The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-29
QUAINT LITTLE BROWNIES.
They Make Thei First Successful APP

peurance Here.
The Brownies are in town, and last night
they made their first appearance in public
at the Grand Opera House for the benefit
Of the Flower Mission Under the direction
Of Madame Rose. of Chicago, about two
hundred children have been training for
three weeks. and the result as shown last
night more than meets expectations. The
entertainment is called Brownies in Fairy
land" The story upon which the entertain
ment is built is that the flowers. repre-
sented by many young girls in dresses to
correspond with the characters assumed,
were being destroyed by some enemy. Just
as the flowers are bemoaning their fate
and wondering what they shall do the
Brownies, led by Prince Aldebaran, ruler
of the Brownie band, appear in a balloon
and make their successful descent to the
earth and meet the fairies of the flowers.
They tell Of their sorrow and the Brownies
offer aid. After a battle the Wasp. Hornet
and Beetle are secured and the Prince and
Queen of Flowers as we'll as the Dude and
Aestetica fall in love and all ends happily.
There are numerous speaking characters,
and that all went so smoothly for the first
night speaks we'll for the director and for
the children The part Of the Queen was
taken by Fife Gormey, of St. Louis, and
e Va NhC AtANN
Both had a long part to commit, and it was
creditable to both. The Queen took the
part In St Louis, and knew all of the parts
so she not infrequently prompted the others.
1t would be impossible to give all separately
the credit due.
The scene is a garden of lowers, and the
flowers are reclining IN the sward. They
sing as the curtain rises The song is fol-
The lilies are in white, with just a border of
green; the carnations are In red or white;
the roses in pink or yellow. and the p%ansies,
the smallest children, wore under skirts OF
yellow with double overskirts, to represent
the petals of lavender and purple.
The Queen rides in in a chariot of flow
ers, accompanied by Aestetica, Miss Daisy
Herdman, dressed in yellow, and carrying
a sunfower; When the own arrive
soon become acquainted. The Brownies
made so familiar. The faces are made UP
to represent the character. Some of them
were very. good actors. notably the Police
The piece is full of songs, which the ohil-
dren sing with much gusto. Simple Simon,
King Cole and the Old. Woman who sweeps
they sky were the Mother Goose characters
introduced, the first being especially clever.
While the Brownies were away securing the
enemy a variety Of dances were given. The
flowers formed the background for the pic
ture. Mamie Teck, Jessie Eckhouse, Bessie
Stubbins. Louise Shaffer, Ruth Quigley and
T1llie Louder in Italian peasant costumes
gave a tarnbourine dance. The Perfumed
Fan dance, with accompanying song, was
given by Stella Dean Stanto Ship Bessie
Elise Lowry and Katherine Martin. The
only dance which was so loudly applauded
that the girls were recalled was the Pas
Seuel. danced by Ada Moore, Freda School
and Myra Talbot. They wore blue, yellow
and pink gowns, respectively, with. black
lace full skirts outside. They were beauti-
full dancers and carried off the honors of the
evening. The ~''cutest' thing in the whole
performance, and a part which no one ought
to miss seeing. was the Baby Minuet and
Gavotte. Eight little tots in court cos
tunes, with powdered hair. went through
the sedate figures of the old-time dance in
a manner that made the audience shrek
with laughter, and when the stately minuet
was followed with a gay little gavotte 1t
was funnier than the MINISTRIES. The dear
little things created more merriment than
all Of the rest put together, and they were
obliged TO repeat it The performance was
over at TO o'clock. The entertainment will
move more smoothly now that the children
nave appeared before an audience. Their
comDosure was remarkable, and they were
not the least bit confused when prompted.
Every one tried to do perfectly.