The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-16
ADJUSTMENTS.
Al G. Fields Greater MinstreIs at Eng
Iish's Opera House.

EnsIish's Opera House was packed from
top TO bottom last night with people who
forgot the hot weather I'm their desire to be
present at the opening of a new theatre
cal season and at the same time enjoy a
good minstrel show. Those present wit
messed one of the most brilliant first
nights in the history of English's Opera
House-brilliant in point of both audience
and entertainment The gay colors of sum-
mer worn by the women in the house made
striking and beautiful contrast with the
more gorgeous shades affected by the per-
formers. The black men,, of whom Mr..
Field himself is one. wore regal purple,
while the whites were attired in some
rich stun of tan color. The setting of the
stage for the first part" of the perform
ance was magnificent in its abundance of
illumination and richness of coloring. The
programme given by Mr.. Field and his as
sistants is excellent, but scarcely uniform.
1t Is strong at each end, but of varying
merit in between. The singing in the. first
part is OF a very high order, but perhaps
the effect would be more satisfying to both
performers and audience if selections a
little nearer up 10 date than Because and
others of like vintage were employed. The
exquisite manner in which Arthur Yule
rendered ''The Holy City" and Palm
Branches" fully atoned for the use of those
somewhat threadbare songs. Reese Prosser
is also the possessor of a wonderful voice.
and last night he was generous in its use,
giving For Love Alone" and My Little
Belle Creole" with repetitions Of the chorus
In response TO insistent encores. Tommy
DonnelIy and Arthur Rigby created a diver
sity of entertainment with their ragtime
songs and eccentric dances. The king of all
g~rotesque dancers, however, is Doc Quigley,
who seems TO have a pair Of legs which
are endowed with a sense of humor. A
quartet composed of Jean Elliott, Billy
Cawley. James DevIin and James John
son gave some samples of terpSichorean
cvolutiOnS OF a more finished style. Al
Field was instantly recognized on his first
appearance, despite his blackened face and
comic attire, and received an ovation. Most
Of the gags" perpetrated by Mr.. Field
were good. but II is feared that in releas-
ing some OF them he presumed to an eX-
tent upon the good nature OF his audience.
The sketch entitled The Front Porch Cam
laign," participated in by Al Field, DoS
Quigley, Arthur Rigby, Tommy Donnelly
end Clarence Hummell, is a fiimsy bur-
lesque on the candidates OF the two great
PARTIES and would not be missed if 'cut OUT
entirely. The entertainment concludes with
an OllO Oh Hfe numbers. beginning with a
musical sketch by Berry and Hughes,
which is highly enjoyable. Pascatel follows
with some remarkable feats of aerial and
ground contortion. not the least of which
Is his demonstration that his arms arc
attached TO his body by ball and socket
loints. The manner in which he whirls his
body round and round while his hands
md arms are stationary is calculated tc
make one feel a little queer, to say the
least of il. Bob Reyes. dubbed THE Gale
DOMAIN Athlete" Is n big fellow. but has
quite as much grace and litheness as II
smaller. He excels I'm barrel and chair
jumping and high kicking. Arthur Rigby
Will have To do some work on his ENTER
In the olio in order to make
II last the season out. He drove severaI
people last night into the open air. "Tht
Fete at Mecca called on the programme
1.-The Oriental Spectacle" was the fnaI
number. The title of the spectacle conveys
but a faint idea OF the act. With the stage
Set 10 portray an Oriental scene-venerab,e
sheiks sitting on the ground and in
booths or kiosks. while q "whirling der.
wish flies about on top of a booth, making
some wild. weird noise with pieces OF
metal-a large band of Arabs come rushins
cut and begin a veritable saturnaiia al
scrobatic feats. The performers are termed
Mamelukes. but this is probably an error
since a goodly portion of the same troupe
was carried with Buckskin Bits Wild West
show the past summer as Arabs. Rui
whether Mamelukes or Arabs. the enter