The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-10-15


The first opera company to appear in In
danapolis this season is that headed by the
comedian Digby Bell, which will give per-
formances at the Grand tomorrow and
Tuesday evenings Mr.. Bell needs no in
PRODUCTION nor especial commentator to
indianapolis theater goers. He has a COM
pany Of fifty people, the other principals
being Laura Joyce-Bell, William Pruette,
Josephine Knapp Maud Collins, Hilda Hol-
Inns, II. NJ. Ravenscroft, Charles F. Jones,
Charles Meyer and L. Forrest Jones. The
large and thoroughly drilled chorus is said
to be remarkable for the number of at
tractive young girls it contains. Tomorrow
night revival of Harry B. Smiths and
Adam ticks tuneful comic opera 1.-The Tar
and Tartar will be given. 1t was in this
work that Mr.. Bell made his greatest rep
utation by his amusing impersonation of
the shipwrecked Muley Hassan. The opera
will be remembered as containing much
pretty music. the most popular Of which
are the much sung and whistled 'I Want a
Situation" and the famous transcription Of
national airs. 1t will be given here with all
the accessories which have made it's pro-
duction memorable elsewhere this season.
The scenery was painted expressly for the
costumes are the most recent creation of
Eaves..
On Tuesday evening Mr.. Bell and his COM
pany Will present Jupiter" in which they
made such favorable impression here last
season. There is much pretty music and
some very original scenes in it.
''The PrOdiGaI Father" and Maggie
Cline.
Glen MacDonough's new comedy, 1.-THE
Prodigal Father" which is said to be an
entire novelty in its way and entirely d.
verting, is underlined for four performances
at English's, beginning next Thursday
night. The play has met with much favor
elsewhere from all accounts. The story is
based on the adventures and misadven-
lures of Stanley Dodge the autocrat of
Oidport. a worldly old fellow inclined to be
sporty" He falls in love with a ser,o-
comic singer in burlesque company and
follows her over the country for months,
leaving his family and friends under the
impression that he is on an expedition to
Africa for the purpose of civilizing the
ct-rnlDalS. He becomes an object of public
interest when he returns to his native
town, is interviewed, has his picture in the
papers paper is invited to lecture. He tells all
travels In Africa, and keeps getting more
ana more entangled as the play advances.
marrying the serio-comic. whose little girl
nj
Blrdikins," assists in her piquant man
ner co muddle matters. The appearance Of
the actresses long-lost husband in the last
act brings everything to a happy termina-
ton and preserves the secret of old Dodge s
FOOLISH infatuation: The company includes
number of well-known actors. among
them the comedian George Denham. George
=. Bonlface, George CASTOR, Waller Thomas
Cora Macy, Blanche Ford and others.
special attraction with this Company, and
sings the songs that have made her the
most famous vaudeville performer in this
country.
Edward VrOOm I'm "Ruy BIAS"
The youngest of all the stars to claim
prominence in the field Of romantic drama
and to estblish the justice of such a claim
is Edward Vroom, who, this year, has re-
vived by a new version, Victor Huro's
always welcome old romance "Ruy Bias
which Mr. Vroom and his company will
present at English's Tuesday and Wednes-
day evenings of this week. Mr.. Vroom has
been schooled in a most excellent academy.
serving his apprenticeship in the dramatic
and afterwards with Mr.. Barrett His
work, at least so the critics say. shows
that he has taken the lessons, thus learned,
to the best possible advantage, and the
more enthusiastic of them compare MS
work with other and better stars very
much In favor of the young man: Mr..
actor, Joseph Wheelock, Frank Sylvester,
s. K. Chester. Miss Gertrude Clifford and
others who are we'll known for their cap
ability. The star, of course, plays the
dual role of Ruy Bias and Don Caesar
The play is given a special scenic setting,
including the scenes In the assembly room
in the royal palace in Madrid, the Queen 8
boudoir and the Senate chamber, and last
but not least, the room in the palace of
Ruy Bias showing Madrid in the distance
at midnight, are all said to be delicious bits
of dainty stage coloring and an important
feature in the harmony of the entire per-
Torrance.
"a Kentucky Girl, at the Park.
Miss Sadie Hasson, who is a standard at
traction at the Park Theater. and one of
the strongest that plays there, will be seen
there all this week, opening her engagement
with matinee tomorrow in "a Kentucky
GIRL a play that made a decided hit at
this house last season. 1t is a decided i'm
provement on the average sensational melo-
drama, for it has well-developed plot, la
blue Jeans" in which the hero is fastened
to log that is rapidly approaching fast
revolving saw. Another shows the heroine
on a railroad velocipede pursued by four
''moonshinerS' on q handcar. She reaches
the drawbridge just in time to set it right
before the train comes: which otherwise
would have been wrecked. Miss Hassor
plays the heroine, and makes great dea
Os OF ba the pa she sv bSr fna
a
makes those who see her act her fast
| friends. When "a Kentucky Girl" was
| played at the Park last season it drew ire.
mendous audiences all week, and there is
| likely to be repetition of this during the
| coming engagement, as the advance sale Is
already large.
A Notable Dramatic Event.
The Coghlans, Rose and Charles, have
| been secured for half weeks engagement
| at the Grand Opera House, commencing
Monday evening. Oct. g. when they will
appear in their successful revival of Sar-
| dou's great comedy, Diplomacy" Among
| the players supporting the Coghlans this
| season are Messrs. Robert Taber. John T.
| Sullivan, Robert Fischer, Grant Stewart
| William ]. Young, Edwin James, and
| Misses Victory Bateman, Kate Meek
| Lucie Lewis and Kuhne Beveridge. The
| company is considered one OF the strongest
| ever organized in America and their rep
| resentation of Diplomacy" has never
| been excelled, either in this country OF
abroad. Miss Rose Coghlan will play her
| original character, the Countess Zicka Mr.
| greatest leading man on the English
| speaking stage, will enact the role OF
! Henry Beauclerc. Mr.. Robert Taber will
| appear as Captain Julian Beauclerc, Mr.
| John T. Sullivan as Count Orloff and Miss
| Victory Bateman as Dora.
Al G. Fields MinstreIs.
| AL G. Fields Columbian Minstrels, q
| large organization OF burnt-cork talent
| will give a performance at the Grand Op