The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-02-03
ADJUSTMENTS.


Patrons of English's Opera House must
have been waiting for just such a free
and-easy, mixed-up, hilarious entertain
ment as that afforded by Hotel Topsy
Turvy." for they turned out masse to
greet its first appearance in Indianapolis
last night The spontaneous outburst of
applause that signalized Eddie Foy's first
entry indicated that he was the attraction
that drew them, but later Developments
showed that he was by no means to keep
all the honors to himself. There are sew
eral people ir the company who possess
great ability to entertain and amuse, and
their efforts accorded thoroughly with
the mood of the audience that the per-
Torrance was prolonged far beyond its
ordinary length. From the first act, which
Is composed Of two scenes. the farce takes
its name. The performers belonging &c d
stranded circus, who have been turned out
of their hotel. ere received into a private
house by the fun-loving nephew of the
owner. The clown eddie Foy) changes
the sign from the hotel to the dwelling
house which brings about the absurdly
complicated state of affairs that continues
fer a short time during the second. which
Is the last. act. If the action of the first
act were slow enough to allow time for
analysis perhaps there would not have
been the continuous unrestrained laughter
that marked its progress. However, the
incidents. nonsensicai as they may be. are
carried off with such resistIess sweep
that they accomplish the authors sole
purpose-to make an audience laugh, willy
nilly. IL has been long time, indeed,
since Englishs Opera House rang with
such boisterous merriment. OF course Ed
die Foy Is much in evidence throughout the
hilarity and contributes greatly towards
It, Like the incidents In which he is in
scrutiny. He Is funny just because he Is
so. and that Is all there is to 1t. He per-
petrates alleged jokes that would bring a
harvest OF Kisses for another, yet emery
ing from his mouth, set in a face at which
one can scarcely look without laughing
they send people into commissions. Mr.
Foy has no reason to be dissatisfied with
bis reception in indianapolis He certain
ly found himself lin the house of his
friends
In the second and final act the confusion
of the first quickly subsidies and gives
place to one of the most pleasing vaude-
vile entertainments enjoyed here In a long
season Octave Barbie made considerable
OF hit with her singing. first of a French
song and later OF coon melodies. Then
came one of the sensations of the per-
Torrance. Miss BERTHE Fowler, veritable
queen Of mimicry. The charm OF her work
consists as much in the ease with which IL
Is done as in its excellence. The audience
was not niggardly in bestowing recognition
upon her. The triumph OF the performance
was won by Miss Josie De Witt, whose ap-
pearance and actions in the first half Of
the piece gave no hint of the marvellous
power she held in reserve. Her contribu-
ton was strange combination of sing
ing and violin playing that would be hard
to classify, but which was certainly one
OF the most unique and charming enter
tainnents ever given by a solitary per-
former She literally drew from the in
strument all the melody it contained Not
even the bird-voiced Alice Nelson could
boast of more enthusiastic or prolonged
encores than were showered upon Miss De
Witt.
number of capable comedy entertainers
are I'm the cast, notably Philip III. Ryley
Burrell Barbaretto and j. c. Marlowe The
Florence troop OF acrobats give a fine ex-
hibition Of ground and lofty tumblng
There will be special matinee this after
noon and a concluding performance to-
night.