The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-07
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
"NEvER AGAIN., TIM MURPHY AND
MINsTRELs AT ENGLIsH's.
Helene Mora with Hyde's Comedians
at the Park-"Gay Masquerade
ers- at the Empire.

This is to be a busy week at English's.
Three different attractions are booked, and
all promise to give good entertainment. The
week opens with the French farce-comedy,
Never Again." The long run of this play
in New York and Chicago commend it high
ly. The tricks of Seraphin. janitor, are
at the bottom of all the complications that
arise for the characters of the play. In
the building over which Seraphin presides
is a halter whose business is down at the
heel The janitor hits on a scheme for
booming it. Taking names at haphazard
from the Paris directory, he writes letters
to people informing them that they will find
evidence of the wrong doings of their wives
or husbands, as the case may be, by calling
at No. % Rue Sardine the number. of Sera-
phin's house. The persons addressed call;
they are met by Seraphin, who explains
that his short tenure of office does not per-
NIT him to know all who visit the house
or all that goes on in it. Callers are re-
ferred to the halter, who by his smooth
and agreeable way, sets their suspicious at
rest; incidentally he sells them some of his
dreams in headgear. 1t happens that among
the people who are thus decoyed into the
house are a dozen or more who are mu-
tually interested in each others goings and
comings. First of all, there is old Ribot,
well-to-do and a f1irt. He has an appoint
ment there with a pretty wife of one Kat
zenjammer, a violinist off in America con-
quering hearts and corralling dollars. Then
there is Ribot's wife, and his son-in-law
and daughter, the latter extremely jealous
of her husband, an artist. Models, artists,
boarding-school girls and others founder
into Seraphin's meshes and play at the live
Hest possible game Of cross-purposes. Ri
bot is surprised in his tete-a-tete with Kat
zenjammer's wife and in a short time his
artist son-in-law, the latter's wife. Katzen-
TANNER himself, and all the rest of them,
are involved. For each to extricate him.
self from the unlucky trap requires several
changes of scene and some delusive flirta-
tons with the goddess Truth. This attempt
at plot affords an opportunity for great
many situations said to be very funny. This
show will give the first popular-price mat
inee in the new theater Tuesday afternoon.
Beginning with Wednesdays matinee,
Tim Murphy of Texas Steer" fame. will
be at English's for two days. When one
considers the rapid rise Of this American
comedian, his success seems wonderful.
Chance has played no part in 1t; he has
been a hard worker. In addition to his
genius of industry he has had the good
sense to know himself and adapt such
characters as his native drollery best fitted
him to play. His Maverick Brander will
cling to him as distinctly his own and be
remembered when he himself will almost
have forgotten the lines. Actors have so
merged their identities into their stage Gre
ations that they never get away from their
first successes. Tim Murphy is one of these.
His latest success, "Old Innocence" was
seen here last year, and in it Tim Murphy
made a delightful impression. 1t is an
Americanized edition of French play, A
Pair of Spectacles," the strongest comedy
in John Hare's repertory. Pathos and
humor are closely interviewer, making
play well suited to Mr.. Murphy's powers.
Miss Dorothy Sherrod is the leading woman
in the support. She holos a high place
among the stage beauties of the period. She
is a Southern girl of a very arlstocratlc
ancestry. Among her forefathers We're
is best known for her impersonation as Bos-
sy in "a Texas Steer when Mr.. Murphy
was playing Maverick Brander Mr.. Murphy
Will open his engagement here Wednesday
1.-Two Can Play at That Game" or "A
Texas Congressman" Wednesday evening
he will give 'Old Innocence" and Sir
Henry Hypnotized' Thursday night he Will
repeat the Wednesday afternoon bill.
Primrose & Vests Ministries will be at
English's Friday and Saturday evenings
and for a Saturday matinee. This combina-
ton has been in the minstrel business for
nearly thirty years These Ministries have
seen all the evolutions in black-face bust
ness. AS is their custom they will give street
parades each day with their combined
bands. The style of entertainment to be CIV
en- this year is said to be different from any
thing before. seen in minstrelsy. The colored
people have been cut out. In the first part,
which is the distinctive feature of min
strel show, only the eight end men are to be
BACKED, the others appearing in white face.
In this seasons company. is Ezra Kendall,
well known in connection with "A Pair of
Kids" When many people were desert
ing the drama to become vaudeville stars,
Kendall caught the fever and turned min
strel. He does not do blackface, but has
monOlogue speciality.