The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-24
Richard Mansfield at English'sm "OM
Helde/beyg' and Loan the Terrible

Iy the awakening of the young mans heart
to the emotions of pleasure. And, later on,
he showed, in a manner most affecting, the
sadness of mature responsibility that was
creeping over the prince 1t was fine per-
formance, well ordered and wholesome.
Next to Mr.. MansfieldS acting, the best
work of the cast was done by A. G. An
drews, who gave an admirable character
study Of DR.. Juttner, the kindly, whole
souled old tutor, who, though a "dried-up
old schoolmaster, he calls himself, is
still boy at heart-a good old boy OF the
kind TO whom Thomas Hughes dedicated
School Days" Mr.. Andrews gave TO his
pOrtraiture mellowness and humanness
that made the heart of the spectator go out
to him.
Ida Conquest seemed hardly unsophisti-
Gated enough at first in the character of
kathie, but she gained in naturalness as
the play progressed and her principal
scenes of sentiment were acted with tender
ness and charm. Leslie Kenyon. LutZ,
the snobbish valet of the prince, played the
part with considerable humor, although
his enunciatiOn was bad at times. The
various dignitaries of the castle at Karl
burg and the many students at Heidelberg
were all played by capable actors. The
cast was very large one and each one OF
the minor parts was in the hands of
player who could bring out its full value.
The comedy was magnifcently staged,
the settings being very handsome, particu-
larly the one showing the exterior of the
inn at Heidelberg with the ruined castle
high up on the hill beyond, and the pic
distance.
Ivan the Terrible" may never win great
favor with the public as a drama, but so
long as Richard Mansfield chooses to include
in his repertoire of characterizations his pow
erful portrayal of the old tyrant, from
which the play takes its name, there is no
doubt that this grim tragedy by Count
Alexis Tolstoi will remain a fixture on the
American stage. This most recent of Mans
field productions was enacted last night
and, as in the case of "Old Heidelberg in
the afternoon, was given presentation that
is not to be forgotten. 1t was hard to be-
heve that the actor who had appeared
earlier in the day as the youthful German
prince was the same man who as the hated
Car OF the Russias, presented a living por-
trait of a cruel-lipped, mean-eyed, half
crazed, decrepit old monarch If ever there
was the slightest doubt as to the remarkable
versatile genius of Richard Mansfield that
doubt was dispelled yesterday.
There seems to be prevailing impression
in this country that Ivan the Terrible is
a new drama, but such is not the case at all.
The tragedy was written by Count TOlStOi
forty years ago and was the first of a tri-
ology of historical plays dealing with the
careers of Car Ivan, Car 'Foedor and Car
Boris. Up to three years ago its perform
ance on the Russian stage was prohibited
for political reasons, and though first trans
lated into English over twenty years ago,
it received little attention save from among
students of Russian literature. The transla-
tiOn used by Mr.. Mansfield was made recent
ly by Nine. De Messnor.
The drama likened by the New York
critics to the play Louis XII so long
enacted by Sir Henry Irving and recently
presented in this city by that distinguished
Englishman, and ii is true that il re-
than one. Like the old French King, Ivan
is shown in the last miserable year of his
reign, and like Louis XI," the play is
strong in only one particular-that is, it af-
fOrds most unusual character study. There
is very little plot; there is little attempt
at ingenious dramatic construction, but
there is a strange fascination for the spec
tator about the embittered. passionate old
man who dominates the drama. The play
is nothing more nor less than a series of
scenes showing the tnal year in the life or
Ivan, we'll named ''the terrible and the
acting of the play is of far greater impor-
tance than the play itself.
Richard ManSfield's characterization of
the terrible old ruler is beyond doubt one
of the greatest achievements in the dra-
matte world to-day, and even surpasses the
portrayal of Louis XI by Sir Henry Irving.
| In appearance, voice and manner the actor
was wonderfully true to the character,
completely submerging himself in the part
| in a way that was most remarkable. His
| performance was such a masterpiece that
| the weaknesses of the play, as play, sank
| into insignificance and the audience became
| absorbed in watching a truly great player
The supporting company-a very large
| one-was praiseworthy throughout, but,
| aside from Arthur Forrest, none of the
| players was afforded opportunity for the
| display of more than ordinary talent. Mr..
| Forests Interpretation of Boris was
/ notable for its fine earnestness, and he
| aided greatly in giving strength to several
! of the important scenes. A. CT. Andrews,
| who gave such capital impersonation of
the old German tutor in "Old Heidelberg, !"
! again showed his ability as character
| actor by making much of the small part OF
| the adventurer Michael Bitagofsky. Ida
/ Conquest, as the Czartiza, played her one
| emotional scene in excellent fashion and
| made a handsome appearance the royal
/ young wife. The work of the other men,
bers of the cast does not call for special
mention.
| The stage management was admirable,
! the scenery was massive, handsome and
artistic and the costumes were exception
| ally rich and beautiful. The incidental
! music, all by Russian composers, added
/ greatly to the performance.