The Indianapolis journal., 1903-03-16
Theatrical Notes.

EMPlRE.--BurleSque, ano D. m.
Theatrical Notes.
The Grand's vaudeville programme for
the week, beginning with the matinee this
afternoon, will include a number of very
high-class acts and several features that
have won great favor in European musical
halls. The principal number of the current
bill will be the singing act of THE Girl
with the Auburn HAIR" an act that is
known all over this country as one of the
strongest in vaudeville The fair singer
with the tresses that have attracted so
much attention is. as most theater-goers
know, Mrs. Murdock, the wife of the Chi
cago theatrical manager. She was former
ly Miss Grace Akass, OF Indianapolis, and
she has many friends and admirers In this
city. Mrs. Murdoch began her professional
career four years ago, and her now we'll
known singing speciality was a great sue
cess from the very start. partly on account
of the unusual amount Of advertising it
received at the hands of the experienced
husband of the performer. but mostly on
account OF Mrs. Murdock's ability as a yo-
calist. THE Girl with the Auburn Hair
has been seen and heard here before, but
IL Is promised that the act will be presented
In better style than ever during its present
local engagement. Miss Lottie Akass. sis
ter of the singer, now travels with Mrs.
Murdock and plays the accompanimsnts
TO all the sacred songs sung in the church
scene on a huge portable pipe organ, the
only instrument OF the kind ever used on
the stage. The rest of the bill contains a
number of the best entertainers to be seen
in vaudeville in America, including Herr
Techow and his company of trained cats
Mabel Russell in songs and dances, Bryant
and Saville, the minstrel comedians. the
Savans in an acrobatic exhibition, Ward
and Curran. the satirical duo, Bernard
Dyllyn, the baritone vocalist, eand Albert
Kartelli. an equiibrist, who is said TO be
a wonder In his line The bioscope will
have new set OF good views to contribute.
XXX
AT the end Of the present theatrical sea-
son Indianapolis pIaygoers will look back
upon four great attractions as the events
Of the greatest Importance in the local the
atrical world-the three weeks run of Gen.
eral wallace's ''Ben-Hur" and the per-
formances of Richard Mansfield, Mrs Pat
rick Campbell and Mrs. Fiske Mrs. Fiske's
engagement, which will be for the last two
nights of this week. with Saturday matt
nee, at the Park Theater, will probably
turn out to be the most noteworthy event
of all from a dramatic standpoint, and per-
haps from a spectacular one also. although
IL would be hard for any production to rival
OF seats for Mrs. Fiske's three perform
ances of Paul Heyse's great drama of the
crucifxion. Mary of Magdala." will open
this morning at o'clock promptly at the
box office of the Park Theater. and indica-
tons point TO a very heavy demand Mrs.
Fiskes representative, Mr.. Jacques, who
was in Indianapolis during part OF last
week preparing for the appearance here of
the great actress. said that local theater-
goers would see Mary of Magdala'' in all
its scenic magnihcence, as he had found
that the stage of the Park was deep enough
TO admit of the heaviest settings And so
Indianapolis is likely to be given a better
presentation OF the drama than Cincinnati
received. as the stage at Robinson's Opera
House I'm Cincinnati, where Mrs. Fiske was
Obliged TO play on account of the destruc-
tion Of the Pike Theater by fire, was too
small for some Of the more elaborate set
tings.
Every effort Is being made by Grace
George to whip her new play of pretty
Peggy" into the best shape possible for
the New York opening of the piece which
will take place next week. The play is
not well balanced as 1t now stands. 1t
IL a delightful entertainment. but IL will
never De success until ii has been entire
~ rewritten Miss George is very anxious
TO have the weak places I'm her company
strengthened. but she has very little time
to make any changes before the piece is
placed on view at the Herald Square
Theater. At the Saturday matinee here
one great Improvement was made Miss
Lamison. who played Eva Sorrel in the
opening performance at English's Friday
night. exchanged roles with the actress
who had been playing the part of Peg wof-
nngton's rival George Ann Beliamy. Both
actresses were seen TO better advantage,
as IL apepars that each has been cast for
tne wrong part before. This change will
help some" but before Miss George goes
into New York with her play she should
secure better actors to replace the men who
are now appearing In the characters of
the Earl OF Cholmondeley and the earlsN
son. Captain Cholmondeley. AS for pretty
little Miss George herself, her work as
reg Womington Is thoroughly pleasing.
mirers during her short stay here last
week
The regular Park attractions this week
will be the musical farce-comedy, pick
ings from Puck for the first three after
Moons and evenings. and the Black Patti
Troubadours. Thursday afternoon aad
night Both shows are pretty sure of big
business. "Pickings from Puck" should
prove an amusing entertainment with such
competent people as Willard Simms and
Catharine Linyard heading the cast. WIZ
and again with some of the best farcicai
shows and has also been seen to advantage
In vaudeville, when he gave a travesty
sketch that was Tar above the average.
the principals I'm the New York Casino
forces and during the successful summer
run OF The Whirl of the Town in the
metropolis few years ago she was one of
the hits OF the performance Gus PixIey.
an Indianapolis favorite Is also with the
company. Other members OF the combina-
ton are Fred and Bessie Lucier and Kath-
Theatrical press agents become accus-