The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-20
The Vaudeville at the Grand.

The entertainment at the Grand this week
is what might very appropriately be called
straight vaudeville. There is no 'playlet,"
no ''comedietta," no act, in fact, that has
been borrowed from the legitimate dra-
matte stage, but the programme is made
up entirely of specialties of all kinds, and
most Of them are first class. 1t Is true that
there is a farce on the bill-the act of
Lavender and Thomson-but this is an out
and-out vaudeville farce, made for laugh
ing purposes only, with the usual vaude-
vile exaggerations, and could hardly be
mistaken for other than a turn" on the
variety stage.
The attraction billed as the "headliner"
of the show is the exhibition given by Cap
tain Webb's performing seals, but there
are other features of the entertainment
that are productive of just as must interest.
The wonderful water animals give a per-
Torrance that is even more novel than the
one they gave when at the Grand last
season. and even If the vaudeville patron
has seen them several times before, they
are we'll worth viewing again. Their trainer
has taught them some new tricks in addi-
ton to the old ones, and the curious ami
mails continue to 'show off, as If they
hugely enjoyed the work-or play, as it
seems to be TO them. A prominent brain
physician of this city once said in a lee
ture that II the seal but possessed the
physical advantages Of the dog, the animal
would take its stand at the head of all
intellectual beasts and, after witnessing
the exhibition of Captain Webb's SEALS one
can easily believe this assertion to be true.
a very entertaining act is the one con-
tributed by Adolph link, the midget come
dian. Little Mr.. link does not sing as well
as he did In the days Of the famous Lii
putian opera company, but what he lacks
in voice he makes up In originality. He
gives limitations of well-known theatrical
celebrities. such as Edna May. Lottie Col
line and May Irwin. and while he is making
his changes OF costumes off the stage a
white drop curtain is lowered and a NOV
ing picture machine shows him in his dress
ing-room getting out of one costume and
into another, assisted by his valet The
idea Is novel one and 1T Is well carried
out. The audience witnesses. by means of
the animated pictures, what is actually
taking place between the songs, and the
act becomes q continuous one. without
single wait
There are two excellent European num-
bers on the programme-the Jack Theo
Trio in wonderful equilibristic exhibition
and the three Zolas in series of excep
tionally difficult acrobatic feats. Both of
these specialties are in the foremost rank
OF the school to which they belong. The
Jack Theo Trio dress their speciality hand
somely and have startling finale that
opens the eyes of the audience, while the
three Zolas work easily and gracefully
that the spectators hardly realize the great
merit of the performance. Charles Kenna.
the monologist and singer of comic songs.
returns to the Grand with his familiar act
which he calls THE Fakir," introducing
some new material at first, but soon re-
lapsing into his old cline of talk" He is
clever enough TO change his work COM
pletely with each new season. one would
think The Howard Brothers, two high
class bantoists who used TO travel with
Primrose & Dockstaders Ministries. offer
musical act that pleases. Most of their
selections are new, but, like all of their
contemporaries, they make a feature of
the William Tell Overture" If there ever
was a banjo speciality without that Will
liam Tell Overture 1t has never visited
Indianapolis.
Lawson and Namon open the show with
a speciality made up Of bag punching and
trick bicycle riding and. aside from the
tiresome efforts OF Lawson to create laugh
ter with old-time jokes and well-worn
business, the act is good one. AS be-
fore mentioned Lavender and Thomson
give farce and succeed in amusing with
dialogue that Is no strain upon the men,
tally of the audience. The sketch is
called "A Touchdown" and has the making
OF clever farce. but the author of ii
seemed incapable OF giving IL the neces-
sary finish. The bioscope presents a good
assortment OF moving pictures, most of
them OF the comic sort.