The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-29

UNIQUE.-Vaudeville and p m.
The Grands new vaudeville bill attracted
very large audiences yesterday, the after
noon assembly being the largest Monday
matinee crowd of the season. Hilarious
farce comes in for large share of the at
tention this week, for John and Emma
Ray are on the programme. Little Mr..
Ray is a low comedian who depends en-
tirely upon the more boisterous style of fun
to keep his audience amused, and big Mrs.
Ray is the proud possessor of such a Won
derful pair of lungs that when she whis-
pers her voice can be heard in the lobby of
the theater, and when she lights into John
ny in her rough-and-ready way-well, the
very rafters of the building CULVER and
shake But, with all their noise, the Rays
are immensely funny and they can keep an
audience in roars of laughter for half
hour at a time-something that very few
comedians in vaudeville can do. They are
presenting the same sketch this week in
which they were seen at the Grand last
season. 1t is called Casey, the Fireman
and while it can scarcely be termed class
ic, it answers the purpose desired, for it
gives both Mr.. and Mrs. Ray good oppor-
tunities to provoke mirth and they make
the best Of every chance.
A decided novelty is the exhibition given
by the trained monkeys; dogs and cats of
act and like most vaudeville specialties
from across the sea, its value lies in it's
quality rather than its quantity. 1t takes
up only about fifteen minutes in all but
the animals have very interesting and
amusing tricks to perform and the audi
ence is kept laughing and applauding all
of the time. The finale of the exhibition,
in which three monkeys do some surpris-
ing stunts in q revolving wheel, which
is lighted with electric bulbs, is q most
unusual performance. The act is one that
will prove especially attractive TO the
juvenile theatergoers this week Snyder
and Buckley, the musical comedians, are
entitled to the third place Of honor on the
programme. Their act is the best they
have presented here in many seasons, being
filled with good fun and good music. They
scored a pronounced hit with yesterdays
audiences.
The wire-walking speciality of the four
Silvertons is a good one, but ii was not in
the best working order at the opening
shows. The four young men-they are all
men. although one OF them makes up very
cleVerly as a girl-have not been appearing
together for several weeks. and this may
account for their apparent lack os practice.
The act will undoubtedly be presented in ex-
cellent style from this time on. Their feats
are all very difficult requiring the most
careful work for successful accomplish
ment
The singing speciaties of the two Indian
apolis performers on the bill are very en-
iOyable. Little Alice Lyndon Doll, who
makes her temperance after six months
absence from the stage, renders four songs,
wearing a different costume for each one.
She is a pretty child. with a sweet voice,
and graceful stage presence, and should
prove as great a favOrite in vaudeville as
was Irene Franklin in her days juve-
nile singer. Miss May Melbane Is soprano
whose voice has had the benefit Of cultiva-
ton and she sings with much expression.
Her ballads are well selected and her spe-
cialty on the whole, very pleasing She
ceived a generous reception from her many
local friends. Paul Stephens an acrobat,
with but one leg, IS seen in an interesting
exhibition, which includes acrobatics and
feats OF equilibrism. Arthur Don and
Keeler Cook give sketch which is a mix
ture OF singing and nonsensical CONVERSE
ton, and while there is nothing new In their