The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-07
NENTTCT DR.. A. e. BUCHANAN
O0NAANA 32-33 When Building.
ADJUSTMENTS.
EngIish's-"The Fortune Teller


The verdict of the large audience at Eng
lish's last night. when Alice Nielsen ap-
peared in "The Fortune Teller" with her
own opera company, seemed to be unani-
nous that the little prima donna has a per-
feet right to come before the public as
star A better verdict would be that the
entire organization is star. 1t was the
production as a whole that made a hit
rather than any one of the many excellent
performers Manager Perley has secured a
light-Spera organization for Miss Nelsen's
first venture that may be announced as a
lyric institution without a rival. While Mr.
Perley is sponsor for both the Bostonians
and the Nielsen company, it is evident he
has been given greater license with the new
company and has fairly surpassed any of
his previous efforts. The general magnitude
Of the enterprise strikes the audience as
about the greatest thing in it's class. Little
Miss Nielsen, with her vivacity and pretty
face, her handsome costumes that make her
picture In each scene, her florid soprano
that is always sweetly in tune all the way to
her high d. even if it be not the most pow
erful, is only one of the charming figures on
the stage. The applause is easily shared
with that prince of light-opera bassos, Eu-
gene Cowles. whose appearances was greeted
with an Outburst of applause the like of
which is given only to stellar favorites AL
most as great a triumph is scored by Mar
guerlte sylvia, and then there is Jennie HaW-
ley, who also comes in for recognition. While
most companies are satisfied with one COM
edian, Miss Nielsen Is furnished four, who
are ever active IN making fun and intro
dHcing lines and bits of business which one
suspects Harry B. Smith never thought of
when he wrote the book. There is the re-
sourceful Joseph Herbert with his grotesque
drollery, the only Dick Golden with his
laughable face and his nimble legs. Joseph
hawthorne IN another version of the stage
German and tongue so full of RS it is al
ways getting tangled, and these three are
frequently assisted by Paul Nicholson This
quartet of burlesquers assist Miss Nielsen
and her brilliant chorus in a serenade bur
lesque that results in half-dozen encores
and winds up with a cakewalk which had to
be repeated three times itself.
RMS much concerns the comedy. which
seer ed to Charm the music-lovers as much
as Ictof Herberts music. But after ALL
II Is the music that affords the great adj
Nantages in the opera. Victor Herbert has
provided another score in THE Fortune
refer that ranks with his previous sue
cesses and leads to the belief that he is
about the only one of the opera composers
in this country who can be depended on to
turn out success each year. The produc-
ton also has the advantage of a complete
orchestra, carried by the company under
the sole direction of Paul Steindorff. The
orchestra being familiar with every shade of
oppression which the singers are to give the
SOLOS or concerted pieces, a finished effect
IS obtained that has not been observable in
any OF the recent operate productions seen
here. Throughout the three acts this mas
terly execution of the musical features i'm
presses itself on the audience. so that even
the male choruscs received encores where
OFTEN they pass without single handicap.
THE Fortune Teller" chorus is not only
large and We'll trained, as might be expected
OF any fdgh-class organization but the
women seem to have been selected for both
voices and form. They are young. happy
featured girls, with few who are not taller
than the prima donna. The men are great
sturdy fellows, with rich voices. The en-
nnln
tastefully trimmed costumes different for
every act. constitutes a veritable fashion pa.
rade, All this array of beauty and display is
set in the prettiest scenery ina enable and
with an artistic effect of light that is daz-
zling. There is only one thing to criticise
and that is the stupid and confused tumble
called the libretto. Harry 3. Smith has
shown little of his best work in The For
tune Teller" but the average audience. if it
be kept continually amused by the original
comedy of the performers and the melody of
the score, never has any fault to find with
the story Miss Nielsen will give a matinee
to-day and her engagement will close with
to-nghtS performance.