The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-06

=yHIS week will be one of much i'm
/ portance in the local theatrical
world. and amusement seekers
IECSG1i will experience no difficulty in
- finding something to their taste
In the entertainment menu There will be
historical drama, Shakspearean comedy,
high-cIass burlesque, good vaudeville, must
cal comedy, melodrama and hilarious
travesty in the bill of fare-surely a list
OF diversified attractions.
First and foremost comes that distin-
guished actor Sir Henry Irving, who will
be at EngIish's tomorrow evening and
Tuesday afternoon. This eminent player
from across the ocean has always been con-
sidered one of the really great interpreters
OF drama in its highest form and is at the
present time looked upon by many people
as the greatest OF living actors. For more
than three decades ne has occupied a COM
rnanding position in the development of
dramatic art and his influence will be
strong long after he ceases to be an active
participant in the production of plays. He
will be accompanied in his local engage
rnent by all of the members of the Organiza-
ton that appeared with him recently at the
Drury Lane Theater in London.
Sir Henry's opening bill tomorrow even
ing will be Louis XI' and he has chosen
THE Merchant of Venice for the special
matinee Tuesday afternoon. These two
plays would be portentious at the hands of
any capable actor; at the hands of Irving
their presentation bespeaks an experience
for play-goers to be accepted with avidity
and treasured long in memory. Louis XXI"
has occupied prominent place in his roper
toire for the last quarter of century. Orig
inalIy written by Casimir Delavigne and
founded on Sir Walter Scotts novel, "Quen-
tin Durward." it was adapted for the use
or Sir Henry Irving by Charles Reade and
later by Dion Boucicault- The picture of
the old French monarch which the actor
delineates, is notable for its mastery COM
position OF grim humor, hypocrisy and vim
y dicttveness. and IL displays his rare art and
marvellous versatility to splendid advantage.
The production of the play will be the usual
Irving production. which means presenta-
ton that will be complete in every detail.
THE Merchant of Venice will be given
at the Tuesday matinee, with Irving in
his favorite character OF Shylock, and this
great Shakspearedn comedy Will be offered
with all the elaborate effects and cOstum-
ing for which the production OF this play
has always been noted. The English actor s
embodiment OF Shylock is now too much of
a classic to require extended comment. He
places the chief emphasis on the acting.
lie Is an impersOnatOr; he aims to leave
in the hearts and minds of his auditors in
uuential images mat VIII help them IN tnelr
conduct of life. The power of his acting
IS not OF his sinews or lungs; il is the
power Of imaginative feeling expressed in
forms Of art
The role of ShylOck has long been hello
in high esteem by actors, and many of the
brightest names in the record of the stage
for more than l5e years are associated with
II. The elder Booth, Macready, the elder
Waliack, G.. V. Brooke, Edwin Forrest, T..
L. Davenport. Samuel Phelps, Lawrence
Barrett and Edwin Booth acted Shylock,
and much admirable power and scholarship
have been laviShed upon its illustration
The most pictorial Shyiock is said TO have
been the elder Wallack-an actor with
whom display was the first considera-
tion. Ii Is thought by many critics that
Sir Henry Irving excels all other actors in
this particular role in perfection of detail
and fidelity 10 nature. The revival of this
great play here will be made additionally
attractive by the fact that the presentation
viii be the same as that seen at the Ly-
ceum Theater in London