The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-20
Theatrical Notes.

George AIDES latest effort at theatrical
writing-a comedy entitled THE County
Chairman"-will be presented at English's
tonight, tomorrow afternoon and to-mor-
row night by Maclyn Arbuckle and a large
and competent company. The play has
been acted in just two cities-South Bend
for one performance and in Chicago for
long and prosperous run. 1t scored a sue
cess in the Western metropolis and comes
to Indianapolis with identicaily the same
company that was seen in the play for
over eleven weeks at the Studebaker The
alter. The piece is wholly unlike either or
AIDES previous productions-"The Sultan OF
Sulu' and Peggy from Paris. 1t has no
musical accompaniment but is what is
known as straight comedy" III the Chi
cago reviewers are to be believed, the story
is interesting, the dialogue clean, bright
and crisp, while the characters are delight
full. A love story is mingled with the
humorous AMI serious affairs OF the little
town of Antioch, the scene OF the play. In
the role Of the county chairman, Maclyn
Arbuckle, a good character actor, is cred
tied with making a pronounced success,
and Willis p Sweatnam, long famous as
negro minstrel, is said to have part that
fits him perfectly. other well-known play
ers in the big cast ire Earle Browne,
Charles Fisher. George Ricketts,. Dallas
Tyler, Rose Baudet, Grace Fisher, Ed
Chapman, Harry Holman, and Fred Book.
There number of children in the piece
and the Antioch Drum Corps and AN
tioch Marching Club form amusing fea-
lures in the production
The excellent vaudeville show given by
Tyde's comedians continues to please large
audiences at the Grand. A number Of vaude-
vile performers who play in indianapolis
in the near future have been laying off,
here this week. Professor Parker and his
trained dogs, one of the feature acts of
in fta Eoct
yesterday. The two Nichols sisters, the In
dianapols girls who have made such a
hit in their black-face singing speciality,
have been visiting their home in this city
for several days. Sailor and Barbaretto,
who will furnish a comedy turn in next
weeks programme, have been resting here
since Monday. Sidney Jerome, Frances
Meredith and the St. Claire sisters, all Of
whom live in Indianapolis, have been re-
hearslng their new act with which they are
to be seen on the Orpheum Circuit La
Carmontella, the graceful little contortion-
list and gymnast, has been perfecting her
spectacular act before starting out on
long tour which Is to open in Cincinnati.
Mr.. and Mrs. Charles Merritt, well-known
performers, will arrive in the city to-day.
XXX
An exceptionally good amateur bill was
given at the Unique last night. The house
was well filed at each of the three per-
formances and standing room was at a
premium for the last two shows. The anna
teur bill consisted of six numbers and each
one was we'll received. The first act was
selection by the '.Midgets' Band" four lit
tie fellows from six to eight years or age,
who played trombones and comets. Carson
Jones made good in a monologue, as did
Dalrymple and Wollan in black-face
sketch Henry Winkler scored the hit of
the evening in his impersonation OF Jew
and responded to two hearty encores. Grace
Powell in a singing speciality, was applaud
ed and little Isabel Oliver also did well in
an act of the same kind. The patrons of
the Unique are being shown a very unusual
film on the picture machine this week. "Ali
Bahia and the Forty Thieves is given in
every detail and a spectator can almost
imagine himself in fairyland.
The sale of seats for the Mabel Mckinley
vaudeville show at English's next Monday
and Tuesday nights is now in progress at
the box Office of the theater. The announce
ment Of this engagement, made in these
columns Tuesday morning, came a sur
prise to many local theater-goers Manager
Miller, of English's, was. about as much
surprised anybody when he received
word from the headquarters of the Valen-
tine circuit that the first two nights Of
next week were to be devoted to a high
class vaudeville company just organized
in New York. This will be the first out
and-out vaudeville entertainment to appear
at EnglShs since the theater came under
its present mana cement. 1t is promised that
the show will contain, besides Miss McKin-
ley, seven of the best acts obtainable.
Xxx
Every one who has seen Lewis Morrison
act the part of Mephisto in Faust" looks
upon the actor as the ideal stage devil.
There have been many other Mephistos. but
Morrison looks the part so thoroughly and
acts 1t so well that after seeing his per-
Torrance one Is hardly willing to believe
M
pletely. The sale of seats for the Morrison
engagement opens tomorrow morning at
English's. Faust" Is to be given next
Wednesday afternoon and evening.
Word comes from New York that Ralph
Lancaster. of this city, who for year has
been studying voice culture in Boston, be-
gan a metropolitan engagement last Mon
day night with the Schef Opera Company.
He is in sextet