Omaha daily bee., 1892-03-07
dMUSEMENTH
"Indigo."


Tho most remarkable thing about tho cur
rent season of music is the fact that dollar
and-a half opera may be enjoyed at prices
ranging from IS cents down to Is. This
unusual condition prevails at the Farnam
Street theater, where the w. Il. Carleton
Opera company is holding forth for the
week, and, judging from yesterdays per-
formauces, these productions are receiving as
conscientious presentation as though higher
prices ruled.
The engagement opened yesterday with
"fndIgo." a comic opera by Johann Strauss,
the Vtennese maker Of waltzes. While tho
work is not one of the greatest of it's kind, the
original score had enough bright melodies to
catch popular favor, and these have been
Strauss finest waltz airs, such as
The Blue Danube' and Swine,
Women and Song" have been intro
duced into this opera, and MIR. Carleton
seems to have made some very clever inter
polations of his own. He also uses libretto
uritten by himself, apparently to bettor suit
American taste than the original English
version by LONDON humorist The result
OF these changes and additions Is q work
admirably adapted to the demand Of the time
and place.
The plot of comic opera is generally
matter OF minor Importance, but In this case
1t Is unique enough to be of interest. A
young Hungarian girl, Fantasca, Is ship
and becomes attached to his harem Her
lover, Janlo, is conveniently stranded upon
the same shore. The king has great treas
ure secreted In cave and Is informed that
band OF robbers threatens to sack the place.
Indigo has been TOO penurious to maintain an
army, and his prime minister, Rom adour,
suggests the arming of tho women of his
harem This is done, and Fantasca becomes
their leader. The Amazons put the king
and his guard to rout and then rob the cave
themselves Raha a n
has lent some assistance, gets half the
treasure, Fantasca escapes the king and
marries Janio, and the amorous Ali Baba is
captured by his termagent wife.
That which will attract most popular no.
tice is the exceedingly amusing comedy of
Mr.. Charles A. Bigelow In the role Of King
Indigo. He Is spindle -shanked and pot-bel-
lied, with taste for rocco attire and pre-
diection tor the bicycle. In tho first act be
does hiccough song to tickle rlsibillties,
and as climax 10 the performance he re-
hearses the orchestra, in which act he initiates
each instrument before calling on 1t to JOIN
the others. The latter is a remarkably
clover bit Of mimicry, apparently an inter-
polation, and 1t was encored until the per.
formers stock Of variations was exhausted.
Judged from his artistic WORK In this role,
MIR. Bigelow deserves to rank among the
first OF opefatic comedians.
There Is another successful fun maker in
the person OF Mr.. w. III. Fitzgerald, the
donkey driver He Is vocalist as well as
comedian, and his muleteer song, which he
sings finely, is one Of the best things in the
original score. He also does merry topical
song, mot In Thousand Years" that wins
six or seven recalls.
The rich. well trained baritone OF Mr.. j. X.
Murray (Romadour) Is entitled to the vocal
hcnors, and his sword song is one of tho
most meritorious numbers in tho original
score.
Miss Clara Lane is close second to her
husband, singing the score Of Fantasca with
simple ease and acting the part gracefully.
Miss Alice Vincent as Toffana and MIR. IT,
Huntley as Janio gave excellent support
The male chorus is a DIT weak when singing
alone, but on the whole the choruses are
adequate TO the occasion.
The opera is put on with handsome special
scenery, is richly costumed and in every way
Is well calculated 70 win public favor.