The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
nFNTTCN DR.. A. E. BUCHANAN
uU11N1 asa When Bulldog.
ADJUSTMENTS.

EngIish's-sThc Belle % New York"
Nothing so saucy, SO musical, so terpsi
chorean has been seen in Indianapolis in
years as 1.-THE Belle of New York" which
opened at English's last night. While there
may have been an indistinct impression
among theater-goers of this city that there
was such thing as an annual New York
Casino production, the towering excellence
of George Lederer's extravaganza has
not been suspected except by those
who may have seen them in other
cities This is self-evident. or there
would have been clamor that might have
resulted in having Lederer place Indianap-
oils ON his regular visiting list ere this.
indianapolis people had heard of 1.-THE Lady
Slavey,'' I'm Gay New York, THE Whirl
of the Town" and of THE Belle of New
York." but in a far-off. indistinct sort of
way, as they hear of Augustin Daily or
Duse, without being able to cultivate their
acquaintance. Dan Daily. George Fortescue,
Harry Davenport and William Sloan are
not as we'll known here as the premier of
Spain, while charming Phyllis Rankin de-
mure Edna May, Catherine Linyard and
Paula Edwardes are absolutely without in
PRODUCTION. Now that "The Belle of New
York and it's scores of gayety people are
enjoy its fascinating insouciance. All other
extravaganzas look like the side of a barn
through the wrong end of the opera glasses
when compared with this creation by Hugh
Morton and Gustave Kerlzer. 1t contains a
little of everything from burlesque on a
Bowery prize fighter to sketch from an
emotional drama. There is vaudeville,
musio hall. opera, comedy, farce and almost
tragedy. all beautifully set in this entertain
ment like gems in a diamond necklace. There
is as much music as il 1t were comic OPP
era, and the jingles in Kerker's score are
ear-lingering melodies. There are saucy,
cooling little French songs sung by the
piquant and Turing. Phyllis Rankin with all
the coy expression of Anna Held, and there
are still other delightfully."- tuneful throat
choking airs which Edna May as the Sal
walton Army lassie, sings with absolute re-
ligious pathos. Dan Days songs are still
OF another genre. As leader of the Young
Mems Rescue League of Cohoes, Daily is
supposed to be an intensely staid character,
and his sepuchTa tones and straight-laced
bearing are played on while singing his
nonsense ditties and descriptive song on the
objects of his reform movement. ii is a
coloring of refined burlesque which is by
far the best work DAILY has ever exhibited
in this city. In the old days of Russells
Comedians he was only horse-play laugh
maker. Now he is a New York Casino star,
and no one would say II was the same man.
His grotesque dignity, which he maintains
even during his extravagant dances, re-
mains feature of the production until the
crazy German blows himself Up with a
bomb The famous trolley ride in Boston
that nearly resulted in Daly's funeral was
not given, but the comedian finds perch
On the caves OF candy store on Broadway
tRat would seem 70 be as perilous as any
OF the unique stage tricks his Inventive ge-
MUS has ever devised. Harry Davenport
the singing brother of the famed Fanny is
announcer or the prominent ones. Davenport
IS the cause of the whole stery that is SO
cleverly made the excuse OF all the many
Interesting episodes of the extravaganza
swell apartments when the curtain rises
ana from that on he is thu center OF
sverything;; He Is disinherited by his
unexpectedly-arri father, as the minis
ter Is about to tie him to q prirna donna.
Little Fin, the French girl. takes him with
all his poverty and the several love songs
which Phyllis Rankin proceeds to sing To
him until he falls I'm love with the Saliva
ton Army lass should not be missed The
scene changes TO Pell street, and Edna MAY
has the honors from this on The Chinese
ballet introduced here before the Salvation
Army f1rl appears is an artistic gem, and
shared with others in the calls for encores.
Edna May Is a new one in the West hail
ing from the Casino chorus not so long ago
anu u the chOruS contains many more
such the starring prima donnas now in the
autumn. leaf will have TO take to vaude-
Vile. She casts a spell over the audience
with her demure face and beer{ifdl voice
that makes ii easily understood how the
swell New York youths all failed 10 follow
the light which she sings about but al
ways followed her She Is accepted us the
proper heir. for. Dan Daly's wealth after
Davenport has been cast adrift, and then,
Chri9tian-lke sets about 10 compel the
stern parent to restore his son to his right
ful place in the family This event is
brought about In the last Of the six in
teresting scenes In tho play located
st Narragansett Pier. The salvation Army
lassie impersonates 2 French. singer OF
riSque songs. Her costume Is shocking for
her calling, but she explains why IL Is
worn. IN her attempt to duplicate the val
Gartty Of the French giri her little heart
gives way. she falters and then coiapses in
the middle OF her song. The scene is one
OF pure pathos, introduced with such
naivete that tears dim the eyes OF those
who have just been laughing af the Bowery
burlesque % Paula Edwardes and William
Cameron. II Is the FIRST time ..shistory that
everything from burlesque TO tafhos is in
PRODUCED N american extravaganza and
stamps The Belle OF New York" With