The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-26
AMATEURS in IOLANTHE
HIGH AND INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS
FURNISH AN EXCELLENT COMPANY.
Failure of Costumes to Arrive Did Not
Daunt the Management-The
Principal Characters.

| Had the same kind of an accident befallen
a troupe of professionals that happened to
| the company of amateurs who presented
| 'Iolanthe'' at the Grand Opera House lest
| night it would have caused a postponement
| OF the performance. But amateurs and
| High School and Training School pupils in
| particular, are dauntless The cosIu nes
which were from the Castle Garden Opera
! Company. of Boston, were shipped from
| New York Monday, and when they did not
arrive Wednesday the wires were used
freely in an effort to trace them. They
We're traced as far west as Pittsburg,
where the trail became blind" But the
managers of the entertainment did not de-
spair. They went bravely to work and
roade costumes of their own, which few in
the audience last night could have detected
as being "home-made."
The comic opera of Gilbert and Sullivan
was given a most creditable presentation.
At one point in the chorus of MOBILES there
was some difficulty in getting together"
but this soon wore away. and the members
evoked much applause by their clever and
harmonious rendition of the lively song.
Miss Edith Conner made a good Fairy
Queen She possesses a voice of considera-
BILE depth and richness. Miss Tucker, in
the role of the Fairy Mother. fairly capti-
waited the audience. She is charming lit
tie miss, and is the owner of voice that is
full of sweetness. Miss Georgia Calvin,
who took the part of Phyllis. the beloved
of Strephon, the half-fairy and half-mortal
son of Iolanthe, made decided hit. She
has a voice of wide range and richness.
Arnold F. Spencer. who played the Lord
Chancellor, did well. He was positively
funny in places and elected as much APP
plause from the audience as a professional.
His best efforts We're the song, Said 1 to
Myself and the "Patter Song" the latter
being one of those ong-drawn-out affairs
that are so hard to sing without becoming
tedious. Dwight Smiths fine tenor voice
deserves special mention. Whenever his
turn to sing came the audience felt certain
of being repaid for listening He is long
on voice. but a trife short on comic act
ing.
One Of the most enjoyable features of the
whole performance was the song by the
quartet composed of Frank Baden, Claude
Compton, Dwight Smith and Miss Calvin,
in the second act The solitary female
voice voice was vas. not lost among the three male
tremendously, and the effect was most
pleasing.
There was only a fair audience present
crowded house. However. those who were
present are confident that the remaining
productions will be more literally patron
lied. The cast of characters was as fol-
lows:
Lord Chancellor. Mr. Arnold +. Spencer
Earl of Mount Ararat Observation-Disclosures.
....................M Mr.. Claude ii. Compton
Earl Tolloller ............. Mr.. Dwight Smith
Private Willis (of the Grenadier Guards)
............................ Mr.. FRANK Baden
Strephon ian Arcadian shepherd) ........
.........................Mr Mr.. Joseph Sweeney
Trainbearer ...........-. Mr.. George Nichols
Queen of Fairies Miss Edith Conner
Iolanthe Ia fairy, Strephon's motherl....
Observation-Disclosures. Miss Minetta Tucker
Celia Observation-Disclosures. Miss Alta. Malott
Leila Miss Beatrice lice
Fleta ........................ MISS MABEL Idoou
Phyllis Ian Arcadian shepherdess and
ward in chancery). Miss Georgia Calvin
Fairies-Misses Bessie Sherman, Lucy Be
van, Bessie Defrees Fannie Defrees, Grace
Baird, Amy Mcmillan, Olive MacGilvray,
Edna Burton, Elsie Emmerich, Lille Lip
man, Matilda Seeboldt. Eva Gessler, Edna
Heller. Augusta Hunter, Clara Christian
May Mcmillan, Ada Craig, Jennie Hanson,
Dorothy Meyer, Georgia Meyer and Mas
tiers Joe Overman, Joe Bevans James De-
frees and Ray Davis.
Dukes, Earls, Vicounts and Nobles-Will
Reade, Edwin Pillet, Milton Cash, VIII
Prahm, Albert Cosler, Albert Seaton, Lee
Taylor George Lennox, Clyde Lowry, DIN
Hatton Edward Buscher, Ralph Wells,
Morris Shearer George Eckert, Fred Van
Pelt Harry Satterthwaite, Hugh Thatcher