The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-18
DEMTICT DIR. A. E. BUCHANAN
UuU 11OA 1898 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.


There is no use attempting to deceive any
body by claiming that THE jolly Musket-
GERS" is the greatest comic opera that ever
came 90 town on the 'choo-choo' cars, for
it isn't, but laying aside all persifiage and,
likewise, badinage and coming down to
jefferson De Angels, the twinkling star of
the new organization. one might well in
quire where can he be duplicated. De Ange-
lis is not exactly the whole show, but the
large audience which greeted THE jolly
Musketeers" at English's, last night, would
have had a dry meal on the warmed-over
operate husks in this comic connection had
not De Angels acted as chief cook, kept
the fire going and constantly stirred the
broth. Every time De Angels sang a song
he vas not permitted to retire until his
breath gave out, and when he danced he
was kept at it until mis- legs got tangled.
Francis Wilson makes fun with his fall
setto top notes and his favorite imitation of
a cat swallowing a lump of gristle; De
Wolf Hopper has his screech and his pa
tronizing laugh but De Angels has only
his legs and a pair of comic opera boots
with cuffs on them. The boots sag in the
middle like a woman without a corset and
they are as funny as a comic valentine.
Take those pelican-peaked boots from De
Angels and he would be as much lost as a
coon comedian without his coal black
lady" They jabber necessarily, like an IN
toxicated lrishman. They MAINTAIN run
ming fire of quips, and laughs, and enter
tanning chatter all the while the little come
dian is before an audience. II they run down
or show signs of becoming base, De Angels
yanks them up and injects enough M into
their nerveless ribs to keep them yelplng
with funny cracks for another encore. De
Angels might be aptly termed the man
wit boots. DOOLS
and the many angular fiip-fiaps, the slides
and waltz steps, the heroic lunges and the
drunken staggerS which they execute, that
has made this father of groWn-up boys and
prospective grandparent comic opera star
1t is only the comic face of De Angels one
sees on his Autographs In the windows. put
If his manager knew his business there
would also be Autographs OF the De An
gels boots, for they would instantly set the
town a-talking. No comic opera composer
has yet taken the De Angels measure eX-
actly certainly not Julian Edwards in
measure will not be taken until song is
written for his boots. De Angels has a
half dozen or more numbers in The Jolly
Musketeer," but they are really little above
mediocre The best song is given to Rens-
selaer Wheeler. the handsome tenor. The
most attractive number is quartet for
Hendee and Helena Frederick, entitled
Wicked Men" These four singers cap
tvate the audience shortly before the last
finale with a dainty little bit in which Miss
Hendee and Miss Frederick, with their
clear. young voices, arch ways and pretty
dancing, make the two prima dOnnas re-
semble thirty cents. Miss Hendee especially
is one of the ceverest young persons seen
here this season. Her contralto is thrilling,
and her dancing is winning as any up-to-
date Casino girl could show She is just
the sort of girl any old comic opera mar
quis, or his prototype in the bald-head row.
would cheerfully invite to button his shirts
as long as the arrangement suited her pleas
ure. Harry Macdonough, a clever come
dian himself handicapped by being
Enn N ia ~ a - y
THE jolly Musketeer'' is staged with the
usual lavishness employed in all produc.
tons with which Ben Stevens has anything
to do. and there is an excellent collection
Of chorus girls in bright skirts TO lend
color. There will be matinee to-day and
another performance tonight