The Indianapolis journal., 1904-04-26
Annie Russeu i'm "Mice and Men"

Annie Russell i'm s.sIice and Men,"
Annie Russell. an actress who is de-
servedly favorite among the play-goers
of this country, reappeared before an In
dianapolis public last night giving one per-
formance at Englishs OF Madeline Lucette
Ryley's comedy. mice and Men, play
that has met with great success in England,
and which has been warmly welcomed in
New York, Boston and other Eastern cities
Last nights audience was of large proper
tions, and Miss Russelrs admirers greeted
her with a genial reception.
1t is easy to understand why, with Miss
Russell in the principal part. Mice and
Men has been received with favor in this
country, for her personal popularity would
lend impetus to any play that had any
good in it, But it is not quite clear why
| the comedy, standing it's own merits,
should have created something of furore
| in London. for it is not the kind of play
that one would expect to make deep i'm
preston. 1t is wholesome in motive. slight
in structure. and pleasing throughout in
a mild sort of way-a pretty comedy, but,
| for the most part, a very conventional one.
1t awakens no new thought in the mind of
the spectator; IL touches none of the deeper
emotions, and the narrative that it has 10
tell Is ncltHtr nONel nor ingenious. How
ever, the dramatist has treated the slender
story in agreeable manner. and the
players, particularly Miss Russell herself,
Mrs. Ryley. for the purposes of pictur-
esque costuming and quaint stage settings,
mas iald the scenes of her play in Old
hampstead, Eng, in 1856. although the
story Is no more appropriate to that place
OF period than ii would be TO any other
place or period. Briefly sketched this is a
simple tale that is unfolded in the four
acts: "A middle-aged scientist has certain
ideas OF his own concerning the proper
bringing up OF girls He conceives the
| eating her In strict accordance to his
views, and marrying her when she comes
10 years or discretion. Like so many scien-
| tihc theories, this one seems flawless be-
| fore 1t Is put into execution and when once
put into execution proves a complete fail
/ ure- 1t chances that the professor has
handsome young nephew who loses little
time IN falling in love with his uncles
/ pretty ward. The girl returns his love but,
upon being led TO believe that the young
| mans heart rightfully belongs to another
| woman, she concludes to give him up, and
I is ready TO wed her guardian. The two
/ young people. later on. are brought to a
fun realization of their love for each other,
| and the professor finally learning how mat
ters stand, he makes the great necessary
sacrifice. gently and kindly. giving, up, to
| the younger man the girl whom he has
| grown to love so fondly
4 1t is a typical Annie Russell play, and
| the leading character makes no other de-
| and ingenuouS-a demand which Miss Rus
| sell easily meets. There are no real dra-
matte situations, the only attempt at any
I thing of the kind being in the third act.
| when the ward of the scientist thinks she
| sees proof Of her lovers perfidy. But this
| scene does not contain enough dramatic
| strength to carry it through successfully,
and it is defect rather than otherwise. Miss
Russell is always artistic, and the role of
| Peggy is admirably suited TO her tempera-
| ment and talents. She was quaint and visit
full in the earlier scenes when Peggy was
| supposed to have been fresh from founding
! asylum and, although not so convincing In
| the scenes where Peggy was gay and trol-
icsome. she was sweet and charming in
the last act, which showed the elimination
of the girls love affair. In its entirety her
portrayal was dainty and sympathetic. and
she presented lovable appearance in her
| pretty gowns of a century ago.
| The character of the scientist, Mark En-
bury, played in a fine and dignified
manner by John Mason, an actor who may
always be depended upon for capable work
in any part to which he is assigned. Only
occasionally did he lack a certain mellow
ness that would have added 70 his imper-
by Forbes Robertson, who scored a strong
success in it. Oswald Yorke, who recently
became the husband of the star, was hand
some in the soldierly trappings of Captain
Lowell, and acted the role with grace, spirit
and buOyancy. John Glendenning was eX-
cellent as Roger. Goodlake. and the other
male roles were in competent hands.
| Mrs Gilbert beloved by everybody, was
as sprigtly, as gracious and rarely sweet
| in the character of Mrs. Deborah she
| was years ago in similar roles. The au-
| dence delighted in her presence and ap-
| plauded her time and again, not only for
| her own sake, but as a reward for the ex-
! cellent bit of acting which she contributed
| Margaret Huddleston gave a creditable per-
formance of the part of Joanna Goodlake
and the other feminine characters were ac-
ceptably filled by Mrs Glendenning and
Olive Murray.
The stage settings of the presentation
were in every way adequate, the scenery
in the last act being particularly pictur-
esque. The engagement was for the one
night only.