The Indianapolis journal., 1904-02-03
John Drew at EngIish's,

John Drew effected his temperance i'm
Indianapolis last night at English's i'm Cap
tain Marshails comedy drama, ''The Sec
ond in Command" and acting with his
usual precise and intelligent methods held
an audience of large proportions deeply
interested from the beginning of the play
until the falling Of the final curtain. Mr..
Drew played the same piece in this city two
seasons ago and was praised highly for his
portrayal of the leading character at that
time. This finished comedians perform
ance i'm Captain Marshalrs well-written
stage story has lost none of its charm in
the repetition of the part. He is an artist
who gains subtlety with each new presenta-
tion of play and so his Captain Kit
Bingham last evening was even more ar
tistic and pleasing than when local theater-
goers saw 1t the season before last.
Roughly sketched the story deals with
the love of Major Christopher Bingham for
Murial Mannering. the sister of Sir Walter
Mannering, of the majors own regiment
and man who is in embarrassing finan-
cial straits. 'Binks, as Bingham is called,
has often asked Miss Mannering's hand, i'm
marriage but has never received a salts
factory reply. Finally, however. the girl of
his heart says yes to his Oft-repeated
question, as she knows that her brother
ly tells him that she does not love him as a
wife should love a husband but tells him
that he has no rival aside from u portrait
which she has seen in a picture gallery-a
portrait of man who is ideal in her eyes
The portrait as luck will have il, was a
painting of Colonel Miles Anstruther, who
has previously outrivaled "Binks' i'm gain
ing command of the Tenth Dragons. Miss
Mannering and the colonel are brought to-
gether, and, of course, the officer falls in
love with her. She is already deeply in
love no Of nc or &c
that when poor "Binks" turns up with the
wedding ring he is treated coldly by the
woman he adores and Muriel explains to
him that she cannot become his wife. Ans
truther is a much weather. man than the
major, and when Sir Walter Mannering
learns that his sister has Tilted "Binks' he
imagines that she is making a sacrifice for
him (the brother) and is unwilling to sane
ton such proceeding. He and "Binks'
talk the matter over, and soon after the
latter and Anstruther come face TO face.
The major knows we'll enough that Muriel
does not love him. but still he tells his rival
that she does Anstruther announces to
parture of the troops for South Africa that
his expressed love for her was a mere pass
ing fancy and asks her TO accept il as such
and forget him.
While the troops are in South Africa
'Binks" earns the Victoria Cross for saw
ing the life of Colonel Anstruther There
in that far-away land. one night on the
veldt, he cOnfesses to his brother officer
that he deceived him back in England when
he declared that Muriel loved him. The
troops return home and the lovers soon
meet. Binks himself bringing about a recon-
ciliatiOn between them. The play has a
pretty ending, the self-sacrihcing soldier
In receiving the Victoria Cross-the highest
honor TO be conferred upon an Englishman
is made to feel that life has not lost all
charm for him after ALL
Mr.. Drew denoted all of the character
istlcs OF Captain Kit Bingham, or 'Binks"
with his fine and discriminating interpreta-
ton, with his communicative OutpOur of
genuine humor, with deft touches OF ges-
ture and facial expression and with a con-
Vlncing disclosure of solid planhOOd He
Is comedian of intelligence and charm
cause the play to long linger i'm the memory
or ali who witnessed it,
Margaret Dale's portrayal of Muriel Man
nering was delightful piece OF acting
tresh, unaffected and full of womanly
sweetness and tenderness. Charles f.
Gotthold made an excellent Colonel Ans
truther, manly and sincere. and Monroe
SALISBURY played the thankless part of Sir
walter the spendthrift brother of Muriel
credltably, with a certain effeminate style
that was not always pleasing TO see but
which was quite in keeping with the char
acter- Ethel Hornick gave distinction TO
the role or Lady Harburg and Constance
Bell made very pretty and winsOme Nora
Nlnlng. Ihe minor parts were all taken
by thoroughly capable actors and the set
tings ana stage management We're ad-
mirable In every way. The engagement was
for the single performance only.