The Indianapolis journal., 1883-12-04
AMCSEMENTS.
GRAND opERA-HoUsE-"s1BrRlA." ."

GRAND oPERA-HoUsE-"sIB SIBERIA"
Mr.. BARLEY Campbell's latest play, "Siberia,"
was presented for the first time in this city at
the Grand last night, and will continue to be the
attraction throughout the week. Mr.. Campbell
is well known the author of various popular
plays, and his peculiarly hieh-fOwn and pictur-
esque style seems better suited to the public
taste than that of any contemporary. When
melodrama was having great run throughout
the length and breadth of the land, Mr. Camp
bell wrote a melo-drama of the prevalent type,
and that is the rasOn d'etre OF "Siberia." 1t may
not be entirely original, and it's leading materials
may be easily traced back to well-knOwn plays,
but the author has put them together consist
emily and cleverly, and the result is drama OF
great interest, fun of strong situations and strik
ing speeches. 1t is not a mass of impossibiittes,
as are the Sims and Pettitt productions of the
, same class, but good acting play, constructed
with much skill. Last night it was we'll acIed and
put on the stage In splendid style, the scenic
and realistic effects being luaryels of the artists
skill. There are twentv-seYen speaking parts
sary very large company. 1t has
been Well selected, and even the
smallest parts, are intelligently presented.
Lack Of space precludes individual mention.
and generally 1t can be said that the work of
Mr.. Atkins Lawrence, Miss Adele Begarde e, an
excellent actress Mr.. NJ c. DAILY, clever come
dian, and Miss frankie Mcclellan, a bright little
actress, deserve special mention. siberia will
be played during the remainder of the week.
and crowded houses are assured from the sue
cesSful presentation last night.
ENGLIsH's 'CzEKA"
1t is unfortunate that so capable and deserving
an actress as Miss Marie PRESCOTT should in
jure her professional reputation by going about
the country with such an Indifferent play as
"Czeka" and such an incompetent company
that by which she is at present surrounded. She
appeared at Engiishs last night, before a rather
small audience, and in spite of her earnest. hon
est, and almost painfully laboriOus efforts to
make the play ego" there was a notable lack of
enthusiasm and possibly even appreciation.
Miss Prescott is an excellent actress, and espe-
clally strong in sO-eaed emotional roles, and
her Czeka is a performance of much artistic
cellence throughout. But Gde play is not
strong one, and the company, as q whole, is not
calculated to arouse even respecr for its ms
trionic ability. There we've one or two exceptions.
The Margaret of Miss Harold was credtably
done, and MIR. Davidge showed himself to be Ca
pable of fair comedy work, if he had a good
part, which he had not. 'Czeka" will be re-
peated tonight, Tomorrow afternoon ana to-
morrow night.
THE PARK THEATER.
The Siddons Female Mastodon Mustrels were
deserving of the immense audience that crowd
ed the Park Theater last evening, for the mag
nttude and originality Of the entertainment was
somewhat surprising. The curtain was rung up
on a novel frstpart setting. showing Miss Sid
dons in the center of semiclrcle of well-dressed
young women, with the comical Arnold and
West on the ends. the air above being full of
swinging beauty" The songs and gags were
new, the rendering of "Jack, the Rover" by Miss
Hazel Blake, being particularly good. The Oio
which followed presented the Allen Sisters IN
songs and recitations Ned West in comical
songs the MastodOn Six, "a sextette OF stunning
ly-dressec girls. who sang "The horse that
won the race to-day" and who executed some
clever steps In dancing, Ida SiddOns in skipping
rope exercises. Billy Arnold In his dOuble-tanl-
BOURNE solo, Henry Burroughs in motto songs
the double auartetfe of seTlocomics, Com stantine
and Lancing, in their sketch, The stage-struck
domestic" Griffin and Marks in vest-pocket
edition or ''Silenee ana fnn," and Prof. Keicf-
hoffer, the viOlinist. Then followed a Iaughable
buresque of "The Maid Queen" the features
of which were the combat, drill and march and
the cleverness of Miss siddons, who is very
versatile performer. The company will con tinue
throughout the week, with the usual matinees.
NOTES
The Elks will give their third social and dance
on Wednesday evening. the 10Th inst.
Joseph Dowiing's F'NobOdy's Claim" a SEN
sational drama will be at EBglish's the latter
part of the week
Last year about this time Miss Marie Prescott
and Miss Adele Belgrade were here together
with the Salvini company. Now they are here
playing against eacn other.
]. Fl. West, representing the Fav Templeton
comic opera company which is at EnglIsh's the
first part of next week. is in town. They will
present '9iirotte-GiroAa," "La Mascotte'' and
"Olivette."
In the first part at the Park last night one of
the swings fell, letting two of the blnshing !
young maidens preclpItately to the stage below, |
fortunately not lnjurng them further than hur C.
igg their feelings,
A private letter from ]. W. Riley, written at
Philadelphia, says of Irving and Miss Terry:
"Am just In lat nearly midniSht) from So |
worth of Irving and Miss Ellen Terry, and "A |
very big So worth 1t They are born great |
without doubt-Irving in Shylock, Miss Terry |
in Portia. The company fs thoroughly English |
new, distinctive and generally good. You must
not miss 1t il you can help"