The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-13
"Checkers" at EngIish's.

Checkers" at English's.
Since the days Of The Flying Scud."
which William Winter, OF the New York
Tribune, considers to be the greatest racing
play ever known until Checkers" was
brought forth. the plays in which race
scenes form a leading feature have been
highly successful in America. All play
goers recall the great hit scored by Nell
Burgess County Fair" "Old Kentucky
and The Sporting Duchess were big box
office winners; "The Suburban" has had
triumphant career, and-breath the fact
Ben-Hur." with its religious at
mosphere, is known to thousands OF people
1.-The drama with the great chariot race
The average American has the inherent
love Of chance. Take an eminently respect
able, law-abiding public-spirited citizen
and turn him lose at Sheepshead Bay or
Washington Park or Bennings-and watch
him as he is irresstibly drawn 10 the
betting ring. He may not be inclined to
gamble at any other time, but the love of
chance and the love of beautiful, swift
going horses is a combination that will
stir up the sporting instinct of four out of
every five Americans. And so this play of
Checkers" which returned to English
last night for a brief engagement is a
COlleuy -uFdtld tndI not only proves enter
tanning to the average play-goer, but one
that has "A certain amount of fascination
about it-and chiefly on account of its race
track atmosphere. The horses in this latest
racing play are not alive, and yet the
thusiasm engendered speaks volumes for
the strength of the illusion, and shows that
craftsmanship behind the footlights and
imagination in the auditorium are won
drously important factors in theatrical
success.
Checkers" as most people are aware
tin flor Qf g
popular little story OF the same name. The
book won considerable favor by reason of
It's fresh atmosphere, its quaint humor and
us vein or peculiar yet very genuine
pathos. The stage version makes a bright,
entertaining play. 1t has a happy ending,
which the book has not, and so the audi
ence goes away from the theater in a
pleasant frame of mind. In the book the
sweetheart of Checkers, Pert Barlowe,
fades away and dies; in the play she smiles
merrily up into the face of her ,adoring
lover as the final curtain falls. In the book
the story is strikingly original in treat
ment; the play is conventional at times.
particularly in it's melodramatic last act,
which scarcely rises above mediOcrty. But,
for all that. Checkers" on the stage is
cloth covers and the play is well deserving
of larger audiences this afternoon and even
ing Che final performances here) than it
drew to the theater last night. The as
sembly last evening was OF but moderate
proportions.
The story of the play was reviewed at
ltISiH III THESE Columns last SpTlIlR, upon
the occasion of its initial engagement in
indianapolis, and there is no occasion for
repetition. The acting OF the piece con-
| tinues to be very satisfactory. But few
| changes have been made in the company
! since the plays first appearance here, and
the changes that have been made are all
| for the better In the play itself one great
Improvement has been made-the ending of
the second act. When presented here be-
| fore the second act came to a conclusion in
way that suggested a popular-price sen
satiOnal play. but now this scene closes
artistically and much more effectively. A
| speciality in the way of eight dancing and
cake-walking little negroes is also intro
| duced I'm this act-an added feature-and
while this Is somewhat out of keeping with
the general character of the play, it seemed
to please the audience immensely last
night.
Thomas w. Ross is a most praiseworthy
| young actor. In the title role he gives
/ an impersonation that is in every way
meritorious. He is Checkers to the life
| frank. spirited, sunny-tempered and attrac-
tive in spite of his lack of good breeding.
His acting is better than ever before, be-
cause of the fact that he is a player who
is always bent upon doing his utmost
toward perfecting his performance. He is
so ambitious, so conscientious, and, withal
! so talented. that he is bound TO become an
| important figure on the American stage
| in his peculiar line OF work.
Dave Branham, ir., presents a highly
amusing chara cterization of Push Mil
| Ter, the race-track tout, and Wallace Wors-
| ley is good in the role of Arthur Kendall
| rather unBrdleIul part 10 play. InOmdS
NJ. Hunter as Adoniram Barlowe, and w
| T. Clark Judge Martin. do very credit
able work. and admirable character sketches
| are contributed by Charles Willard. Claude
] II. Cooper, Giles r. Warren, Richard Lee
| and other members OF the large and COM
petent company.
of the women, Katherine Mulkins is most
prominent in the leading feminine character
| OF Pert Barowe. Miss Mullxins is charm
| ing in that part and makes Pert so sweet
| and agreeable a maiden that ii is little
| -OraIa he falr &c
| to work in a country grocery store in
| order 10 be near her. May Vokes, the
| inimitable is seen again in her extremely
| funny portrayal of the awkward servant
| girl, Cynthy-a character of the kind with
| which this original Coincidence has become
| identified. She is delicious during the two
| acts in which she appears. Anna Stanton
| as Sadie Martin. Marie Taylor as Aunt Deb
| and Claire Armstrong as a 'footlight
| favorite' all deserve credit for their good
| work.
The play is mounted in splendid style. the
settings being in fine contrast and well
painted, while the stage management is
| superb. Checkers is a genuine treat in its