The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-02-14
GIRL ABOUT
TOWN
BY MARILYN-

Last week I discovered three
interesting things 1 hadn't known
before:
Someone as crazy about modern
art as I am-Blanche Stillson.
A downtown sandwich shop on
whose walls hangs the apt Latinity,
de gustibus non disputandum."
A human dynamo of driving
energy-a professional dramatic
director.
1t was at a rehearsal of THE
Thunderbolt," by Frank Mandel
that I first saw Horace Mitchell in
action. He was whipping the con-
sistory players into shape to present
this three-act mystery play Thurs
day, Friday and Saturday of this
week at the Murat-and 1 mean
whippingl
Takes Place at Hospital
The action of the play is laid in
hospital and concerns itself with
the much disputed question Of eu-
thanasia-has any one the ethical
right to give a hopeless patient an
easy and peaceful death to put him
out of acute misery. The fact that
the patient, a dope flend, is also
the head nurses husband adds to
the emotional complexity Of the
problem.
Mr.. Mitchell has some exceedingly
interesting talent to work with, and
he has cast it ably. Mrs. Alice
Baxter Mitchell takes the difficult
role of head nurse. She doesn't
leave the stage during the entire
action. Helen Lesher takes the part
of a young nurse; Emory Baxter,
her inferno fiance; Harry L. Orlopp,
a doctor, and her father. DR.. George
H. Pendleton is cast as the head
Of the institution. Frederick Schnei-
der is the Irish janitor. Mr.. Nit
chell himself takes the part of the
villain dope fiend.
I had in mind riotous reminis-
cences of the small and hysterical
trays that the Players Club staged
in the name of rehearsals where
no one pays the slightest attention
to anything else, least of all, the
director. But not so here. I was
simply astounded at the business
like atmosphere. Here was work.
Every one was in his place, alert,
ready for action. Absolutely no nom
sense.
Cold Deepens Bark
Gall ready? Start!" barked Mr..
Mitchell. He had a terrible cold. In
strobe Mrs. Mitchell with profess
sional enthusiasm and the play was
on!
Mr.. Schneider, a young man, gave
a very good impression of an old,
lame, Irish janitor-even. without
makeup.
In the second act, Mr.. Mitchell
abandoned his role of director and
came on the stage to render a cruel
ly realistic dopester. With the
prompt book in one hand, cigaret
in the other, and his spectacleS
down on the ridge of his nose, he
realized his character SO grinlly that
Mr.. Baxter accused him of a lurid
youth.
DR.. Pendleton came into his own
in the third act, which is supposed
to take place in hospital ward.
Being the only actual physician
present, DR.. Pendleton's word was
law. Cots, tables, chairs whisked
mere and there at his direction. You
could all but smell the anesthetic.
They all slipped into their roles
as if they were old, comfortable,
Well-worn garments. If they did SO
well at a mere rehearsal, they will
do even better at the final perform
ance. 1t is the driving energy in
back of them that counts. Without
raising his voice. without even
standing up, and without spectacu-
larity of any sort, Mr.. Mitchell pro-
jectS his own vitality SO strongly
that the actors respond wildly.
This is the Consistory Players
first endeavor. Let's wish them well!
Frederick Leighton arrives in
town today and with him a Navajo
Indian. Tomorrow. he will lecture
before the Inter-C Collegiate Club at
the Propylaeum on American Indian
Handicraft." The Indian will sing
native songs. Mrs. Samuel Run
nells Harrell, president of the Smith
Club, will introduce them. After
wards, they will hold forth informal
ly at the Junior League Shop where
Leighton has an exhibit of Mexican
scarfs and old silver jewelry.
Toao+oa. Too,oo osT Dno.+o,