The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-05
nEMTTCT DR.. A. e. BUCHANAN
1888 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.
EngIish's-PrimrOse and DOckstader's
MinafreIa.

EngIIsh's-PrimrOse and DOckstader's
MinstreIs.
George Primrose. Lew Dockstader and
their merry, companions entertained the
lovers of minstrelsy at Engishs last night
in a way to endear the joint stars to an In
dianapolis audience for long and good.
Even in the palmest days OF minstrelsy 1t
is doubted if two greater favorites than
Primrose and Dockstader ever came to-
gether in the same combination. Dock
stader, with his apparently inexhaustible
store of laughs is back again where he be-
longs, and Primrose is happy in having
running mate who more than holds up his
half of the entertainment. The perform
ance consists in musical and vocal novel
ties, vaudeville acts and excellent minstrel
turns. The solos are strong, and the quar-
tet of highly trained male voices renders old
favorites better than they have been heard
before. Primrose and his cake walk dark
les in front of the gorgeous watermelon
scene give a show all by themselves. The
Deonzo Brothers astound beholders by the
nonchalaace with which they vault over
seemingly insurmountable obstacles, leap
into and out of barrels. forward and back
ward, or otherwise set at defiance certain
well-hxed popular ideas upon the
subject of jumping. Primrose and
Dockstader themselves give the most
pretentious and yet finished enter
tainment they have ever attempted.
Dockstader made the greatest personal hit
Of his life, in this city at least. He was
called back to sing song after song, and mis-
funnyisms We're always witty and enter
tanning. Primrose has another of his IA
nous levee coon songs for the first part,
and later on made a three-ply hit with the
Watermelon Song" In this act were
united beautiful scenery, easy. graceful
Issaaa wr~lf 1I, ID.fw, d.
par excellence, together with cake walking
by two real negro couples, who give a
unique exhibition of the art. The stage set
ting for this song was of extraordinary
beauty, representing a Southern plantation,
with watermelon of categorical size TAX
ing up most of the back curtain 1t shows
the red heart of the melon and a monster
slice standing out in front with the seeds
hanging on the luscious meat. The sight
of this freshly carved Georgia melon in all
its juicy beauty makes the mouth water
and caused a chorus Of "ahs'' from the
audience. Primrose sings his song and the
pickanniny heads appear out of the melon
and join in the chorus. After this Dock
stader aired his views on the Spanish
American war, and they were received with
mingled bursts of applause and laughter.
Only once did he run counter to the feel
ings OF his audience, and that was when he
introduced a verse into the Helen Hunt
song concerning Uncle Sam for his al
legged Ill treatment of the volunteer soldiers
Here there were both Kisses and applause
showing the sentiment divided, but he re-
stored good humor once more by adding a
verse fun of witty illusions to local affairs
prominent at this time such as the cost of
parks and the efforts of the mayor to
monopolize public attention and favor Lew
Sully made hit with his Il Want TO go
Tomorrow song. and w. II. Thompson's
Because was also encored THE musical
blackSmithS' do unique instrumental ard
vocal turn. The male Media. Mr.. Lew Rose
who had been advertised together with the
world famous Hampton family of English
pantomimists,' also advertised seem to
have been cut out without giving any
previous notice There will be a matinee
to-day and another performance tonight