The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-04-21
ADJUSTMENTS.
~Chris and the Wonderful Lamp" at
Engiish's Opera House.

''Chris and the Wonderful Lamp" one of
the most fascinating entertainments that
has been here in many seasons, was pre-
sefted at English's Opera House last night
to an audience that taxed the seating ca
pacity of the house by it's numbers and
strained the acoustic capacity by its unre-
strained enthusiasm. In fact, the applause
came so frequently and in such tremendous
volume that now and then a few OF the
more self-contained persons in the audience
looked about I'm amazement, as IL to dis
cover the origin of so much noise but,
catching the infection themselves, proceed
ed at once to swell the volume of sound.
No one stopped to view the performance
critically; there was no opportunity to do
that. Things went at such spirited gait
that when the end of 1t all came, as was
inevitable. the audience was not prepared
for it. and fingered in the seats and aisles
in a manner which suggested entire will
ingness to remain for another act.
Glen McDonough's operate extravaganza
with the fetching title of Chris and the
Wonderful Lamp contains about every
thing necessary TO furnish an evening of
solid enjoyment; fun in heaping abundance,
beautiful, shapely women, perfectly drilled
choruses and ballots. charming effects OF
light and color. dazzlingly rich scenery and
music of the soul-stirring. blood-moving
type, such as John Philip Sousa under
stands well how to compose. An effort
to bestow praise for the excellence of the
performance in proper quarters would be
incomplete were not due credit given to
Ben Teal, without whose magic skill in
stage direction such a delightful affair
would scarcely be possible.
The hits made last night were so numer-
Gus that only few can be mentioned.
Perhaps the two that were most pro-
nounced were the inspiring rendition of
Sousas new march song, THE Man Behind
the Cum" and the indeScribable speciality
contributed by Johnny Page and Nellie
Lynch. The Man Behind the Gun" was
sung by Jerome Sykes. Bertha Waltzinger,
Edna Wallace Hopper, Emily Beaupre,
Mabella Baker and large chorus of Alad-
oln's retainers, attfred in exceptionally
rich and elegant costumes. The element OF
picturesaueness was strengthened and pa
triotic fervor caused TO run high by the
Introduction OF American and English flags
waved with hearty vigor. Nellie Lynch's
Johnny Pages remarkable and ludicrous
acrobatics. aroused the entire audience,
from first floor TO topmost gallery. almost
TO the point OF Mysteries. Becoming weary
from the effort of his acrobatic feats, Page
sought to satisfy the audience with funny
curtain speech, delivered in installments,
but only the exercise of little managerial
frmness behind the scenes enabled the per-
Torrance 10 continue according 10 schedule
Edna Wallace Hopper. who is the per-
scnification of dainty loneliness, with a
SMILE that might win throne II properly
applied. in the role OF Chris has extraor-
binary opportunity for the play of her
variety of talents. Fully as winsome as
Alice Nelson. she lacks only the latter s
vocal power TO put her in the enviable po-
liz H. 49, a.e
~ associated with Miss Hopper at all
stages of the performance are Bertha
Waltzinger and Emily Beaupre, the for
mer distinguished by her beauty and re-
markable soprano voice, the latter by her
statuesque form.
Jerome Sykes is the principal comedian
and belongs 10 a delightful type. The fund
of stage jokes I'm India annapolis which was
at low ebb, swollen TO goodIy pro-
. portions by the quantity of up-to-date wit
ticisms and funny stories handed out by
Mr.. Sykes with that prodigality associated
with men OF his ample girth. However
Sykes is not distinguished alone for his
ability as a singer and promoter of fun.
He Is able TO execute some nimble dance
steps and Highland filings that compare
quite fayoraby with Johnny Pages best
efforts in those directions.
One or the most pleasing. electrical eff
fects ever shown In this city is the ballet
by I'VE young women. who have vari-col-
ored incandescent bulbs concealed I'm a be-
wiidering variety OF places about their
bonnets and clothes. which are manipu-
lated with such cleverness as to produce
surprising and exquisite results.
The scenery shown in Chris and the
Wonderful Lamp is the most pretentfous
or the entire season, and the costumes full
~ equal II in splendor A feature OF the
performance that pleased immensely was
the shifting OF some OF the sets in plain
view OF the audience. which testified its
satisfaction Dy literally applaudlng the
rapidity OF the work. The panorama
af he
the stage set for an ''on-board-ship'' scene.
thus giving the effect OF sea voyage, also
received due measure OF Appreciation
Chris and the Wonderful Lamp viii be
repeated this afternoon and for the last
time tonight IL IS hardly probable that