The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-11-04

w. NJ. Hail. who represents Walker
Whiteside's literary bureau, arrived yester-
day to assist Business Manager Phillips in
the advance work for Mr. WhiteSide'S en-
gagement at English's next week.
The Black Crook Company at the Empire
winds up one of it's "burlesques" with a
number of dlllerent coon songs, all going on
at the same time. With any other style of
melody, discord would be the result, but all
coon songs sound so much alike that the
blend is as smooth as one song done alone.
. The fourth week of the Grand Stock Com
pany is drawing to a close and the final
performances of "Esmeralda" will be given
tonight and tomorrow matinee and night.
1t has been good drawing card all week
and the closing performances are attracting
more attention than any of the others. Dur
ing the coming week the stock company
will be seen in "A Social Highwayman."
1t is expected to prove the strongest bill
yet offered.
Every chorus girl in 1.-The Telephone Girl
Company is said TO wear red, white and
blue at some time during the performance.
AS this would not always be suitable with
the costumes and in order to permit the
girls to show their patriotism, Clara Lip
man is said to have purchased silk garters
in patriotic eo .!G and made eacn giri
has no men, contraltos being employed TO
sing the baritone score.
George H. Primrose of Primrose & Dock
stader's Ministries, which comes to Englishs
tonight, is noted as being the best exponent
on the American stage of the imitator of the
darky dandy. His grace and agility as a
dancer has won him fame from ocean to
ocean. None of the minstrel artists can
sing a. coon song with quite as much unc-
ton as Primrose and none can play the
character better. Lew Dockstader's special
ty is his comedy connections for monologue
purposes. This big combination with six
teen vocalists for the first part, all appear
in black face this season under the leader
ship of Professor Latham, who directs the
orchestra. Cartoons Military Band is car
ried for the big finish when spectacular
feature is introduced. The vocalists include
REYNOLDS John Davis, Edward Hansen
Harry Ernest. John Perry, 3. 5. Calm and
Lem Rose, the male. Melba. The comedy
Primrose, Lew Dockstader, Lew Sully and
Jimmy Wall. The olio will include some of
the best specialties offered this season,
among which are some European novelties.
The two people who make the undoubted
hit in "Esmeralda" at the Grand this week
are Frederick Conger and Lillian Daily,
whose clever comedy love scenes in the sec
ond, third and fourth acts are warmly APP
preciated by every audience. The man with
a hammer will have to pass up" Mr.. Con-
ger for the time being and LAY" for some
other victim. The roles of Estabrook and
Nora Desmond, played by the Conger-Daily
duo, have been happily treated by the
authors. They are fat with bits of business
that entertain the women more than they
do the men. For three acts Estabrook is in
pursuit of Nora Desmond, and for three
acts the blonde Nora is fitting about the
flame like butterfly about rose. Inter-
ruptions at most interesting moments pre-
vent the important proposal, and it is not
until near the finish that the protocol is
signed and hostilties suspended. The con-
versation leading up to the intended pro-
posal is very bright. including an absurd
discussion of the panel painted by Nora
and the tweve-button glove which she
wears. In the last act the proposal is nicely
brought about by Estabrooks earnest sug
gestion that Nora turn over to somebody
willing TO assume it the contract for supply
ing her frequently with twelve-button
gloves, which she had just remarked she
could not afford to buy every day. Mr..
Conger and Miss Daily do as genuinely
clever light comedy work in these two con-
genial roles as any one can ask, and they
deserve a bouquet without a spike in it.