The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-14
"a Chinese Honeymoon" at English.

"a Chinese Honeymoon at EnsIish's.
Indianapolis was right glad of the OPP
portunity to extend a warm welcome to
"A Chinese Honeymoon" last night at
Engiish's. and a large audience assembled
to enjoy the presentation OF the musical
comedy from England that has been met
with SO much popularity In the East. The
piece has had such a remarkably successful
career that w~eil-posted theater-goers ex-
pected something OF an unusual nature.
and 1t is pretty safe to say that there was
no disappointment "a Chinese Honey
moon" Is certainly one OF the brightest,
cleanest. tunefulest musical comedies ever
put on the stage 1t Is far superior to
"Florodora." as the book and lyrics, writ
ten by George Dance, are so clever that at
times they have quite a Gilbertian flavor,
while the music of Howard Talbot is quite
IN harmony with the lines. and many of
the numbers are perfect gems In their
way.
Like '~Florodora," the new musical piece
Is essentially English, but the tiresome
puns OF the former production are con-
spicuously absent. and 1t may truthfully
be said that OF the many recent importa-
lions from London "a Chinese Honey
Tho choruses and ensembles are particu-
larry effective. the costuming Is brilliant,
and scsnicaify the piece is a delight to the
actually holds together, and this In itself
IS something of a novelty In a musical
comedy.
The book of the piece Is light, but of sufi-
cient strength to retain the interest Of the
audience Simon Pineapple goes to China
en- his honeymoon with his bride. who Is
accompanied by her eight bridesmaids,
their chief duty being 10 keep an eye on
the bridegroom and report to his wife.
Pineapple meets his nephew, Tom Hather-
and has decided TO remain IN the Flowery
Land because he has fallen head over heels
Princess 500 500. The emperor a's has ore ore
dered Hi Lung, his lord high admiral, TO
ind him a bride. one OF the conditions
shall not know the real ank OF her iance-
to-be, but shall be allowed-for the time
being-to think that he is a bill-poster.
Chinese name, Is brought forth by HI
Lung. but the Emperor refuses her.
And then complications arise, In which
the princess Is married to Pineapple dn
the Chinese way, OF course), and Mrs.
Pineapple Is betrothed to the Emperor,
much against the will OF the newly mar
Inflated Britisher and Fi-Ff, the cockney
maid. who are c~ontributory causes TO all
OF the ~farcical difficulties. at last manage
to ~straighten things out satisfactorily. Mr..
Pineapple regains his wife. Tom Hatherton
secures the hand OF his Chinese princess,
and the Emperor finds himself taken cap
tive by one Mrs. Brown, whom he has i'm
ported as the official m~other-in-law."
The ompany taken as a whole, is the
best musical-comedy organization seen In
Indianapolis In several seasons. II is not
the original company which played such
q long run at the Casino in New York. but
m all probability IL Is even better in some
respects. II is hard to believe that Thomas
seabrooke could have made so much out of
the leading comedy role Of Samuel Pine
apple as does that clever. unctuous come
dian John f.. Henshaw. The character Is
one thai fits Mr.. Henshaw's talents per-
fcctly, and this handsome funmaker with
the famous dimpled ~eks-hands In
spite Of his red wig and side-whiskers-
has never been seen IN this city before TO
such great advantage. He lost none OF his
many opportunities to keep the audience
IN good humor, and even rendered the Mr..
Dooley'' ~song-which is an old-timer now,
bus which was originally introduced in this
production-in such ar entertaining way as
TO make IL seem like a new number. He
and the diminutive Toby Claude share the
hoooIs OF the show, although. In justice 10