The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-01
"The Little Duchess" at EngIish's.

There was one point on which the great
audience agreed upon when the curtain
fell on the last act OF ''The Little Ouch
ess" at English's last night-it was the
most glittering show ever seen in this
city. Aside from this consensus of opinion
expressions varied regarding the salient
features of the musical comedy. Some
were of opinion that the artistic singing
and acting of Anna Held, the clever, vi
vacious Coincidence. was the bright star
around which the lesser features shone,
while others said the music and libretto
by Reginald de Koven and Harry b. smith
were the handspring of the entertainment.
The Little Duchess" was devised simply
to amuse. 1t would require a most in
genious imagination to gather together the
threads Of a plot and weave them into a
story. A plot was the last consideration
I'm preparing the vehicle for that dainty,
refreshing little actress. Miss Held. The
idea OF presenting beautiful stage pictures,
exquisite gowns, beautiful women, catchy
music was paramount. So persistently did
the audience applaud the various numbers
that 1t was nearly 1870 o'clock when the
final curtain was lowered. The tuneful airs
were whistled and hummed as the men
and women left the theater.
1t required three long acts TO give the
various scenes of the story of 1.-THE Little
Duchess The first act is a gorgeous scene
at Ostend. 1t was there that Claire de
BriOn (Anna Heidi, a French actress, mas
queraded as a duchess and was taught
swimming lessons by Gustave, a bathing
master, portrayed by the prince of musical
comedians, Charles A. Bigelow. Captain
Ralph EdgertOn Joseph Welsh succumbed
TO the beautiful duchess. but the latter be-
came cognizant that her apartments in
Paris had been seized by authorities be-
cause of debts contracted by her uncle.
She FASTENED back to Paris, where she be-
came the fiancee of the English captain.
a package of her letters were saved by
a Russian count, who restored them to the
duchess. Numerous other suitors tried to
gain possession of the letters-a scheme
made TO lengthen the plot-but they met
with many reverseS.
The indistinct story affords an axis for
the musical numbers. 1t has been re-
marked that Manager Ziegfeld cornered the
beauty market in preparing his production
and selected a score or more of the pretti-
est and most shapely women that ever ap-
peared together. They are all dainty and
winsome from Bessie Wynn, the girl with
the beautiful eyes: Billy Norton. one of
the maids to the duchess; Vivian Black
burn, of the stunning figure, to those who
stand in the back row I'm the opening
chorus. The girls are made more attrac-
tive by numerous and lavish gowns. They
appear In the first act In the SWEETEST or
bathing costumes. The Sadie" girls. in
the second act, are attired in embroidered
gowns, and when formed in line with their
DdChS ~ the SldSt they pItSCIl q DiNNuAC
that is inspiring. In the last act members
of the chorus wear pretty fencing cos
tunes.
The stage settings of the three acts are
no less rich in design than are the beauti-
full costumes. The effect of the rolling
waves OF the ocean in the first act, the
scene at Ostend. is beautiful, but il docs
not compare with the apartments of Claire
de Brion In Paris and the fencing academy
scene of the third act.
Since Miss -Held's last appearance in In
dfa n nnliG WhQn che ni1 VaH HPanlfC Wife
last season, her voice has improved and
her French accent has become all the more
delightful. She is more vivacious. and her
real cleverness reaches a climax in the
third act, when, attired in the costume of
a Paris street gamin. with dirty face, she
sings "Mollie shannon" The programme
of songs affords her ample opportunity to
please her audiences. On her first appear
ance in the first act she sings "A Dip in
the Ocean" THE Maiden with the Dreamy
Eyes" sung with Mr.; Bigelow, and
''What'd Yo' Do wild de Letter, Mr.. John
SOM" are also numbers in the first act,
In one OF her favorite songs. Those Great
Big Eyes sung i'm the second act, she
uses her eyes TO pleasing advantage. In
part of her songs she is assisted by Mr..
BigelOw and other members OF the COM
pany and the chorus.
Mr.. Bigelow as a has not de-
Perforated, and in the character of Gus
tave. a bathing master and a hero, he is
afforded opportunity to display his won
d~erfully mobile face and to sing several
clever songs. Joseph w. Herbert, of the
hesitating voice. makes a good Maurice De
Champignon. fencing master and duelist.
Joseph Welsh. as Captain Ralph Edgerton,
displayed only a small vein OF histriOnic
ability. but he possesses a rich tenor voice.
The 'Violets' song in the second act was
beautifully sung by him. George Marion,
with a face so homely il is attractive,
plays the part of Count CaSabinca, "A gam
bier with an infallible system, who is
Claire's uncle. In the second act he is
assisted by Miss Anna st. Tel in a clever
song and dance. The Dago and the Monk"
Charles Swain, the Baron kOffupsky of
the Russian secret service. does the Jealous
husband admirably. Franz Ebert. the Lii
l~iputian. is given but little opportunity. but
he takes advantage of it in the finale OF
I the second act. when he empties cham
payne bottles nearly as large as himself.
Performances will be given this after
noon and tonight.