The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-10

don, and Edward FaleS Coward pays trlD-
Taber The pictures include, in addition
TO a splendid portrait, IN colors, OF Ada Re
nan as Lay @9iS TSazle Gertrude Elliott as
Mary Mannering in Harriets Honey
moon, Henry Miller in his new play.
Man Proposes, Wright Lorimer, Henry
Nj. Blossom, jr., Ferdinand Gottschalk, the
Century Players in Much Ado About
Nothing" Arnold DAILY as Napoleon Grace
Merritt, Rudolf Christians, Katherine Ken
nedy, Thomas w. Ross. scenes in THE
Yankee Consul Otis Skinner, etc, etc.
The theatrical season is fast nearing its
end In fact, with Annie Russelrs appear
ance at Englishs two weeks from to-mor-
row night in the comedy, Mice and Men,
the regular season at the leading local
playhouse will practically close, although
there will be few supplemental attrac-
tions during May. Next week will be one
of the most important of the entire the
atrical year at Engishs, as it will bring
TO the Hoosier capital two of the foremost
stars of the American stage-Richard
Mansfield and Maude Adams-and also two
of the biggest musical productions of the
season-"rhe Runaways," from the New
York Casino and Francis Wilson and his
opera, ''Ermine" Mr. Mansfield Will be
seen here in his latest production-the Rus
he has scored one of the strongest personal
successes of his career. He was original
ly booked to play "Old Heidelberg" in In
dianapolis, but it decided that Count
Tolstois thrilling play would prove of even
more interest to local theatergoers. Mr..
Frohman's press representative sends word
to the writer of this column that Miss
Adams will probably put on 1.-THE Little
Minister here, instead of her play
by Mrs. Frances Hodgson Burnett-"The
Pretty Sister OF JOSE" as the dainty lit
former
success almost exclusively during her
Western tour. AS for Francis Wilson and
his associates in the ever-delightful Err
mine, Indianapolis playgoers may well
look forward to a genuine treat There is
no brighter and more tuneful comic opera
than 'tErmnie,' and with such people in
the cast as Mr.. Wilson. Jessie Bartlett
Davis. Madge Leasing, Marguerite Silva
and William Frederick, the revival cannot
be otherwise than a glorious one. The
Runaways,'' with little Arthur Dunn in
the leading part. and with it's army of
pretty girls from the Casino. should also
prove an enjoyable musical show.
Opie p. Read, the novelist, is a great
admirer of the play Checkers" which
will be seen again in Indianapolis this
, week. Writing about various plays of the
season, recently he had this to say of
Henry w. Blossoms race-track comedy:
This play of Checkers is by far the
best play of its kind that | have seen in
many long day, both in character and In
| dialogue. And for intellectual wholesome
ness ii is far superior TO any of the Eng
| lish importations, the horsey Great Ruby
are more good characters in Checkers than
| i'm almost any other play of its class and
| speaking about class, / don't know exactly
| where 10 class 1t, except as a character
| play. OF course, ii has a horse interest
which, for all, is very close to a human
| interest, in that nearly all people, inciud-
| ing our friends from Kentucky, are inter-
tod in hut fHn hnr a.rf docs
| not constitute the entire theme, nor involve
| the most interesting Of the action. One
would expect the play to be along conven--
| tional lines, but very successfully it
| lodges convention and in places rises SUI
perior to anything like reminiscence. 1t is
! not a melodrama. 1t is a peculiarly hu-
man entertainment, with easy, graceful
| and natural situations From beginning
| to end there is not loud curtain
was very much surprised, which always
| means more than agreeably surprised
! Without question, it is not only one of
| the best plays OF the season, but will con-
| tinue to be prominent and engaging for
| many seasons TO come. Human nature is
| it's real theme, and in every action there
is. interest. Summing it all up, | should
| think that the average tired play-goer
| would here find refreshment.
Mime. Janauschek, the veteran actress.
has found a refuge at last. The good old
lady is to pass the rest of her life at the
Actors Home on Staten island where she
will be treated with the special consider
alton due her age, her infirmities and the
distinguished reputation and the high value
of her professional achievement. For
many years she was a reigning favorite
on the American stage. A writer in the
Philadelphia Inquirer says of her in an
nouncing her admittance to the Actors
Home:
''Janauschek was distinctly a ira
gedian. and the figures which she ere
ated heroic in their spirit. in their
dimensions, and in their type. To the mod
ern demand for naturaism on the stage
she made no concession. In a certain lit
eral and restricted sense her personages
may be said not TO have been true to life,
that is, to the everyday life which we see
around us Her Medea and her Brun-
hide. her Marie Stuart and even her Lady
Dedock transcribed the ordinary expert
ence and rose above the realism which it
has been agreed TO declare the cardinal
merit of dramatic impersonation. But they
were great ina ginative creations. and only
those not competent to recognize their
merit could help being affected by their
power. In their energy and vitality and
sincerity: in the passion with which they
were animated and in the constant dignity
by which they were inspired, they made
an appeal To the emotions even OF the
uncritical spectator which there was no
resisting.
Alma Kruger. who will appear here to-
morrow evening as Desdemona in the
Warde and James production of "Othel-
To-" was last seen in Indianapolis in the
all-star cast of Romeo and Juliet" last
spring. enacting the role of Lady Capulet
She is considered one of the most promis-
ing young actresses on the American stage.
Miss Kruger has been before the public
nine years, making her debut as BESIDE
mona when girl in her teens. Her first
experience was with Louis James. with
whom she played small parts at first and
afterward was given an opportunity to eS-
say more important characters. She was
with Mr.. James for three seasons at the
outset of her stage career. playing Des-
demona. Lady Macbeth, Juliet. Virginia
Constance de Beverly in a drama tZatiOn
of SCOTS ''Marmion.'' and the leading role
in My Lord and Some Ladies'" At the
close of her third season she wanted TO do