The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-17
floods Saadabosazz
M
irand-"Minister Extraordinary

new comic opera, Minister Extraordinary"
which had its original production at the
Grand Opera House last night. The ex-
cellence of the work now offered for critical
inspection to the people of this city. where
Mr.. Walkers compositions have been en-
joyed for years. was a surprise even TO his
friends and amirers. Although the produce
ton was not intended to be more than anna
teur, the audience. which filled nearly every
seat in the theater. could find no fault with
1t. OF the score or more separate musical
numbers, not including the dashing choruses.
there was hardly a song that failed to re-
ceive enthusiastic encores, some of them
having TO be repeated twice. Theater-goers
and music-lovers generally may be really
proud of Mr.. Walkers opera, and those who
were not '.hrst-nighters' can hardly afford
to miss the opportunity afforded by the three
remaining performances this week. Mr..
Walker is responsible for the libretto as well
as for the generous amount of music, and he
has conceived a number of truly entertaining
and humorous comic-opera characters, in
which the audience becomes interested from
the start. The situations are dramatic and
the lines are bright, with no suggestion of
the novice. Special and attractive scenery
has been provided, and the chorus people
are prettily coStumed. The first act takes
place on board a man-of-war. with the nat
tily dressed sailors and seminary girls as
a background. The second act Is on Peewee
island. where the cannibaI chorus adds a
novelty. The last act is in the palace Of
King Einstein, the fanciful ruler Of the
island, and here the most brilliant costum-
ing of the opera appears.
Minister Extraordinary is an entertain
ment In every. act and no one could ask for
more. Even the first night performance, al
ways a difficult proposition, went with re-
markable smoothnesS. TIL stage waits are
brief and the members of the company have
been so we'll drilled and all enter so heartily
into the comical spirit of the opera that they
won the admiration of the audience at once.
There was a good-natured reception for
each on the first appearance and each In
turn responded with a commendable effort
to exceli in his particular part. The first hit
was made by Boatswain oliver with his
song OF The Navy" that wound up with a
hornpipe in which the entire chorus joined.
1t was a trying situation, being practically
the first number. and Mr.. OLIVER merited
all the applause he received.
One by che the principal characters came
on, and each with a song that had to be re-
pe1ted. Pink Hall as the General Bluff, the
political victim, who is utilized for most of
the satire of the piece. captured the house
like an old timer. 1t is hard to see why
this alented actor and singer is not in the
business. Morris Meek as Adam Upp, the
rich plumber disguised as a missionary. in
love with Marigold. and Frank N. Taylor
good Character songs. Then there is Mrs.
w. H Sumner, almost as jolly looking as
May Irwin and with an excellent contralto
Mr.. Hall in his comedy work. Mrs. F. L.
Jones is a bright-faced ingenue just suited
for the part of Marigold, and her soprano
performance. Miss Valentine Good is the
pert Widow Brown, and she played and
sang sdso the part E With II much sachs charm; - Rob bert
tureSque sailors.
Harry Porter as King Enstein and COM
not appear until the comic opera party has
reached the Peewee island, and from this
on Pink Hall and Harry Porter share alike
ing songs, some topical and some purely
~fanciful and up-to-date in their general tone.
There are too many good songs to remem-
When I Was a Boy" IN the first act and
his drinking song in the last act: Mrs.
Summers Dolphin Song" with the echo
MY Heart Is Filled with Strange Emo
tons is a particularly ambitious number
"Vad's De Use was a decided hit and his
work throughout was marked with pro-
fessionaI ease. His burlesque of the Peewee
island king Is attractive and In good tone.
act and none that did not gain favor. The
chorus numbers were particularly effective
and for an amateur chorus Ii was one OF
city.
The Work or the orchestra un0er the care
full direction Of Rudolph Knauer is also
worthy OF commentator. Mr.. Knauer is re-
sponsible for the orchestration of the opera
and mm1,c there eIe a abi,,t rreaH Men W eslderce eife OF ms ms
following story OF his opera on the pro-
gramme:
tician, being ambitious above his merits
and persistent for a place, 1t is decided by
the appointing powers to get rid OF him
by unloading him in foreign parasitic more
foreign the better. In pursuance of this plan
the general is dispatch to Pewee island, one
of the most savage OF the Philippine group.
and feathers, on board a ship commanded
by Capt. Kidder. The latter, being on a tour
Of inspection, has invited the graduating
as guests, chaperoned by Widow Brown.
These and a motley crew Of all sorts are
assigned to the general as his %retinue, and
daughter of the lackadaisical and lovesick
type, who is much enamored of Adam Upp.
a millionaire plumber. who secures passage
by Disgusting himself as a missionary. Thus
equipped the whole outfit sails away for
Pewee island: Now 1t happens that this
island is inhabited principally. by cannlbals.
Captain Kidder knowing this, and being
something of a practical joker. suggests to
the general that he take a tour across the
the other side. General Bluff thinks this a
capital idea, adopts the suggestion, and is
let Off on the island as soon as the ship
a nest of cannibals. who Immediately pre-
pare to make soup OF the minister extra
ordinary The ~latters 'coat-sleeve diplo-
macy Is put to a severe test TO extract
himself from this dilemma. When the gen.
eral finally reaches the capital he finds
that Einstein, a c~astaway Jew. has been
installed as King of Pewee island and its
cannihalistic inhabitants, The general and
Mrs. Bluff. being afflicted with the Ameri-
can mania for buying titles, strike a bar
gain with the King for the hand of his son
Solomon. for their daughter. King Einstein
readily sells the prince for a lump sum. the
general. like Wilkins Micawber, making
payment with his note of hand. Meantime
the disguised plumber. who in his capacity
as missionary has been invited TO perform
the marriage does not relish the
job of making his sweetheart the wife of
another. He accordingly evolves a plot to
defeat the whole scheme. his plan being to
arrest the general on q trumped-up charge
for unpaid debts In the United States. The
successful working out of this plot, the de-
feat and confusion of the King and son.
and the triumphant espousal of Marigold by
the plumber. form the chief material fox