The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-07
nENTTC 1n DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
UENlNl sz-ss wheu Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.

When "El Captain" was last presented
here no one scene in the opera, which De
Wolf Hopper brings back to English's to-
morrow night, caused more amusement and
speculation than the tipsy act of Mr.. Hop
per when he makes chair stand on it's
hind legs while the big comedian sits COM
fortably with his legs folded in the chair.
FL Captain takes his feet off the table and
curls them UP under himself so unconcern-
eddy after tipping the chair back till it
seems to be on balance that the audience
is astounded when no fall follows. He bal
anced while he sang a tipsy song, then
tipped forward again, and in a moment
dragged the clair away. showing it was
not fastened 10 the floor. With Hopper.
however, the feat is as easy as it was for
Columbus to make an egg stand on end. 1t
is all in knowing how
Hopper rules the chair, not with AN iron
hand, but with an iron rod; in fact, with
two of them. Tc have spared the rods
would have been to spoil the act. The part
which they play in making the audience
marvel at the antics of El Captain is as fol-
lows Two steel plates with holes in them
may be seen where they arc screwed flat
to the floor of English's stage during Hop
per's engagement On them every night be-
fore the curtain goes up on the third act
the rear legs of the chair in which the
comedian does his balancing act are placed.
There are holes with grooves in these legs
and rods screwed up into them through the
stage floor; blocks are arranged on the low
er part of the rods, which. when the chair
is tipped back at certain angle, come in
contact with the under side of the floor and
prevent its going further. The blocks are
SO arranged that it takes a man of Hop
per's weight 20 hold the chair back on its
hind legs when it is tipped up, just as 1t
takes heavy man to hold some stiff
springed office chair in a reclining position.
A less heavy man cannot do the trick.
After Hopper tips forward again his prop
erty man under the stage Instantly un-
screws the rods frem their places in the
legs of the chair and Ii is free The
comedian then lifts it to show 1t was not
fastened to the floor The trick is all the
more effective because Hopper is not posing
as legerdemain artist, and people are dis
posed 10 regard the feat as being what it
seems
Among the members of the Mysterious
Mr. Bugie'' company. which played here
early in the season, and which will be seen
again at Englishs on Friday and Saturday.
perhaps none are more pleasantly remem-
bered than Miss Winona Shannon, who
played Betts's sister Julia, girl whom it is
supposed to be impossible to excite. Miss
Shannon is worthy of comment not only for
her beauty, but particularly for her very
clear enuncis.tion and conscientious methods.
She belongs ~ a well-known theatrical fam
lily. her sister being Miss Effie Shannon.
who is now starring in one of Mrs. Ryley's
other plays, called "A Coat of Many Col
ors'
Fred Riders vaudeville company returns
for three days at the Park, beginning with
to-day's matinee.
Rice & Barton's show after an absence
of three seasons. returns to the Empire to-
day for the first half of the week.
symphony Concert at the Grand.
The symphony Orchestra's concert will
take place Tonight at the Grand Opera
House and not at English's, us heretofore
stated. The orchestra numbers about sixty
six and will be especially strong. there
being seven musicians from Cincinnati to
assist. A rehearsal held Yesterday afternoon
at the Grand greatly pleased a select audi
ence and gave promise OF fine a musical
treat this evening as has heretofore been
given by the orchestra