The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-17

which The Thunderbolt' is writ
ten.
must confess that I was a good
deal in the dark. when I went last
night to see this presentation of
the Consistory Players at the Murat
Theater, as to what it was all about.
This is the story: A head nurse
in a hospital in New York has
come to the realization that she is
in love with the chief of the Wis
iting staff. His daughter is engaged
to an inferno. The head nurse is
getting ready to go on her Vaca-
ton when she learns that her hus-
band. from whom she is separated,
wants to see her.
The husband is an incurable dope
fiend and wants his wife to give
him poison. Although she says that
she would have no qualms in do
ing this sort of thing, she refuses,
and shrinks from the thought. Re
turning from her vacation, late for
her case. she finds that an unknown
patient has died from an overdose
Qf poison. 1t develops that it is her
husband She tries TO shield the
daughter of the visiting doctor, who
was on duty before her, and whose
mother had made a like mistake.
However. things turn out for the
better and all is cleared by q con-
fession that the dead man had
written.
The play seems to be a study in
psychology and reactions. At times
the plot trys to bring INTO the con-
troversy hereditary influence. I adj
nit without hesitation that at times
felt that the plot was jumbled,
but the different threads all came to
the right end I do not argue with
the play itself.
Horace Mitchell as Berwick
Sayer. the unfortunate husband,
was the most finished of the cast.
His part as the narcotic addict was
most difficult of the roles. as he
had to make himself respond to
actions that we're not natural. His
voice was thick and h2lting.
Mitchell deserves a great deal of
credit for his work.
AS DR.. Herbert Manning, the
chief of the visiting staff, Harry
L. Orlopp makes his character true.
There was spots that were thin,
especially when his emotionalisln re-
fused to rise to the heights that
the occasion demanded. However
I find no fault with this mans
work.
Alice Baxter Mitchell made a
splendid head nurse felt that she
sensed a security in her lines and
action that at times was missing in
other members of the cast. I have
known nurses that were counter
parts of this woman, Katherine.
find fault with DR.. Linnell,
the superintendent of the hospital.
The character was weak and George
II. Pendelton, who portrayed this
man, failed to make him real. His
is one of the dramatic moments and
he failed to justify his position.
The part of the orderly McCor-
mack was overdone in the first of
the play. AS time wore on Frederick
Schneider, who had the part, settled
into the spirit of the thing and made
his character human. ] was a bit
surprised at first to hear Scotch
man using brogue that bordered
closely on that of the Irish.
Ursela, played by Helen Lesher,
was a girl, and Miss Lesher tried not
to gid the lily. Emory Baxter as
DR.. Lincoln Grail, an inferno, had
small part but made 1t larger by
his work which was OF excellent
quality.
1.-THE Thunderbolt," will be re-
peated tonight and two perform
ances Saturday at the Murat by the
Consistory Players. (By the OBJ
server.
Other Indianapolis theaters today
offer: Jed Dooley ~ Keith's; Nc
Intyre and Heath at the Lyric; 1.-The
Gorilla" at the Indiana; 'Metropo-
lis" at the Ohio: "Old IronsideS" at
the Apollo; 1.-THE Patent Leather
Kid" at the Circle and burlesque at
the Mutual.