The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-02-09
ADJUSTMENTS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

Della Fox. the blonde lily among comic
opera oubrettes, has been the victim of a
cruel practical joke. She appeared at the
Grand last night for the first time in two
years and the large and good-natured audi
ence voted her younger. prettier and more
vivacious than ever. Not long ago a via
riolic story was started in Chicago TO the
effect that La Della was growing old so
fast one could see her golden hair turning
gray during the performance; that when
she danced her joints cracked like Rusty
hinges on the proverbial barn door and
that she never smiled any more lest her
teeth might fall out and roll over the foot
lights for the jeunesse doree TO catch and
hold as souvenirs. There were people who
half believed the story. but it is plain
enough now that it was all intended as a
joke. Della Fox has evidently been bathing
in boiled milk and drinking at the fountain
of youth since her first triumphant appear
ance here as a star and her press agent
should be called down for not keeping the
public informed Once on time Della
threatened to become as dubious as May
Irwin. When last seen here she was flesh
ing up like a Dutch frau, but now all that
is charged and her plump and graceful lit
tie figure Is back 10 the old form of The
successful days when Hopper and Fox
made team in comic opera that has never
been beaten. Della is as lissom as when
she used to sing Those Ruby Lips and she
can sing better than she ever could. She
has also been undergoing voice culture. The
extravagant gurgle OF former days has
been largely discarded and her chest tones
developed until she has a range Of an oc-
tave and a half of good singing register. 1t
used TO be that there were parts i'm the
score which Della could not reach and the
leading tenor or some understudy would
take step forward and help out on the
finale, but now Della sings every note Of
her role and encroaches on the prima
donna at times. She is graceful and
funny as kitten with blue ribbon around
its neck and her brown eyes are as brilliant
'FIeur-de-Lis'' is more of an operate
farce than a comic opera, and trifie less
piquant than that screaming success. The
Little Trooper, which she will give at both
performances tomorrow. 1t Is well sup
piled, however with bright musical num-
bers for both chorus and principals and
some OF them more than ambitious in char
acter. In her singing support the stirring
baritone voice OF Hugh Chilvers is distinct
treat in city that has had so little of good
operate singing this season. Considering
his magnetic personality and manly action
in connection with his well cultivated voice,
ShflverS can come pretty near Ginning"
any man In his class in comic opera. While
he is heard only in the baritone role. his
voice Is really a deep basso. The public
generally does not know that, until Two
years ago. he was abroad ten years singing
opera. He stood alongside of Melba at
Milan. and has made the nit OF his life IN
Nice and Florence in the heavy operas. He
carries the first act of "Fleur-deIis'' and
Is the first one TO make hit after the cur
tain goes up. After his solo, First d
Smile and Then Frown.' the encore was
as hearty as IL he had been the star. Later,
in the sextet of the finale. the audience had
another opportunity 10 reVel in baritone
pleasure; The role is niggardly i'm the sue
ceeding acts. and Chilvers has little show.
Harry Macdonough, the leading comedian.
begins TO proSpec. soon after. aud when
MacDonough goes prospecting he is sure to
turn up laughs as rapidly Us jefferson De
Angels ever dared. DE Angels made hit
with his legs when last seen nere bar Mac
donough shows that he is equally clever
Ar nelan. with henry irvins's King Ar
thur makeup Is good mate OF Macdon-
ough and the two never grow tiresome. The
rest or the company makes SOod all that
can be said. even to the smartly-moying
chorus. Under the baton Of Director Fran
els the ensembles went like clOek work.
while the pretentious and heavy seslery *
a compliment 70 the production.
"F'ieur-de-Lis will advertise itself and
may be expected % have even i larger au-
dience tonight taan as'@nled TIE opening.
Park-"Town Topics"
lively performance is Town Topics
and the dull moments in II are SO few that
the audience fails to remembef> any and
goes away feeling as If the time bad NOT
been wasted The piece is probably the
best faree-comedy seen at the Park this
season. Ii is not because the plot Is better
but because the company is excellent ana
the piece moves with dash. There Is no
''dead-wood'' In the company. Every mem
Der can hustle ard DO something TO con-
tribute 10 the entertainment. The girls
are prettily dressed. sing well and dance
well Beatrice Norman. Nellie Sennett
Elsie Nugent. LILLIAN Heckler and Laura
Nainsiord maAe up an attractive feminine
contingent. Miss Norman's trayesty with
Mr. TEXTBOOKS assistance. is among the
sirter features. There are score OF
bright bits MISUNDERSTANDING ,.draggy,'
or 81 all dull-and the audience Is never
given too much OF good thing John
worlds eccentric dance is as good In lis
way as anything ia the performances John
ousens black-faee specialties and his work