The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-20
The Vaudeville mt the Grand.

Saharet who is the feature of this weeks
bill at the Grand. is a graceful and beauti-
full dancer Those theater-goers who at
tended the opening of the current vaude-
vile programme yesterday afternoon will
do we'll to drop into the theater again during
the week if they wish TO see Saharet at her
best. however. Because of insufficient re-
hearsal the orchestra all but ruined her
performance at the opening matinee. Some
how the musicians did not seem able to hit
upon either the tempo or the spirit of Sa-
haret's music, and the little dancer was
disconnected to such an extent that toward
the end of her second dance she plainly
showed her nervousness. Immediately fol-
lowing the afternoon performance the
chestra was rehearsed i'm the Interpretation
of the score until the music had been thor
oughly learned, and at the evening per-
Torrance Saharets performance was very
artistic. She expresses in her dances, more
perfectly than any other of the modern
school of terpsichorean artists now on the
American stage. the hackneyed phrase
poetry of motion. Although she is Won
derfully flexible she does not depend upon
her contortionistic featS to earn the large
salary which her press agent says she re-
ceives, nor does she rely for applause upon
the clever manipulation of voluminous
silken skirts. Her art-for ii is really art
in Saharet's case-is the expression of
color. of rhyme, of music of life Her first
dance is impressive only because it is done
better than other dancers do il. 1t is merely
a series of graceful high kicking movements
that have no meaning in particular. But
her second dance-a Spanish dance-iS
poem. and when she performs 1t one easily
understands how she came to create some
thing of a Juror in continental Europe,
where terpsichorean art receives more Sc
rious consideration than ii does in this
country. Her costumes are dazzling in their
beauty and her entire performance, when
given its proper musical setting. is interest
ing.
The rest of this weeks bill is evenly bal
anced, though not up 10 the standard that
the Grand has set of late. The Quaker City
quartet gives pleasing speciality, mingling
instrumental music, singing and comedy in
entertaining style. 1t is so much better
than the average quartet seen in vaude-
vile that its work is worthy of commenda-
ton. especially the absence of horseplay.
so common in specialtieS of this class. The
Merrills. trick bicyclists. style themselves
the marvellous Merrlls." and they are de-
serving of the title. They do everything
that other trick bicycle riders do and more
and the comedian of the trio is really
funny. One of the brothers climbs a high
stairway on his wheel, and then demon
strates that Ii is possible to ride off the
top of the incline and drop fifteen feet to
the stage without having his life insurance
papers examined by the other members of
his family: Mr.. and Mrs. Silver have one
or those illustrated song acts that are fast
growing out of date. The Silvers vary the
monotony of their offering by presenting
what they term "Niagrascope"-t is,
the pictures illustrating their songs are
thrown upon moving a representation of
Niagara falls. The mechanical effects are
good enough. but the whole device is in
congruous and rather absurd. The songs,
while very commonplace, are well sung by
Mr.. Silver. Mrs. Silver gives her attention
to the mechanical end of the business. A
burlesque magical act is contributed by
Brannan and Martini who missed the
chance of their lives yesterday afternoon
by not taking advantage of HERMANN
presence In one of the stage boxes. The
team does some clever travesties in which
one OF them performs tricks quite seriously,
while the other, made up as a clownish
assistant, exposes the secrets by pretended
awkwardness. Vaudeville people become so
accustomed to going through their work
day after day in a stereotyped fashion that
IL seems quite impossible for them to profit
by any opportunity to do something new
and original What hit this team could
have made yesterday afternoon by pulling
a rabbit a guinea pig out of the coat
collar of the real magician, who was wit
Messing their performance with good
natured liberation of their fooleryl
A neat singing speciality is furnished by
Miss Fannie Frankel and Miss May Mel
bane, each of whom has a sweet voice and
a knowledge of the right way to make the
best of either a ballad or a coon song Miss
Melbane is an INDIANAPOLIS girl who has
often appeared at benefit performances
given by the Elks band. and. as compli-
ment TO her, the local lodge of that fra
ternity has secured 200 seats at the Grand
on the bill is contributed by the Flood
brothers. whose grotesque acrobatic turn
is good. and the remaining speciality is
given by Carlton and Terre, who do a sing
ing and conversation act that affords some
entertainment although there is room for
improvement in their work The bioscope is
especially attractive this week by reason
of its production of the fairy spectacle,
blue Beard"