The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-05-27
I ITTING in the parlor means
more than holding hands.
| It might mean a place


where the tragedy of life is enacted.
It might mean a place where one
talks with God, and again it might
be the place where a worthless feI-
low finds himself when he is brought
face TO face with life.
Life in a parlor. That is what
Owen Davis pictures in his three-act
drama, "Icebound."
The lands in Maine may be ice
bound for many months in the year.
Maybe the ice has touched the very
hearts Of those who live on the land.
Icebound. That applies to Ben
Jordon. There was so much ice in
his veins that a prison was waiting
for him untiI-love came. Ben had
a sense of humor even before the ice
melted, but it was a biting, cruel
humor.
His relatives had a lot of false sane
timOnious ice in their veins. They
were so goody good that the ice
froze 'em up and left only a chill.
Every honest emotion was chilled
in this bunch but one persOn-Jane
Crosby.
"Icebound" is more than mere
play-it is life and honest theater. It
will make you laugh and then chase
that laugh away with a swelling Of
the heart. Then the laugh returns
to be followed by a tear.
Here is a play and theater so big
that it shouldn't be missed. nearly
dare to call it a great" play. There
is enough drama in "Icebound" for
three plays. Davis knows life and
he knows how to bring life to the
stage.
Sitting in the parlor.
The whole gang was there. A
bunch Of birds ready TO swOOp down
table of a wealthy woman when she
died But a will kept the birds from
getting even a single crumb.
This bunch of human birds will
make you laugh and think, think and
laugh. 1t makes you see life through
a heartache and a laugh.
"Icabound" is one of those rare
things which seldom come TO the
theater. It is worth while and mar
velous theater. No wonder it is
prize play.
have only praise for Walter Won
negut. who dared to produce Ice
bound as aone of his contributions
to the summer stock season. 1t is
being as well presented at the Murat
this week as any touring company
could put it on.
Such character work as done by
Marjorie Vonnegut as Jane Crosby
does not come overnight. She
studied this role and would have
gone on tour out Of New York if the
play had been sent out. Last night
she played upon the hearstrings of
the audience as only a great emo
tional artist can.
o. The test Of her dramatic ability
came when she was called upon to
read d letter-a sad, dramatic out
burst from a woman who had died
When she read the letter, no doubt
remained Of the dramatic power and
emotional power of this woman. A
great triumph and a compliment to
the worthwhile stage.
Harold Vermilye has his first IRA
matte part of the, season in Ice
bound" as Ben Jordan, the no-ac-
count, who found himself. He
knows how to put the smear, the tear
and the laugh into his characterize
ton. A marvellous piece of acting.
There is another triumph present
the work of Dana Desboro as Ella
JordOn, she who learns to run
sewing machine with a bitter heart.
Others in this worthwhile cast are
Minna Deis, Duncan PenWarden.
Julia Cobb, Jessamine NeWcOmbe,
Ethel DOwney, Richard Thornton,
Claude LimbaH, Genevieve Addle-
man and Thomas Williams.
If you miss "Icebound" this week
at the Murat you are missing one of
the real treats of the season