The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1925-04-07

draw two complete characterizations:
overacting of a drug-crazed man
might reduce the whole affair to
sentimental rot; poor and faulty
lighting might wreck the tricky first
scene Of the fourth act and any
thing might happen at anytime when
nobody is expecting danger. Such
a property is The Masquerader." 1t
is dangerous business TO even think
of doing 1t in stock, When first
produced in this country, Guy
Bates Post, a consummate artist,
achieved fame and even fortune in
the playing of a dual role. He rose
to the very heights and stamped
his own name upon the roles Of
John Chilcote and John Loder.
would be satisfied with THE
Masquerader" IL the Berkell Players
only did it half as well as they are
presenting il at English'5 this
week. I know that this play is a
type play in part. calling on every
thing that an actor has in him to
create two distinct characters and
cause one character to impersonate
the other.
Danger Proof
/ did not expect Milton Byron to
be another Guy Bates Post. but
Byron, backed by his years of train
ing and service on the stage, did
actually succeed i'm removing a
large amount IF dynamite from his
heavy and dangerous Job. When a
stock actor jumps 4. a star role.
created by a mas :, and gives a
performance OF 81 I understanding
as Byron does. one has more
respect than ever for stock and
what 1t may accomplish.
Byron does not attempt to copy
Guy Bates Post He has his own
conception of the role. A little more
careful shading in the first scene of
the first act when Chilcote is under
the influence OF drug. would help
Byron in his big task. A drug
drunk is different from that of a
liquor drunk. The jags have differ
expect the ultimate in Byron as
Chilcote, but we are getting such a
good product in a stock season that
we have every right to be thankful.
Byron is at his best in the pro-
logue and In the second scene of the
first act when we meet Loder In his
cheap lodgings. 1t is then that we
encounter Byron giving US some of
the most intelligent and careful
stock acting that 1 have witnessed
in this city.
BY his work in THE Masquerad-
err" Byron has made a deep impress
sion, because he had stage history
to combat and that In itself is a
mighty tough job,
Two Iriumphs
Robins is an English slavey
character and il requires careful
Characterization. It Is another tough
job full OF dynamite. Idabelle
Arnold is not afraid of stage dyna-
mite. She Is cast, as Robins. This
WOiudH - IdiuASdppSu cit Aho NOAy
start, because for over two years she
has been associated with comedy
roles and her great following expects
comedy. But she overcomes that
form of an explosion and gives big,
honest, real and powerful characteri-
cation. Again 1 say that this woman
Is q wonder.
And still another actor finds him
self. Am speaking of Tommy Evans
as Brock, the servant in the Chilcote
mansion. Am saying deliberately
that Evans brings to the character
OF Brock the attributes that only a
seasoned actor is expected to possess.
A fine, smooth and convincing piece
of acting.
Others in the cast include Helen
Baker, Don West, Robert st. Clair,
Martha Morton, Edythe Elliott. AL
c. Wilson. Larry Sullivan, Mary
Hill and William v. Hull.
Hull staged the production and di-
rected 1t. He has done something
this week which brings one to a
closer realization of what can be ac-
complished in stock. The play is in
four acts, prolog and eight scenes.
1t is a whale of job to put on in
stock. So much so that the final
curtain did not come down last night
until nearly 1870 p. m.
The Berkell Players will be seen
all week at English's in 1.-THE Mas
querader."