The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-02-03
Notes of the Stage.

With Miss Shannon as the Countess
Zicka, Miss Daily as Dora, Mr.. Patton and
Mr.. Hansel as Julian and Henry Beauclerc,
Mr.. kirkland as Count Orloff and Mr.. Shell
don as Baron Stein the Grand Stock Com
pany's presentation of Diplomacy" next
week should rank among the strongest of
the season. Mr.. Barnes of New York.
has been big hit this week.
The newest thing in the way of theatrical
companies in Germany is one composed en-
tirely Of members of the fair sex, under the
direction of the well-known composer and
theatrical director, Gothoo Gruneke. With
this original ensemble. which is TO be known
by the name of SOubretlen Company, Herr
Gruneke will give performances of operettas
burlesqueS and musical ballets in all the
larger towns of the fatherland, commence
ing his series of engagements shortly in
Berlin.
In presenting "A Virginia Courtship" at
English's tonight and at the Saturday
matinee Mr.. Crane will afford the public
an opportunity of witnessing what has been
praised as one of the most delightful COM
edes he has given the stage in some years.
The success of the play has been almost
unprecedented for Crane. The salient
points about the comedy are the delightful
atmosphere that permeates its scenes and
its purity. It's story deals with a number
of aristocrast who lived in Virginia when
the century was in it's teens, and the char
acter in Mr.. Cranes keeping is that of an
old major who is haSty Of temper, and who,
being honest himself. believes everyone else
to be the same. Nothing that Mr.. Crane
has shown the public has apparently given
ii greater pleasure. The play was given in
New York last season for ten weeks and
scored heavily. Tomorrow night the new
comedy recently given in New York with so
much success, THE Head of the Family
will be presented.
London correspondence says that Ignace
Jan Paderewski has bought farm of sew
eral hundred acres and is now reading on
agriculture. He has imported a number of
prize Hertfordshire cattle and is going to
raise live stock. He is building wine presses
and is going to make his own wine from
his own grapes, which are to be a speciality
of this new farming departure. The new
farm is in Galicia close to the border of
Russia and of Paderewski's own native
Poland. The farm is intended primarily for
his hapless and helpless boy of seventeen
years, who has never had the use of his
arms or his legs, and has TO be carried about
like a child. The composition of his new
opera has been laid aside for the present.
An indication Of Paderewski's fondness for
Americans Is the fact that he has broken
his own rule and taken a pupil, young
Philadelphia. Ernest Smelling. The young
man is coming OUT in London this spring.
George Backus, who was in the Denison
House fire the last time he played in this
city, is a member of the Way Down East"
Company, which comes to Englishs next
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. At the
time of the fire Mr. Backus was playing at
the Grand in William Gillett's role in Too
Much Johnson" part that called for ex-
tensive lying and much cigar smoking In
Way Down East" he plays an absent
minded professor, who collects butterflies,
al ref 6XFn f he MIA
Mr.. Backus is an actor of very distinctive
methods and one of the few who are eligi-
BILE to step into the shoes of Sol Smith Rus
sell. Speaking of shoes there was report
which went the rounds of the New York
clubs a few weeks ago when Joseph Jeffer-
son was taken i'll and the doctor said he
would never again appear in public. 1t was
said that Nat Goodwin was buying UP Mr.
Jeffersons old shoes so that Sol Smith
Russell couldn't step into them. The re-
mark was a sharp one as both these actors
are anxious to be called the Dean of the
Profession" The remark called forth much
laughter and the responsible party for it
was other than George Backus.