The Indianapolis journal., 1904-05-01


witnessed It. The cast was a competent
one, but the fact that it was not the orlgl-
nal New York cast kept the people away
from the theater. In this instance 1t
CHANGED that the company was worthy OF
the play, but IL so often happens that
second company is so entirely unsat-
lsfactory that local play-goers could hard
ly be blamed for being unwilling TO risk
things" Manager Kirk La Shelle is not
likely TO try any more second companies
on Indianapolis, by the way. Fitch 5 Her
Own Way turned out to be the very best
thing that the prolific young New Yorker
had ever given TO the stage, and Maxine
Elliott was delightful in the principal part,
scoring well-deserved success. The
County Chairman tickled Indianapolis au-
dienceS just as it afterwaTd tckled the
audiences in the East. 1t is by far the
best effort from the pen of George AIDE and
is in fact, the best comedy OF American
life written for a long time. Full of human
nature, and full. too, of delicious satire,
it is the sort OF play that will live through
many seasons.
"A japanese Nightingale" was a snowy
melodrama, played by superior company.
Miss Margaret Illingtons work in the part
of the little almond-eyed woman of the
teahouse being very artistic bit OF act
ing. But the play was a rather poor mix
ture of new and old Japan, with more of
the new than of the old and it did not
have the necessary backbone to make il
a pronounced success. Tim Murphy, a
pretty good comedian, came along for a
short visit in vehicle that was unworthy
of him. while Henry E. Dixie was seen
in a double bill-"Over a Welsh Rabbit"
and Facing the Music''-giving admirable
light comedy performances. Mary Man
nering played two engagements during the
THE StubbOrnness of Geraldine" and later
on in Lee Ditrichstein's adaptation from
the German, renamed ''Harrietts Honey
moon" Miss Mannering is a charming
actress and she made the most of the
comedies both of which were entertain
ing, if nothing else.
Annie Russell, one of the greatest OF local
favorltes, appeared last Monday evening
in Madeline Lucette Ryleys Mice and
Men,, and pleased a large audience of her
admirers. The play was sweet and dainty
Miss Russell expects to appear in Pineros
Lefty next season-and then look out for
trouble. Miss Russell realizes as well as
anybody else that Mice and Men" is
cOlorleSs play, and she also realizes that
the public seems to expect her to remain
in colorless pieces; And So like every
other human being with a grain of
"spunk," she is bent upon doing just what
everybody thinks she cannot do. She is
not to be blamed for her desire to abandon
the pretty picture" style of comedy, but
it is doubtful if she is making a wise
choice in taking up this new Pinero play.
y play may abound in human nature and
contain deep heart interest without being
an unpleasant stage story dealing with
degenerates. And so, when Annie Russell
appears in Lefty" look out for some
thing to drop. Mark this.
VI course, the local season ndu us lncOn-
sequential productions-affairs that were
neither good nor bad, but which filled
their purpose of holding the attention of
those people who were none too particu-
| lar to the quality of evenings en-
tertainment at the theater. There will be
such plays just so long as there is a
| tolerant public.
The musical performances will not be
reviewed at length here as the purpose
| of this resume has been to consider the
| legitimate plays and players There were
| many entertaining new musical pieces,
| chief among them being "A Chinese
| Honeymoon, with it's bright music; Red
| Feather" with its gorgeous settings, mag
| nificent costumes and fine ensemble num-
| bers; The Yankee Consul" with that
| drol comedian, Raymond Hitchcock, to
| lend it distinction: THE Tenderfoot," with
Richard earle in quaint character and an
element of novelty about it; THE Prince
| of Pisen," with it's tuneful melodies, it's
| Song of the Cities" and its one really
| funny incident 0he fountain scene); THE
! Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" with its
| many pretty chorus girls. its magnificent
| scenery and its trio of comical buffoons
| the Inflated Mr.. Bluebeard,' with its