Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-04-19

Barrie sings OF love III The Little
Minister"
The author allows the love tree to
| bloom in his comedy of life and man
ners.
This love tree is blooming at English's
this week. where the Gregory Kelly Stock
Company has splendidiy captured the
Barrie spirit of fun with a dash Of real
| ity and Jest
The entire performance of the Kelly
company reminds one of an old-fash-
| toned garden with its quaint flowers and
delicious perfume. All of Barrle's char
acters are quaint and Mr.. Kelly from
himself down to the scenic artist has in
hailed the delicious witchery Of the
author until the very stage becomes
Barrie
1t is no easy task to grasp the mean
ing and charm of Barrie and transplant
IT on the stage but Mr.. Kelly and his
associates have accomplished a miracle.
tried TO keep my head last night and
not fall a victim to the charm of Barrie
or the players, but by the end of the
first scene of the second set, l was vote
ing my individual pleasure as every one
in the big hOHse was doing. Mr.. Kelly
has done a wonderful thing. He trans
formed. multitude of people into Barrie
fans last night and 1 predict hundreds
Of others will be converted to Barrie be-
fore the week is over.
The character of Lady Babbie is just
as sweet in the hands Of Ruth Gordon
as she was in the imagination Of the
author. Miss Gordon when dressed as
the mlschievous Lady Babbie in the
guise of q gypsy maid Is like a wild
flower on a prairie. Then when the
author compels her to become Lady
Babbie in a long white gown, she is as
beautiful and charming a lily. How
safe and secure is Barrie's little love
heroine In the hands Of Miss Gordon. 1t
is charm that the role of Lady Babbie
needs and Miss Gordon gives the
character all it can stand.
OF course you are Wild to know how
Gregory Kelly looks in the frock of
young minister He is immense. / can't
understand how he can so successfully
shake off the Clarence, the Bobby
Wheeler and Willie Baxter roles and
absorb the needed spirit for a minister
role. He does it with natural touch
OF youth. Youth-that's the thing
Barrie is talking about all the time in
this play, whether il is only a memory
or a reality. You win enjoy Mr.. Kelly
as Gavin Dishart, the minister of little
flock.
There is no need to discuss further the
work Of Miss Angela Ogden as Mamie
Webster as I have expressed my senu-
ments under her picture. Elizabeth
Black received an ovation when she first
appeared as Micah Dow. We remember
her from last season with Mr. Stuart
Walker.
There is another genuine triumph in
the Kelly production and that IS the
work Of Byron Beasley as Thomas
Whammond, the chief elder. He brings
to the role the qualities sterling vital
ity and realism which makes the part
stand out like a mountain. Mr.. Beasley's
work is honest as G dollar.
I cannot go into detail concerning the
work Of Harry Wagstsff Gribble. Percy
Helton, Owen Mech, Harry Sothern,
Willard Barton and the many others. but
It is sufficient to say that they fit into
the picture and that means great deal
when we stop to consider that this is
Barrie play.
Opinion-You can't go wrong IN visit
Ing English's this week and seeing the
Kelly company in Barrie's THE Little
Minister" These players have caught
the love message and charm of the author
and they are Offering It to Indianapolis
for a mere song at En- glish's this week
Don't miss this opportunity for a real
night in the theater.
On view at English's all week.
W. D. Fl.
= i -
CONCERNING HOT AIR
AND MR.. BOB HALL.
Some time ago I was unable to take
Bob Hall seriously. I considered his