The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-01
PLAY BILLS THIS WEEK
DAN DAILY AND "BELLE OF NEW
YORK; AT ENGLIsH's MONDAY.
Grand stock in The Private seere-
ry"-TransOccanics at Park
Comedy at Empire.

A regular storm OF big productions has
struck Englishs with the holiday season
New Years week opens with The
Belle OF New York the most
meritorious entertainment up to the
present time. this city has had in
years, to be followed Thursday night with
Digby Bell for one performance in THE
Eeosier Doctor" For the last two days Of
the week Alice Nielsen in The Fortune
Teller" another marked success by Victor
Herbert and Harry b. Smith, who wrote
THE Serenade," viii have the theater with
an extraordinary cast Of comic opera people,
including Eugene Cowles, and the coIneJi-
ans Richard Golden, Joseph Herbert, VINO
Is also a well-known playwright, and Joseph
Cawthorn.
Follow on, follow on;
When the light of faith you see,
Tney never proceed TO follow that light,
But always follow me-
This pIaintive refrain as sung by the Sal
walton Army lassie In THE Belle Of New
York, was probably the most taking Choir
us of all the unrivaled melodies in the
Casino production seen here last year. "The
Belle of New York took the town as MOTH
ing in the amusement line has ever done be-
fore. The remarkable merit of this produc-
tion became the talk Of the town and has
continued so ever since. It's success in other
cities in this country and in London was no
surprise 10 local theater-goers who have
sampled all the good, bad and Indifferent
shows coming along. The announcement of
its return to English's this week at once
aroused all the old interest in THE Belle
of New York" and this year it will not
open to a half-Glled theater as on its first
appearance Those who see The Belle" Will
probably find the five performances, begin
ming with New Years matinee tomorrow,
and including a Wednesday matinee, few
enough TO satisfy the desire TO inspect its
beauties Dan DAILY. with his nimble legs
and his several songs is still at the head of
the new American company, and with MIN
are a number of those seen here last sea-
con. Helen Lord IS credited in other cities
with more than duplicating Edna Mays hit
as the Salvation Army lassie, and Queenle
Vassar. as the French girl. formerly played
by Phyllis Rankin. is said to be better
actress and singer than Miss Rankin j.. L.
Don, in the part of the polite crazy Ger
man, who finds pleasure in pursuing Dan
Daily with a long knife, IS receiving more
favorable attention than any one who ever
took the part in this country. William Cam
eron wiz be seen in his part of "Blinky
Bill' McQuirk. and Catherine Linyard, the
only Casino prima donna who could do the
eccentric dance with Dan DAILY. again ap-
pears in her original role. The production IS
described as entirely new, being an exact
duplication of the original, that was sent
to London. where it is still running.
Digby Bell, who comes to Englsh's Thurs
day night in '"The Hoosiar Doctor" seems
TO have met with more success with his
comedy venture than with anything he has
produced in recent years. This domestic
comedy by Augustus Thomas Of ala
bama" and '1n Mizzoura" fame, was seen
here last season and made distinctly IA
Vorable impression. Digby Bell has the role
of the much abused, charitable DR.. Willow
with family Of growing girls to raise and
~littie income with which to take care of
ola min 40 aEI
and comedy, and the characters are taken
from small town in Indiana, where char
acter fit for stage presentation grows as
rank weeds ON the hillside Mr.. Bell has
the same company that supported MIN last
LAURA Joyce Beli In one Of the best old
women parts Augustus Thomas has created.
The Fortune Teller" in which Alice Mel
sen. formerly prima donna of the BOSTON
ians made her debut as a star this season.
supported by Eugene Cowles, the popular
basso, also with the Bostonians for so many
years, together with one of the most com
plete comic opera companies ever sent out
of New York, viii be the first eff his sea-
sons new productions to reach Ihdianap-
oils, opening at English's next Friday night
for three performances, including a Sat
urday matinee. The Nielsen Opera Com
psny has the reputation among theatrical
people OF being provided with the most eX
penSiYe comic opera production that has
been made in years. Money seems TO have
been no object TO the producers, and it was
commonly reputed in New York that S500e0
was laid out before the curtain went UP
, at Wallack's Theater. where THE Fortune
Teller made an instantaneous hit The
Tesopera also added further proof to the claim
faof musicians that Victor Herbert has shown
the grectest talent of all the Americans
who have turned their attention to light
opera music. Herbert and Harry b. Smith
i as the librcttist now have the largest num-
! Der of comic operas running OF any two
men in the country including The Sere-
made" for the Bostonians and The Wizard
of the Nile" and THE Idols Eye" the two
great successes in which Frank Daniels is
starring. Manager Frank Periey. who has
been directing the tour of the Bostonians, is
manager of the Nielsen company, and the
cast selected to support the new star is
really second to none. In addition to Mel
sen and CCwles the trio of comedians. Col
den, Herbert and CawthoTn, there are Paul
Nicholson, Frank Rushworth, Marguerite
sylvia. Jennie HaWley. Billie Norton and
May Boley. A chorus of sixty voices is adj
Vertised. as well as a special drum corps,
band of trumpeters and several musicians
for an augmented orchestra. The sale of
seats will open Thursday.