The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-01-22
PeffisDryGOOdsCO
ADJUSTMENTS
Grand-"CharIey's Aunt"

It Is easy to understand how Brandon
Thomas's 'Charley's Aunt" became a rage
in London and New York. 1t is so ridicu-
lousy false and insincere when compared
with anything that ever happened in real
life that an audience at all sympathetic
or willing to be pleased cannot help being
convulsed. There Is hardly a minute be-
tween laughs during the entire three acts
of farcical contretempts cleverly designed
by the author. The play, under the man.
agement Of Charles Frohman opened to
comfortably filled house at the Grand last
night and will continue throughout the
week The company is far from being up
to the first-class rank of the leading
troupes that sail under Charles Frohman's
name. This is easily accounted for when
IT is known that the great success of the
piece has resulted in no less than five
Snarley's Aunt companies the
road. With acting that is
even half Indifferent, "Charley's Aunt" be-
comes source of much boisterous amuse-
ment and will doubtless have success
dnl week here The production has been
so much talked about that most theater-
story.
There was; perhaps, more curiosity to see
.Cnarley's Aunt" with it's unique adverts-
Ing posters Of a eat on a wall than has
bee, been aroused as by any like play in long
VINO perpetrate an immense practical joke
on their sweethearts and relatives. One OF
Inc boys impersonates the aunt of one Of
the others and while in this character he
carries on" at rapid pace with the
sweethearts themselves ana because of the
great wealth of the aunt whom he is taken
10 pc two elderly gentlemen pursue him
with proposals OF marriage until he is driven
TO the verge of despair. To complicate the
episode, the real aunt arrives from Brazil
where she has lived for twenty years, and
being unknown to the boys, permits them
TO continue the joke until the proper time
ln the meantime she has had great sport
with the boy passing himself off as herself
The fun is innocent provokingly uproarious
ana better than course Of medicine for
Willis searle. little fellow who imper-
sonates the aunt. played the original part
IN South Africa when the play was first
ney and Charley Wykeham, Oxford stu
dents. are fairly well taken by Charles
len apd Benson H. Piera figure as the two
pid gentlemen who are laughably taken in
Ter looks after the wants Of the young
giving the subordinate part some real In In,
terest. Alice Cleather. Donna Lucia
D'Alvadorez. the real aunt. is a long dis
tance from looking the part. The old lady
rs supposed to be fifty, while Miss Cleath-
ers makeup Is for woman of thirty,
who apparently does not desire to bury her
feminine charms. Stella Zanone and Rose
Hubbard make two very pretty and win
some sweethearts, and no one can blame
the fraudulent aunt from leading on" the
girls and winning numerous caresses under
false pretenses. Gertrude Wood figures as
an orphan protege of the real aunt and
comes back to marry Lord Fancourt Bah
perly, the young rogue who personates her
guardian. The upset of the students trick
comes when the real aunt discovers the
fraud Lord Babberly smoking cigar The
cast follows:
stephen Spettgue. Joseph Allen
Col. Sir Francis Chesney. Benson II. Pierce
JaC< Chesney. .........s.... Charles Wvnsate
Gharley Wykeham. ........... Sidney Wilmer
Lord Fancourt Babbery. Willis Searle
Brasset College Scout George Scheffer
N PQ n
Donna Lucia DAlvadorez.. Alice Cleather
hitte Verdum. ................. Stella Zanone
Amy Spettigue. Rose Hubbard
Ella Delahay, an orphan. Gertrude Wood
Pnrk-Chas. A. Loder's New Play.
Justeas in the past, all that is necessary
TO fill the Park Theater is to announce the
coming Of popular Charley Loder and his
excellent company. This season he has
much the best company and comedy he
ever had, and the Park was crowded yes
terday to welcome the favorites. For sew
eral years .'oh, What Night was re-
Loders talent, but Frank Dumont has
written him a new piece, called "On the
Go" in which he is funner than in any
cf his previous comedies. Dumont wrote
The Rainmakers' for Donnelly and
Girard but 1t isn't up to On the Go"
Sisters, Ruby Lytton and other clever
people aid Mr.. Loder in giving an excellent
performance, The comedy is staged with
special scenery. mechanical effects and
properties. In the entire production moth
Ing has been overlooked, and it is about
the most complete and entertaining ever
seen the Park he pirlS in tha com