Indianapolis Times, Volume 39, Number 269, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 March 1928 — Page 8

PAGE 8

‘JOHN FERGUSON’ IS STRANGE STUDY George Somnes, Lillian Fraser Hamilton and Others Give Best All-Round Little TheaVe. Performance of the Present Season. BY WALTER D. HICKMAN St. John G. Ervine in writing his four-act play, “John Ferguson,” has attempted to construct a play of as many moods as characters. “John Ferguson” Is a gloomy play and as far as I am concerned its logic is as confusing as its characters. Indianapolis had its first chance last night to see this high-

ly discussed play. Its demands upon the actor is gigantic. “John Ferguson” is a serious study of faith upon a household on a farm in County Down many years ago. It is so serious in some of its moods and so ridiculous in others from the standpoint of modern logic that one shudders to see it presented but by experts. I am more than willing to go on record here and state that the cast headed by George Somnes and Lilian Fraser Hamilton gave the most careful, thoughful and sincere performance of the current season. I realize that such a statement is in the language of the day “a mouthful” but I can best prove my statement by asking you to go to the playhouse this week and study both the play and the acting. First let us approach the great demands made upon the cast by studying the characters. First we have John Ferguson, an invalid, who Is first seen in his chair reading his Bible. He is waiting for a letter from his brother in America with sufficient money to pay a mortgage upon the farm. He trusts in the words he reads in the Bible, but he has some little faith in the mail and his brother. While he is waiting and praying, he fails to study the numerous dangers in his own home. Into the home comes a weak chap by the name of James Caesar, who wants to marry Hannah Ferguson, John’s daughter. James is a coward and he says he will pay the mortgage if he can marry Hannah. Hannah knows that he is weak, even pitiful. Hannah listens to the high sounding lecture of her father to follow her own desires but at the same time he regrets leaving the old farm. In the meantime, her mother, Sarah, is taking all care to persuade her

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daughter to see her duty by her aged father. While the bargain Is going on, Henry Witherow, a farmer and a cruel n 1 who holds the mortgage, arrives and bullies the entire family, including Caesar. He tells Hannah that she is g9od looking and goes away in a great temper when Caesar tells him that he will pay back the money. By this time we are ready to meet “Clutie” John Magrath, the village fool, who has an unhealthy way of letting people see evil. Caesar Is bragging that he wants to kill Witherow because he has done him evil and many others. Then, Andrew Ferguson, the only son, arrives from work and tells his father that his sister is being forced into a most unhappy marriage, just to keep the roof over their heads. Then again, John Ferguson through his weakness and his old age sees the light and sends Sarah to Witherow to tell him to take the farm because he hasn’t the money to pay the debt. Hannah goes trotting off to Witherow’s home. While there he successfully attacks her and she comes home in a most pitiful state. And here is where we get the strange logic of the play. John Ferguson turns to his Bible and turns his left cheek after the right one has been slapped. Andrew calls Caesar a coward and tells him that it is Caesar's duty to kill Witherow. Caesar gets enough nerve to start out to do the deed and the elder Ferguson starts out after Caesar to prevent the deed and at the same time to warn Witherow. In this desire to prevent harm to the enemy, John Ferguson leaves his own home unguarded again. This time, the village fool plays upon the weakness of Andrew Ferguson to that point that Andrew

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Zion Choir to Be Here Friday

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Eight big choral numbers will be featured on the program to be given at Cadle Tabernacle Friday night of this week, by the famous Zion Choir of Zion, 111. They include the works of such celebrated composers as Farmer, Mendelssohn, Haydn, Rossini, Gaul, Rubinstein and Handel. The choir of 300 voices will be conducted by John D. Thomas, himself the composer of many choruses and quartets, and who ranks as one of the foremost choral conductors in America. Vocal soloists will be Mrs. J. D. Rossini’s

