Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-11-19
LIVING WATERS
TRICKLED OYER
ACTUAL STONES
Little Tkedter Audience Well
Pleased With THE
Spring.

What is more fascinating than a bub-
bling, sparkling spring set in the heart
Of a woods? Is there any sound more
musical than the soft tinkle of the water
trickIing down over the rocks? And
last night, on the stage Of the Masonic
Temple, as the vital part of the setting
for the Little Theater production Of 1.-THE
Spring" there flowed "reaI live spring,
so realistic in fact that the actors drank
the water thirstily and the audience
itself became embued with a strong de-
sire for a drink
The drama, which deals with the
psychic problem, the transmission Of
thought from one individual to another,
and the hypnotic possibilities. even dip
ping into the RECONSIDERATION OF souls.
was handled with delicacy and art by the
players. many Of whom were decidedly
youthful Miss Angelina Bates, as the
young girl with the peculiar psychic
powers which made her seem queer" to
the rest Of her associates, and caused her
father to consider her on the verge of
insanity, threw herself into the role with
an abandon that made her acting de-
light 10 the enthusiastic audience. Jack
Harding, as Elijah Robbins the Third,
rs the young instructor with a pas
sion for psychic study, gave a virile,
flesh and blood Interpretation of his part.
The story opened with prelude the
setting Of which was unusually
beautiful in scenic effects, the scene
being the woods the spring and the In
dams in 1913 near the village of the
Sauks. Elijah Robbins was captured by
Black Hawk, the Indian chief and by
reason of his courage was adopted by the
chief as his son. Preceding the capture,
Nam-e-Qua, daughter Of Black Hawk,
saw a vision in the spring, Of Elijah
shooting at her father which ne at
tempted later, although his gun missed
fired, which led to his capture. The prel-
1de ends with the warriors and Elijah 1
smoking the peace pipe as the san was
sinking.
Miss Rebecca Kaplan as Nam-e-qua was
an ideal Indian maiden, showing a de-
cided dramatic ability. II. L. Earnest
rs Black Hawk, looked every inch an
Indian chief and carried out his role
in splendid fashion. Paul Iske, won ap-
proval as Mason son Of Black Hawk.
Mrs. Carl Lieber as Singing Bird, wife
of Black Hawk, ". W. WoOllen Jr., as
John Street, companion of Elijah, Glenn
Campbell ArIeigh Waltz and Norman
Green as Indians Of the village all ac-
quilted themselves in excellent fashion.
The scene of the play proper was sup
posed to be laid on the same spot, the
spring still bubbling. the grandson of
Elijah I having built his home there.
The plot is built around Esther Chant
land. the daughter of the head Of the
university, department Of psychology.
William Chantland, whose peculiar
psychic powers have caused her father
to bring her TO the quiet home for rest.
He thinks she is likely unbalanced at
times and is having her watched by DR..
Hadley, professor of nervous diseases.
He has forbidden her to exert her powers,
when Elijah III, who is an instructor
under her father, discovers her peculiar
gift when she sees a vision In the spring,
concerning the Sank Indian and his
grandfather, which his father explains is
similar to the old tale Of the vision seen
by Nam-e-Qua.
He asks her father to allow her to
work with him, using her powers in con-
nectlon with his experiments. but is
angrily repulsed by the professor. who
declares 1t temporary insanity In
stead Of divine gift After a dramatic
scene where Elijah hypnotizes Esther,
bringing her from her room TO him by
the force of his will, and she is rudely
brought from her trance by her fathers
sudden appearance on the scene, which
throws her into wild hysteria.
Elijah and the professor have a violent
quarrel because the father will not LEI
Elijah try his hypnotic influence OF
Esther to quiet her few blows are ex
changed aud the professor suffers frac
tured skull, it is thought. After q series
of thrilling scenes, Elijah brings Esther
back TO her normal state by his power
and the play ends with a uniting Of tbs
love of Elijah and Esther by the spring
Larry Fletcher Is the professor did
nice bit Of acting as did ROllo TalcOtt az
DIT. Hadley, Mrs. Alexander Hamilton
carried out the role of the matter of fact
slightly confused mother of Elijah, II
pleasing style. Robert Z. Tracy won s
goodly share Of applause by his artistic
presentation Of the character of Ira Rob
bins. father of Elijah III. The othel
characters included A F. Weyerbachel
as DR.. Sheldon, Guy May as Judge Par
sons. Miss Elise O'ConneIl as the nurse
all Of whom played their parts in easJ
natural fashion.
The play was received with round afte
round of applause and repeated calls 70
SOmnes. brought forth the director VIII
was presented with a huge basket o
Chrysanthemums. The drama was per
= haps the most finished and artistic offer
ings Of the Little Rheater.
The next play Of the society is to b.
Bernard Shaw's "AndrOcles and thu
Lion" on Friday evening, Dec. 16.