The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-01
Good vaudeville at the Grand.

Lovers of vaudeville cannot afford to
stay away from the entertainment at the
Grand this week 1t had been promised
that the Orpheum Road show would pre-
sent the best bill OF specialties of the year,
and the promise is being fulfilled. bet
ter vaudeville programme has not been
given at the Grand so far this season, and
few. II any. better vaudeville shows have
ever been seen in Indianapolis. Mcintyre
and Heath, two of the most amusing
minstrel comedians that ever BACKED their
faces with burnt cork, are at the head of
the meritorious BILL with a negro char
acter sketch that is new to this city. These
two fun makers are great favorites in In
dianapolis and they were received with
warm applause and almost continuous
laughter at the two opening performances
of the week yesterday. Their new farce
affords them many opportunities Tor dis
play of their mirth-provoking talents, al
though the sketch is somewhat too long
and not so cleverly constructed as their
familiar Georgia Minstrels" which, by
the way, they will revive for the latter half
of the week. 1t seems strange that this
popular team cannot manage to get hold OF
sketch that Is as good as their original
old-timer. They have tried a number or
new ones during the last five years or more.
but the Georgia Minstrels'' is by far the
A feature of the bill that stands out as a
great novelty is the wonderful act given
by Merian's trained dogs. There are many
trained animal exhibitions now in vaude-
Vile, but this one of Prof. Merian's Is the
most astonishing ever seen here one OF
the smart CANNES gives a mind-readfng
performance that must indeed De seen 10
be appreciated and the entire company
of clever four-footed actors present lit.
tie pantomime called ''rhe Faithless Frau,
each one Of the players Interpreting his
x.-s<, int no m n
tomime is supposed to take place In
Bavarian village and special scenery OF
an elaborate nature is used. 1t is an act
that Will be the talk of the town before the
end Of the week.
There many other good Things on
the programme that 1t would be difhcult
matter to pick out those deserving OF tne
most attention. A very original and enter
tanning little sketch IS that contributed by
Victor Moore and Emma Littleheld- Tine
two performers impersonate western
variety-show people who have just arrived
in New York with the intention OK break
ing into" high-class vaudeville. The stage
in a vaudeville theater as 1t appears during
stage hands pass back and forth arranging
and rearranging the various pieces oil
scenery and in the midst of all the confu-
sion the two new aspirants for vaudeVliie
honors perform their new stunts for the
manager of the house. Both Mr.. Moore and
Miss Littlefield give clever specfalties and
the two stage hands Of the Grand's force
| in excellent style.
| Ed F. Reynard, the Indianapolis ventrilo-
quist, who has won his way to the very tor
] in his particular line of work, is on the
! bill with his spectacular act. His speciality
| is the best O. its kind before the public and
| he continues to improve 1T from season &c
| season. Although his stage settings anc
many Of his curious properties are the
| same as those which he had upon his last
appearance at the Grand, he introduces a
number of late inventions Of his own that
| give a new flavor to his performance. Eliz-
abeth Murray, who is one of the best OF
| coon-song singers, as well as an exception
| ally good story teller, furnishes ten minutes
| of delightful entertainment Her songs are
well chosen and well sung and her funny
stories are new. She Is one of the few
women monologuists who possess a fund OF
| real humor. The Melani Trio, italian
| musicians, have a pleasing speciality to OF.
! fer. Two of the men are good vocalists and
| all are capable instrumentalists. They sins
| selections from the Italian operas and the
| violinist plays Sullivan's Lost Chord" In
| a way that wins much approval. The at
| tractive programme In which there are M
weak features Is opened by Albertus ant
| Mllar in a juggling act that is far above
| the average and Is brought to a conclusion
| with very interesting series of bioscopt
| pictures. 1t Is fine performance through
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