The Indianapolis journal., 1890-10-21
AMUSEME ENTS.
ENGLIsH's oPERA-HOUsE 1.-THE COUNT
FAIRn

ENGLISHS OPERA-HOCSE - THE COUNTY
FAIR"
At English's Opera-hOuse last night "The
County Fair was given it, first presenta-
tion to an indianapolis audience. aud
well pleased audience it was. The comedy
is succession of stage pictures of New
England farm life. the story being a simple
one. hinging upon the resultO of horse race.
The strong feature of the entire perform
ance is the faithfulness to detail. There is
TO straining for effect no complicated plot.
and the cOmedy's success is due
20 the public recognition of it's
naturalness. While the opening act
is long, and it wOuld seem
as If the act ctiOn might be FASTENED some
what, the fact remains that the picture Is
true to nature. and to shorten the story
might detract from its attrac ctiveness as an
entirety. The piece opens In the sitting
room at Rock bottom farm, and there never
was an interior stage-sctting seen In
indianapolis which so answered ev-
cry requirement. of the story. The
old-fashlOned apartment with its
hOmely, comfortable looking chairs,
an old brick open fireplace
aud narrow stairway of the regulation
farm-h pattern, impressed itself upon
the audience and prepared them for what
was TO follow. The second act shows the
farm, and nothing is fogotten. The old
and the gate which leads to the stable
is one OF hundreds that can be
seen in days drive through Marion CONN.,
ty. In one corner the yard among a lot
of hOlly-hOcks. stand several milk-cans.
An old saw-bnck and grind-stone. with n
number of white washed stones, complete
the foreground of the picture. while the
scenic artist has by no means neglected the
background. The farm crossing a stream
rolls away over the hills as far as the eye
can reach, typical rail fence running
along the hillside. The third setting is
the interior of a barn, showing the colts
stall, the hay-mow and the material for q
husking bee, and again has the scenic
artist displayed his cleverness. The last
act. which represents the county fair aud
eliminates with the race-scene. is on a par
with the preceding settings, the mechanical
effect by which the three horses are seen
making a neck-and neck fight of it in u
mile sweepstakes, being the most wonder
fuI and one of the most exciting scenes
ever witnessed on stage in this city.
The company presenting the comedy is
Rouse has the role played in New York by
Neil Burgess. that of Abigail Prue. and
she gives capital representation
of the big-hearted, easily-inflnenced
old maid: w. H., Burton is true. to life as
Otis Tucker. and the courtin' scene be-
tween Abigail and Otis is very funny.
Ella Salisbury is a very pretty Sally Green
away. while Margaret May was lively
enough as Iaggs to attract con-
siderable well-deserved admiration. Ed
ward Lee is clever as Tim.
Fitzhugh Owsley's Joel is well-taken
character. and James X. Smith lends to the
close-hsted Solon HammersteaG disagree
able vindictiveness that inspires the audi
ence with dislike from the first appearance
of that rustic villain. The quartet in the
third act render several old songs
in beautiful style. and Margaret Nays
song and dance is gracefully done. The
nj 1fx sk,x1. Il
Ontcasts for Abigail Prue. who had given
them a home: They conceive the idea of
winning the big race at the county fair
with Miss Prue's colt, Gold Molasses."
which she never knew possessed speed.
Tim. who had been a jockey. recognizes the
animals qualities. trains him. enters him
for the $1,000 sweepstakes. and rides
him to victory. thus lifting the mortgage
which threatened to take from his bene-
factress her home the holder of the mort
gage being of course SolOn Hammerhead.
The County Fair Will be repeated every
evening this week and Wednesday aud
Saturday afternoon. The enthusiasm last
night over the race tribute to the
given. Seldom has an Indianapolis au-
dIence been SO lavish in its applause.
GRAND Observation-Disclosures In "HAM-
LET.n
Lawrence Barrett's Hamlet is perform
ance well known to Indianapolis as schOl-
arly one. and there was q fair-sized and
appreciative audience at the Grand. last
night. to welcome the tragedian. He has
lost none of his power in the months that he
has been absent from the city. and
the illness that threatened to deprive
the American stage of one of its foremost
lights. tragedy of one of its most cultured
exponents. has, apparently. left 10 trace TO
mar his talent criticism of Mr.. Barrett's
rendition of the greatest of Shakspearean
characters would be superfluity.
His Hamlet has been carefully criti-
cised in years gone by. The familiar
lines were interpreted in mas
terly manner. and he was at his best in the
scene of the play before the King. Mr.. Bar
rett's support Is admirable. Miss Mnna
Gales Ophelia having scarcely a superior
on the stage to-day, and Lawrence Hanley
possessing the fire necessary for u success
full Laertes. That sterling actor, John A.
Lane, who was in McCullongh's company
for years. was all that could be
desired as Horatio. Ben G. Rogers
as Polonius and Wilfred Clarke as the
First Grave-digger furnished the little COM
edy element that enters into this master-
piece of gloom. and furnished it 60 well a.