The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-10


sends him an anonymous letter to warn
him, for motives which she takes TO be
genuine and disinteTested against the de-
ceit and betrayal o. another shopgirl ne is
about to marry. When her love for him
has developed and is returned the anony-
nous letter crops out Of the past and gives
rise to the climatic situation There are
many, no doubt, who will find this situation
hopelessly commonplace and sordid.
heroine who descends to anonymous inter
ference in the love affairs of others Is GER
tainly to the stage. But in the case
of simple, impulsive, untutored girl, is
! ii not true. even characteristic? For one,
L must confess that l fully sympathiZed
with Connie and found her dilemma most
interesting. The characters and the emo
tions needed only to he adequately devel-
Oped In a logical sequence of scenes in or
Ger to yield a story of far greater novelty
and force than Mr.. Fitch has accustomed
us to.
But what. to use the phrase of Sarcey,
/ were the scenes faire, the essential ele-
ments in the action? Comics impulsive-
ness and her indignation at Clarita's de-
ception-the circumstance that led to the
writing of the letter-Mr. Fitch has given
us; but the deed itself and the instant re-
alizatton of its unwisdOm-the first climax
OF the story-happens in the entr acte and
| is lamely reported in the dialogue. 1t is so
pretty well throughout. What we see of
the story Is sincere and truly moving in
| the way Mr.. Fitch so often is, and in
way that makes long for more But the
author does not linger over what is simple
| and human. Merely Connie Bowles would
bore us? For the most part he uses her
story as background on which to pin
the butterflies of his human entomology.
| lures of shopgirl, playgirl and boarding
| house-girl life. with a plot that breaks out
in spots. The result is not so much a play
as the symptoms or play"
That was a fine company of actors in
Indianapolis last Tuesday night. With
/ such players Ada Rehan. Otis Skinner.
| Edwin Varrey, George Clarke and Kate
| Fletcher, it was an organization we'll worth
| while. Several of the members of the COM
| pany belonged to the famous old DAILY stock
company in New York during it's palmy
! days and they enjoy nothing so much as
| talking over those good old times. every
| New Years eve." said George Clarke, while
! in reminiscent mood lit was Mr.. Days
| custom to invite certain favored members
| or his company and a few personal friends
| TO meet at the theater after the perform
| ance, to watch the old year out and the
| new year in. These gatherings were the oc-
| casion for the coming together of Generals
| Horace Porter, now minister TO France;
! Sheridan and Sherman William Winter.
| Mark Twain, and from time to time others,
| all of them renowned in their particular
| sphere OF the members of the company,
| Ada Rehan, Mrs. Gilbert and myself were
| always present These, with Mr.. and Mrs.
DAILY, made up the party At all of these
| should be the least prominent in the CO.
terie and that each Of his guests should be
! the host rather than he. This quality has
| been initiated by all managers since his
time, as they found that it paid to let
others take some credit for doing work. His
wonderful magnetic power over men was
| the secret of his success.
I'm all Of the gatherings that she attend
| ed, Miss Rehan could never be prevailed
upon TO make a speech, but her sweet laugh
was the bouquet of the banquet and she
| keenly appreciated every thrust of the
| wits about her at each other and some
times at themselves. Gen. Sherman was the
father Of the feast, and he used to assume
| a great superiority of opinion by reason of
| his advantage of age over the rest of US,
when in reality he was but little older"
A Paris correspondent says that he has
seen Bernhard in Sardou's new play. la
! Sorcerie,'' three times and that he has been
deeply impressed by the extraordinary
power evinced by both the actress and the
dramatist in their respective old ages He
| also pays a graceful compliment to Miss
! Enzab beth Msrbury, of New York, who is
| Sardous play-broker.
La Sorcerle' should prove gold mine
to it's author" he says, especially as his
| interests are looked after by Miss Marbury.
One meets Sardou and indeed, all the i'm
portant playwrights. at her house in Yer
sailles, when she is there for the summer,
and l do not think l am mistaken in saying
that il was with Sardou that she COM
purchaser Of French plays.
He is great talker, and when he is
talking of court gossip, of what Marie An
toinette said or did-indeed when he is talk
ing of anything-everybody sits still and
listens. For not only is he marvellous
talker, but he is very old man. And
people in France respect both wit and age"
Since the announcement that James K.
Hackett would produce lie Secret de Po-
lichinelle" in this country under the title
of 1.-The Secret of Polichinelle," il is said
that many letters have been received at the
managers office regarding the interpreta-
ton of lie Secret de Polichinelle," and
several suggested that Mr.. Hackett was
possibly unaware that the title as used in
France meant IAN Open Secret Every
body's Secret" "Nobodys Secret" Punch
inello's Secret" and
William II. Thompson went to France
last summer to study this comedy. In il
Mr. Thompson will be seen in a makeup at
Varia nee with any his American audiences
| have recently been accustomed to associate