The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-04
The BeIasco play mt the Park.

With English's closed, the dramatic event
of the week is a Belasco play at popular
prices. and theatergoers who are tired Of
the lighter sort Of entertainment, with
which the early part of the week has been
crowded, will find it well worth while TO
witness a performance of 1.-The Heart of
Maryland as it is now being given at the
Park. This strong Belasco melodrama
opened a half-week's engagement yester-
day, and the Park was crowded with i'm
mense audiences both afternoon and even
ing. 1t is seldom that the Park has at
traction of such a high standard to offer
during its regular season. and when it be-
comes generally known among local the
atergoers that the interpreting company is
one of genuine merit the theater will have
among its visitors during the rest of the
engagement many people who seldom visit
that playhouse.
1.-THE Heart Of Maryland" is so much bet
ter than the usual melodrama to be seen
in the popular price theaters that its crudi-
ties, noticeable when the play was present
ed in more pretentious houses, fade into in
significance. and the piece easily takes its
place as the best of all dramatic attractions
playing the cheaper circuits. To present
well-constructed, well-acted play in the
cheaper theater is something OF a risk,
however, If yesterday afternoons audience
at the Park is TO be taken as an example
OF the average audience that the company
Is now obliged to play to-" While there
were many people in the auditorium who
thoroughly appreciated the tender love
scenes and fine emotional passages of the
story, there were also hundreds of auditors
present who seemed utterly unable to COM
prehend the play-people who laughed at
the wrong time, applauded at the wrong
time and in several other ways made it
quite apparent that a really well-written
melodrama went completely over their
heads. The writer's and producers of the
Observation-Disclosures Shows" are largely re-
sponsible for this state of affairs; the peO-
pie themselves would soon learn to under
stand and appreciate real plays if they were
but given more opportunities to see real
plays.
But If the overlooking audience Yesterday
afternoon failed TO grasp the finer qualities
of the story that being so well inter-
preted for them, they rose beautifully to the
occasion when the exciting climax of the
piece occurred-when Maryland Calvert, the
young Southern girl, chung TO the bell in
the church steeple to save the life of her
soldier lover. How the theater rang with
handclappings and cheers! All Of the stir
ring scenes of the play, well as the less
stressful portions, were acted in a most
creditable manner, but it was this one SEN
Sational incident that caught the crowd.
The company is the best that lark audi
enceS have seen this season, but ii is very
doubtful if the Parks clientele is aware OF
work in Mrs Leslie Carriers old part.
Playing such a strong emotional role twice
day has caused her TO become somewhat
mechanical in her delivery of the lines, but
even at that she Is better actress than is
usually TO be seen at the lower-price the
aters Clifford Storch is the most convnc-
ing villain seen in Indianapolis for some
time, and he plays the difficult role of Cap
tain Fulton Thorp, the spy, which comes
very near being the star part OF the play, in
excellent style A handsome hero is VIII
liam +. Walcott, who is at his best in the
more exciting scenes. B. J. Murphy gives
good Characterization OF a Southern gem
eral, and a well-played part is that of Lieu
tenant Telfair, taken by Oscar NOrfieet.
Edwin l.. Bennison, John NJ. Stevens and
Francis Charlton are equal TO all require
ments in the other male roles of Importance.
Miss Nell McEwen, as Northern girl, and
Florence R0ssland as a little Confederate
maiden, good in their respective parts,
and Florence Foster is acceptable as an
elderly Southern woman.
The play is handsomely staged. and the
same careful attention is given to every
detail that was shown while the piece was
in the theaters of higher class. Ii finishes
out the rest of the week at the Park, and is
deserving of big business.