the or
chestra out of its accustomed place and
I filled up every available inch of space in
| the auditorium, was only a repetition OF
/ the reception with which this idol of the
/ playgOing public has been meeting since
| her return to the glare of the footlights
/ All America loves Maude Adams, the ac-
| tress and woman-the woman more than the
| actress, perhaps-and there is indeed no
such word fail in her case. She wins
| her way in any part she may choose TO
| play-whether 1t be the unhappy Juliet,
| the interesting LAiglOn, the attractive
heroine of Quality Street the stubborn
| Spanish maiden of THE Pretty Sister of
| Jose or the wayward, impulsive Babbie
of THE Little Minister"
| But it is as BaObe that the public loves
/ her best of all. This is the age of per-
sonality in stage art, and Maude Adams
fits the mood of Babibe, the Scotch lassle,
| like glove. She lends to it refinement
| that is not so much an outward polish as
i it is the inner standards of this character,
| through which much of the woman is re-
vealed in the actress. 1t is really an ad-
mirable performance-this portrayal of Mr..
| Barrie's fascinating little heroine-both in
| point of rare deicacy and in the sweet re-
finement of it all. Miss Adams's two years
| of retirement from the stage have only
| served to bring To her heart a renewed en-
thusiasm for her work, and her impersona-
tion last night was marked by an irresisti-
| bly, buoyant spirit and brightness that held
| the audience entranced.
| The story of 'The Little Minister has
become SO well known through the popu-
| larity of both the literary and stage YER
siOns that it is hardly necessary TO repeat
| il here. The plot deals with a whim OF
Lady Barbara Rintoul (Babbie), who dis
guises herself as a gypsy and steals from
| her fathers castle to warn the weaVerS IN
the village of Thrums that the English SOL
diers are coming TO arrest those who op-
posed raise in tax She meets In the
wood the new minister of the village
church, and the young people ran deeply
in love. Learning that a certain gypsy
girl has been aiding the rebellOuS weavers,
the soldiers attempt TO capture her, and
they come upon the minister and Babble.
To save herself Babbie pretends TO be the
minister's wife, and, as she declares In the
| presence of witnesses, that she is welded to
the of the church, she thus actually
becomes his wife. as such a proceeding
comprises a marriage according 10 the pc
culiar laws of Scotland. The villagers dis
cover that their minister has been seen
with the gypsy girl ana are ABOUT 10 turn
him out of the church, when Lady Babbie
saves him by acknowledging her true char
acter, and makes them all happy by taking
her place his wife, the protests of her
relatives being useless under the existing
circumstances.
The story, like all of Barries tales. is a
whimsical one. and IL makes an original
play from beginning TO end. Although we'll
presented when Miss Adams first appeared
in the piece, IL was acted in an even more
admirable fashion last night. The sup
| iuh fanf
! No star who has been seen in Indianapolis
this season has had better organization OF
associate players. Robert Edeson was the
original little minister, and played the
part well, but Henry Ainley. the young
English actor. who is now portrayins the
role, is a better actor than Edeson. and
his performance last evening was on a pan
with that OF Miss Adams. Although toe
tall TO meet the physical requirements OF
Mr.. Barrie's Gavin Dishart. the actor from
London. who is new TO this city, realized
the character fully and his delightful boy
ishness would have done the authors heart
good could Mr.. Barrie have seen the i'm
personation. G.. Harrison Hunter, as the
chief elder. Thomas Whamond. was dis
tinctly successful, and John III. Bunny
Richard Pittman and William Henderson
furnished capital portraitureS of the Other
three elders of the kirk Joseph Fran
occur gave dramatic strength to the part oi
the reformed drunkard. Rob Dow. anC
; Eugene Jepson, who was seen here severa
weeks ago in the cast of "A japanese
!. Nightingale" made a splendid Lord sRin
! toul The role OF Captain Halliwell wa:
7 we'll handled by George Irving and Niole
Rand was sweetly pathetic little Mical
Dow.
) \ delightful characterization OF Nanni,
! Webster was contributed by Mrs. w O.
! Jones, who. with the exception OF Mrs. Gil
bert. is the Oldest actress now on the Amer
lean stage Mrs. Jones has been on tn,
stage for sixty years (she is just seventy
five) and her acting is still genuine TO tn
core and fine in artistry. Margaret GOrdoI
} | made a good deal out of the part of th'
| French maid. Felice. and won applause il
her one important scene The play wal