The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-10-08
ADJUSTMENTS.

Willie Golfers manager is authority for
the statement that the manuscript of THE
Man from Mexico" which Collier now uses,
is the fifth that the comedian has prepared
since the play was turned over to him as
completed by II. A. Du Souchet. Collier has
so changed the production that its author
would hardly recognize it. Du Souchet made
his great reputation with my Friend from
india" which contained many clever situa-
tions and the young author started out to
increase his reputation by devising queer
stage tricks for Collier. One of them finish
ing the second act lasted just one night. One
of the pieces of property in the wardens
room, where so much original fun is now
created at each performance, was a dis
mantled wash stand, regular Du Souchet
conception. Just before the curtain fell the
Flower Mission ladies were to appear and
Collier to avoid being detected by his wife.
was to rush to this Du Souchet washstand
and hammer for dear life until a mysterious
water pipe burst, sending a stream of jail
water over the luckless prisoner. The cur
tain fell on it the first night and ii was
never seen again. Collier got his ducking
in old-time farce fashion, and then had it
tossed out the stage door.
Il took chance of catching pneumonia
and never got laugh" he said last night.
The next night the italian with his scheme
for a jail delivery was introduced and it
made an instant hit This was Golfers
work. There were no prison stripes in the
play as Du Souchet wrote it and the Ger
man character, one of the funniest in the
play, was not there But the greatest change
made by Collier was in the last act. As now
played Collier comes on in his Mexican cos
tune and has much entertaining work, but
in its original shape Collier never got nearer
the footngntS than the doorway, where he
was to remain concealed behind a curtain
the prison warden and Mrs Fitzhugh Mr..
Golfers success In making plays out of
enre ay 81 s oSn nm Tins be b wng
nearly finished, under the title of '.Mr
smooth and it will be the play in which
he will be seen on his next visit to Indian
apolis. He will probably produce it during
his San Francisco engagement late in the
season. There will be a matinee of 1.-THE
Man from Mexico" to-day and the engage
ment closes with to-night's performance.
No less than three dramatic offerings will
be at English's next week De Koven &
Smiths successful opera, 1.-THE Highway
man." will be seen Monday and Tuesday
nights, with the Broadway Theater opera
company of sixty people. Tim Murphy fol-
lows The Highwayman'' on Wednesday
ana ana ITnursaay nignss WITH WITH MS new play,
latest eomedv in which Mnrnbv Il re neeu
to have made an instant hit at Toledo this
week at its first production. The last two
days OF the week Wallicks scenic produc-
ton of Devils Island" which. in spite of
its name and melodramatic features was
praised in New York as a thrilling dramatic
story, based on the Dreyfus case and full
of daring scenic features that assisted in
giving II run at the Fourteenth-street
Theater.
Miss Shannon. Miss Daily and Miss Berg
have received some stunning gowns from
New York, which will be worn for the first
time in The Charity Ball." in the opening
performance by the new stock company at
the Grand Monday night. The Grand stock
company productions are promised to be in
thorough keeping with the general eouin-
ment which. under the eye and direction OF
Walter Clarke Bellows. cannot fail to be ar
tistic- The large advance sale yesterday for
the opening week shows the interest being
taken in the stock company.
Ramsay Morris. the weil-known plav-
wright author of AN Irish Gentleman"
played all last year by Andrew Mack. is i'm
the city arranging for Andrew Mack's en-
sdsement at English's opening Monday
oct IL. Mack will be seen here in his new
play, The Ragged Earl" In which he in
troouces ms repertory Of beautiful songs.
Walter Floyd. whose home is at New Al
bany. Is here in advance OF James II. Wal
Hicks production of Devils Island"
Melville Kellog has been here all week in
advance of "Pousse Cafe He came d.
rectIy from Brooklyn, where the company
Lillian Tally, one Of the members Of the
Grand sock company. was with Wilson