The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1923-06-26
Marian Holmes Makes Stage Debut
Ruined Lady Is Not Shocking Play
By WALTER D. HICKMAN.

The first appearance many
times makes or breaks an individual.
Sometimes a young woman walks"
right into success. A personality sue
cess is not an easy thing.
Miss Marian Holmes. daughter Of
Ira Holmes, an Indianapolis attorney,
is making her debut with the Grand
Players at English's this week In 1.-THE
Gold Diggers," a comedy by Avery
| Hopwood.
AS Trixie Andrews, one Of the wise
little "diggers" in the comedy. Miss
Holmes shows surprising comedy
| power. She reads her lines well, knows
| the dangerous business Of walking
| properly across the stage, and above
ali presents characterization. Some
people, who are new to the stage,
appear as their natural self, but Miss
Holmes shows that she has aimed at
character drawing.
Her first part with the Grand Play.
ers is not just walking part, but
she has much to do in the first act.
Her gowns are beautiful.
Miss Josephine Beverly, also Of In
dianapolis, is with the Grand Players
company at English's is required to
give the biggest cast Of the current
season.
OF the regulars" there are at least
five splendid characterizations, as fol
lows:
The Mabel Munroe of Evelyn Wat
soma fine slangy Characterization.
The Jerry Lamar of Jean Oliver
difficult role, but she handles the
famous "souse" scene in the second
act in a satisfactory but original man
ner.
The Topsy St. John Of Ida Belle
Arnold-here is a real gem Of trough"
comedy work She has only to walk
across the stage in the last act to
make every one yell with glee. Spleen
did. Miss Arnold is becoming one
of the real leaders, from standpoint
of merit. in the Grand Company.
The Eleanor Montgomery OF Alice
Mason-one of those ultra characteri-
cations which ie done in the idea OF
jest. Splendid.
The James Blake of Larry Sullivan
"a carefully drawn comedy study.
Then there are many, many others,
including Eddy Waller, Margaret Sci
kirk, Dixie Loftes, James Leroy, Sgd
lney F. Richards. Norman Wendell, Al
Ian West, Harry Carter, Helen st.
Clair.
ii a little more speed was given
the first act and the beginning of the
second, I believe that some Of the
comedy situations which are now
lost would take on added importance.
That is probably all taken care Of
long before you read my idea of the
show
Only one set Is used. 1t Is ade-
this week The gowns worn by the
women are all beautiful.
My advice: Dig down into your
pocketbook and journey to English's
this week. 1t is an ambitious un-
dertaking and reflects credit.
At Englishs all week.
T. 1
Ruined Lady" Is Well Acted
by Byington and Others
Some time ago Grace George needed
comedy vehicle and SO Frances
three-act affair called 1.-THE Ruined
Lady" Miss George used 1t for
short time.
This week at the Murat, the Stuart
Walker Company is giving this same
vehicle with Spring Byington playing
the Grace George role. 1t sparkles
with bright lines. The situations are
not so we'll developed in spots, but
the whole idea is pleasing comedy.
1t is one of those well hammered
comedies which calls for polite acting.
Albert Hackett, Lucille Nikolas. Clark
Hoover, Aldrich Bowker, Coates
Gwynne. Judith lowry, Miss Bying-
ton, Kay Strozzi and Florence Irving
hestow much satisfactory acting upon
1t. ~
THE Ruined Lady" runs along on
its own power when it gets started.
The laughs are nicely scattered over
the entire play 1t Is really satire
upon compromise and circumstanual
evidence. Many Of the lines are bril-
liant and the acting is even more so.
In the competent hands Of Miss By
ington, Mrs. Lowry. Bowker and
lIWynn0, the COiilOOy ioOo SiAO
efforts Of a woman to compel her
sutton to propose to her after she had
kept company with him for eight
years-is smartly developed.
Miss Byington Is the jolly fake In
the hysterical scenes in the second and
third acts 1t is in the last act that
Gwynne crashes through with some
high lighted comedy work. He hts
we'll into smart comedy.
| Bowker is cast a valet who has little
faith in modern woman when it
comes to safeguarding her health.
This valet believes that mustard
plasters will cure anybody OF
everything. Although Bowker's role
| is a small one this week. he does
| it so well that you are bound to re-
member this quaint Characterization.
Albert Hacket hasn't had much Of
a chance this season to do big things,
but he makes the best impression so
far by his work in the first act of the
Nordstorm comedy. 1t is a Juvenile
roleA and he handles it in a human
and natural manner.
Although I found this comedy
mighty light stuff. I enjoyed it be-
cause of the splendid opportunity it
gives to Miss Byington..