The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-01-09
ADJUSTMENTS.

Charley Hoyt has given the public some
thing new TO laugh at something abso-
lutely and about full of fun
we'll be imagined. Hoyt never fails to
handle his subject boldly and with an
originality refreshing in these days of so
much revamped dramatic stuff, so much
pisnamed comedy. His latest effort, "a
Milk-white Flag" was introduced to In
dianapolis at the Grand Opera House. last
night, and scored an immediate success.
The comedy is so full of bright things
that it compels spontaneous and outspoken
appreciation from an audience. 1t does not
develop slowly but, like all of Hoyts
pieces, jumps right in from the start TO
amuse the audience and sets up standard
that is maintained throughout the three
acts.
1t ia in some respects bold piece of
work and Hoyt is about the only playwright
who can write a comedy around a funeral
and parade a supposed corpse before an
audience for three mortal acts without CIV
ing the slightest offense. Few If any,
otner than he would dare trifle with such
a subject, yet he writes and produces such
play filled to the brim with intensely
funny lines and situations that never allow
the somewhat grim and CHASTITY fact of an
approaching funeral to get away from the
that he had conceived the original idea of
compelling people TO laugh at death, to
convulse his audiences with a funeral. If
so he has certainly succeeded, possibly be-
yond his own expectation.
This new play, which was first produced
the case with all of Hoyt's plays, little was
known in advance, is q remarkably clever
satire on the citizen soldiery. The famous
young playwright never satiriZeS FAD
that he does not do his subject justice. The
fun which he pOkeS at the militia in "A
Mik-white Flag is not offensive. 1t can
no Qn NJ hN 10 a n a
military company. The play deals with the
jealousy existing between two rival COM
the Daily Blues. who try to outdo one an an
Guards have the best of it
funeral upon them, when, having no MEM
Der accommodating enough to die, they are
for moment in a quandary as to how to
suddenly concelves the idea of getting hold
of a man who has just been accidentally
propriating his body for a funeral that viii
far eclipse in splendor that of the Blues.
The first act, which takes place in the
the Blues funeral the stationing of the
Guards band in front to play ~Ta-ra-ra-
boom-de-aye' and thus drown the dirge and
a free fight between the rival bands.
Inc second act shows the reception room
at the house OF Piggot Luce, the man whose
sion Of. The company with it's band calls
upon the widow, who refuses to consent TO
thc plan. but is finally induced TO do so for
$50. 80.
The third and final act is in the grand
lying in state. 1t here develops that Luce
is not dead at all, but merely unconscious
from a blow on the head by a derrick. and
his coming TO life upsets all the funeral
preparations, causes the widow TO lose
100000 life insurance, and complicates mat
tiers generally The colonel,s disappoint-
ment is finally mitigated by the suggestion
of General Hurley Burleigh that instead or
a funeral they give their first grand resur-
rection ball." which they do and the cur
tain falls.
There are -innumerable funny situations
in the play, one of the best being that at
eral and the Colonel-rivals for the hand
OF the supposed widow-engage the judge
advocate, who possesses a fine tenor voice,
to serenade her, without revealing his own
presence while they assume the credit of
possessing the voice. This arrangement
each makes unknown to the other and as
the widow is engaged with the Colonel
after his supposed song. the Generals SUBJ
stitute strikes up outside with the same
song and the situation, which ensues, is
one which last night brought several cur
tain calls and cries for Mr.. Hoyt The
latter was not present, however. and Mr..
Ginger, his stage manager, thanked the au-
The company is a large and excellent
one. Miss Isabelle Coe, always a fayorlte
is one she has created. and 1t viii make
her famous. She has never before been
seen 10 better advantage here: A song she
introduces in the second act, Come TO Me
Now. My Beloved Is OF the many
pleasant features of the performance. Miss
Coe has never before sung here.
Charles Stanley, J. c. Miron, Lloyd Will
son and others of the cast made decided
hits. Rillie Deavss. Mamie Gilroy and the
four vivandiereS are charming. The
tuning is picturesque. the stage settings
very pretty and the entire production on
q much more elaborete scale than anything
Of Hoyts heretofore given. "A Aiilk-white
Flag will remain tonight and tomorrow
matinee and night
The play takes It's peculiar title from the
presentation in the final act OF a flag of
truce 10 the guards. large audience was
present last night, and IL was an enthusi-