The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-12-11
"uiss Bob White, mt EngIish's.

"Miss Bob White" mt EngIish's.
Nearly every musical comedy nowadays
is prepared by a staff of writers, but
when Willard Spencer sets out TO create
a new musical show he does the job all
by himself-and does it pretty well, too.
The English gayety attractions and the
Lederer Broadway productions are usual
ly worked OUT by what might be termed
relays of scrbes and composers There is
a man to plan the thing. a man to write
the libretto, a man to compose the score,
another to do the lyrics and still another
to originate the music for the lyrics, while
a half dozen independent song-writers fur
nish interpolated musical numbers. But
Mr.. Spencer is able to go il alone. He
writes book, lyrics and all of the music
and, therefore. if his musical comedy prove
a pleasing he deserves a great deal of
credit. His Little Tycoon" and Princess
Bonnie were delightful little operettas.
and in Miss Bob White he has turned
out another attractive work in the lighter
vein.
Miss Bob White" as presented at Eng
lish'S last night before an audience of good
proportions. is not an extraordinary piece.
but there is enough plot to carry the enter
tainment along through three acts, while
the music is tuneful for the most part, and
The piece fulfills its purpose of providing
pleasant evening of agreeable action and
melody: and the spectators last night en-
joyed 1t immensely, If laughter and ap-
plause count for anything.
1t is hardly necessary to enter into de-
tailed review of the story of the opera, as
gagement in this city two seasons ago,
with Marguerite Sylvia in the title role
and was reviewed at length in all of the
papers upon that occasion In a word the
rnn hn
PEELED to pay freak election bet by be-
coming tramps for a certain length Of
time and knocking about the country as
best they can without touching penny of
their wealth. They are given employment
on Quaker farm near Philadelphia, and
from this moment many complications. love
affairs and impossible but diverting situa-
| tons occuply the attention of the players
and audience until the final curtain falls
upon a mirthful and melodious climax.
Nixon d zimmerman have produced the
opera with care, liberality and good taste
The scenery last night was pretty and the
costumes very attractive while a good-sized
chorus did praiseworthy vocal work.
Dorothy Hunting appeared in the name part
the role originally taken by Miss sylvia
| and lost no time in winning her way TO the
hearts of the audience. Her presence Is I'M
| familiar to the local stage. but she seemed
very much like an old friend before the
final curtain fell. She is not only pleasing
| for musical comedy or opera. There is no
great opportunity in this piece for her to
distinguish herself, but she made the most
of every chance and earned the hearty APP
prevail of the audience.
The characters of the two millionaire
| tramps were played by Neil Mcneil and
! Frank Deshon. The former caused con-
/ siderable merriment, but his comedy
| methods smacked too much at times of the
| vaudeville stage especially in his manner
of emphasizing unnecessarily some of his
| jokes. Little Deshon, who used to travel
with comic opera company of his own
years ago, and who later on was the prin-
| cpal funmaker in the stage version of
4 Palmer Cox's Brownies" was more than
| equal to the requirements of his part. The
| sweet soprano voice of Alice Dewey who
| appeared as little Quaker maid, was one
| of the most notable musical features of the
performance and to her lot, fortunately,
| fell some of the best numbers of the score.
| Lesion Brown, who is a very good stage
| manager, is not very good actor, but he
| managed to get through his part of the
| English lord in a fairly acceptable way,
and the same may be said of Donald Arch
| er's portrayal of the English lords son.
| The other members of the company did we'll
| in the smaller parts The engagement was
for last night only.