The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-09
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ADJUSTMENTS.


Miss Irwin spent about two hours and a
half at English's Opera House last night.
and in that brief time she entertained one
OF the largest audiences of the season as
people are rarely ever fortunate enough
TO be entertained. incidentally. she left
behind her some very infectious melodies
which for days to come will be sung by all
who can sing them, whistled by such as
possess only that method of giving vent
70 the harmony which Is in them, or hum
med persistently by those who can neither
sing nor whistle. 1t was a great tribute
to Miss Irwin's art that she should have
been able TO attract such an audience the
night after the Goodwins had packed the
house to the walls. All her past achieve
ments in the amusement line were for
gotten last night in the wondrous charm
of her latest efforts. 1t is not probable that
anybody. while under the charm OF the
magic Irwin personality and humor. stop
ped long enough 10 speculate as TO the Sc
cret of II. II they had, they might have dis
covered the solution of the mystery in her
abundant spontaneity. All of the witty
lines in Mr.. McDonough's clever farce.
SISTER Mary" were uttered in such a de-
l~iciously natural manner that they seemed
" nave bCCh CSECCAoAlg All ~ ~
dianapolis audience. On more than one
occasion in the progress Of the play Miss
Irwin took her audience directly into her
confidence, with an indescribably pleasing
effect. However. funny as she undoubtedly
was in the farce itself, her most pronounced
hits were made with the large collection
of vocal gems which she gave with the
libera1ity of a Lady Bountiful." All of
-
ally and were encored, but several appeared
to please a tribe more than the rest. These
were Louisiana Lie" "why Don't My
Baby Write and the Rocking Song"
words by Robert Louis Stevenson and
music by Cissie Lotus. The surroundings
of the latter song heightened it's effect be-
yond measure. The scene was a whist
party IN one of the apartments of the
Penns. The room was beautifully decor
ated and brilliantly Illuminated, features
with which the elegant costumes of the
women blended deiightfuIly. A man at
one or the tables suddenly began TO hum
an air which seemed familiar to Alicia
Penn Miss Irwin(, whose frantic efforts to
recall the words were seconded by the en-
tire party. who hummed the melody over
and over AS she sat rocking gently in her
chair, Miss Irwin caught the truant lines
and sang them in a manner truly entrance
ing. The air of ''Why Don't NY Baby
Write took the fancy of the audience.
which began to practice Ii Immediately
upon reaching the lobby. Miss Irwin also
the Proper Way to Treat a Lady" II
Don't Care TO be Yo' Lady Fren' No Mo.
and Mary Was a Housemaid.' the latter
being htted with the subtitle What Did
Mary Dor The third act opened amid
charming mountain scenery and disclosed
q jolly picnic party of men and women,
who sang the chorus. "A Creole Love Song"
20 a pretty accompaniment of pans and
dishes The song concluded with one of
the most picturesque dances ever arranged,
the central figure OF which was a trio of
pretty damsels In short skirts VINO pos
sessed astonishing ability for high kicking.
This feature OF the performance was so
much TO the liking Of the audience that IL
had TO be gone over again several times.
Another great success was the midnight
serenade accompanied by a society cake
walk. which was cleverly introduced In the
middle or the second act. In the cakewalk
Miss Irwin showed herself 70 be a formid-
able arrival OF Jerome Sykes, the active
and graceful fat comedian Of Chris and
the Wonderful Lamp" The truth is. that
nlled with good things that IL is sheer i'm
possibility TO either mention or give ade-
Quate idea OF only a small portion.
The company supporting Miss Irwin is
unusually large and all its members seem
to have been carefully chosen. The women.
Jane Burby. Louise Rail. Lulu Hesse,
MadelOn Temple. Aileen May, Gussie Jones.
Lille Lawton. Marie Milward. Madeleine
Anderton and Queenie Vassar. all displayed
ability Of high order and were additionally
attractive in gowns OF exceptional richness.
Herbert Gresham did excellent work in
the role or Percival Penn. James +. Cal
lahan created much amusement with his
rich Irish brogue and funny antics as VIII
liam Guy. The --LATEST" male character
fell 10 the lot OF George "A. Beane, who i'm
pe~rsonated Scribner McHarper. the pub
Usher of Alicia's book. which caused ali the
farcical complications. Roland Carter as
Chariemagne Spiggott. spoke not a word
during the entire performance. but never
theless scored a pronounced hit with his
expressive pantomime. Not the least at
tractive feature OF the production was the
picturesqueness OF grouping I'm the numer-
Gus stage pictures. Altogether, from an
amusement point OF view. Miss Irwin may
uuthfuLy be said TO have contributed one
OF the seasons best entertainments.