grabs his gun and starts after Witherow. Now we are up to the last act. The elder Ferguson is worrying over Caecar, who is missing. Finally, Caesar arrives and admits that he was a coward and had failed to kill Witherow. Some of the situations that follow are mighty disgusting on Caesar s part. Then the news arrives that Witherow has actually been killed. Andrew points out that Caesar is a coward. Caesar is led off to jail, protesting his innocence while the elder Ferguson cries out for him to confess. Then for some time we see Andrew battling and finally confesses that he killed the man who attacked his sister. And then another pretty kettle of fish. John Ferguson forgets his Bible and insists that his son run off to America and join his brother, whose late letter had arrived with the money. Mrs. Ferguson aids her husband in his desire to have her son escape. For a little while they do not care if Caesar gets hanged by the neck until dead or not for a crime that he did not do. But Andrew sees that he is the coward in hiding behind Caesar and digs enough teachings of his father from the Bible to give him strength

THE INDIANAPOLIS TIMES

“Stabat Mater” with the choir, Mrs. E. G. Sparrow, contralto, who will sing Sanderson’s “Break O’ Day,” and Earl B. Paxton, barytone. The Zion orchestra of thirty-five pieces, and Fred Faassan, distinguished organist, will accompany the choir. Tire orchestra will be under the direction of L. J. Hire. Instrumental soloists will be Richard F. Hire, violinist, P. B. Newcomer, cometist, the McElroy Saxaphone Quintet, and Mr. Faassan, who has presided at the console of the great organ in Shiloh Tabernacle at Zion, for the past ten years.

to go to the police. And he does. Then we see John Ferguson and his wife tearfully turning the pages of the Bible to find comfort. And this confusing and lengthy theme has been acted by the cast in all of its darkness and its light. Here we see George Somnes playing the role of an old man who is seeking the light of truth and always missing it when he applies it to his own family. Somnes actually “sings” the role in the tempo of all of its black loneliness and its pitiful HAVE COLOR IN CHEEKS If jour skin is yellow complexion pallid—tongue coated- appetite poor—you have a bad taste In your mouth a lazy, no-good feeling—you should ta se Olivo Tablets. Hr. Edwards' (Hive Tablets—a substitute for calomel—were prepared bj - Dr. Edwards after ‘JO years of study. Olive Tablets are a purely vegetable compound mixed with olive oil. Know them by their olive color. To have a clear, pink skin, bright eyes, no pimples, a feeling of buoyancy like childhood days must get itt the cause. Dr. Edwards’ Olive Tablets act on the liver and bowels like calomel—yet have no dangerous after effects. They start the bile and overcome con stipation. Take n'ghtly and note the ideasing results. Millions of boxes sold yearly. 15c. 30c. 00c. All Druggists.— Advertisement.

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ignorance of what love and faith always mean. Here is one of the biggest performances of the season. The entire cast is as follows: Sarah Ferguson... .Lillian Fraser Hamilton John Ferguson George Somnes Hannah Ferguson Dorothy Farley* James Caesar Neil Firestine Henrv Witherow Robert Hutchinson Sam Mawhinnev Donald J. Sehl ■'Clutie” John Magrath.Hardin J. Callithan Andrew Fprguson Albert O. Deluse* Sergeant Kernaghan Hamilton Clark Two Constables Charles Dosch. Edward Callender VILLAGERS: Jane Ogborn. Mary Florence Fletcher, Mrs. Dick Richards, Virginia Bvers, Robert Waltz and Ewell Newman. Splendid is the work of Mrs. Hamilton as Sarah Ferguson. She is always in character and gives a most satisfying performance of a difficult role. They will be talking about Miss Farley, who is making her first appearance with the Little Theatre. Here is true and honest acting as well as bitter and cruel work. A big triumph. I should go into detail con9erning all in the cast. I have only praise for all of them. The stage set is as perfect as the acting. “John Ferguson’’ is at this writing the big accomplishment of the Little ‘Theatre so far this season. At the Playhouse tonight and rest of the week. Other theaters today offer: Thurston, magician, at English's; Siamese Twins at the Lyric; Gaston and Andre, European adagio dancers at Keith's; BenHur” at the Ohio; “Feel My Pulse” at the Apollo; “My Best Girl” at Loew’s; Bright Eyes” at the Mutual; “Chicago” at the Circle; “Sporting Goods” at the Indiana and movies at the Bandbox.

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