The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-27
while being a

teresting on that account. while being a
great deal more amusing.
And so you needn't mind about brushing
up on your nursery legends when you go
TO English's this week to meet this new
Blue Beard and his wives and his wives
people and his wives peoples wives The
lfbretto OF the piece is one of the sort US
aally furnished by Jonn J. McNaliy-which
means that IL has little or no consistency
and the music OF Frederick Solomon and
others is pleasing without being original,
but when these two little flaws are picked
out-and they have scarcely any significance
liz show OF this kind-there Is nothing left
TO say Of MIR. Blue Beard save words of
the most rapturous praise.
AS q beautiful spectacle, THE Sleeping
Beauty and the Beast" was considered the
most magnificent ever seen in Indianapolis,
but MIR. Blue Beard" is even more mag
nfficent. As a series of gorgeous stage pic
lures last nights great musical show has
never been excelled in this city, and ii would
seem that the production has set standard
that would be almost impossible 10 sur
pass. The chief elements in the success II
the extravaganza the scenic and spec
tacular features, for while there is con-
siderable fun furnished during the evening.
and while the music is at times tuneful and
we'll sung, IL is to the eye that the pro-
ductiOn makes its strongest appeal. Ii
would seem that the ingenuity of managers
and the resources of stage craft have been
exhausted this time. In great beauty OF
the color scheme. novelty of design and ar
tlStlc grouping the costumes are DeW1l0er-
ingly effective and the same may be said OF
the many extraordinary transformation
scenes with their wonderful electrical equip
ment.
The marches and ballets are marvels of
beauty and the ensembles are wondrous
in their grandeur. The most attractive of
CELEBRATED English PONY Balet''-twelve
pretty little girls from London who used
to do speciality in vaudeville together
and the troupe of Grigolatis in their won
a
dazzling conclusion OF the second act-as
a grand finale to the dances representing
Nellie Reed. takes graceful flight from
the footlghts over the heads of the audi
ence, up, up, up until she nearly touches
the gallery rail, scattering red carnations
in her tour through space, and then as
gracefully decends to the stage, the climax
to the production is reached and the audi
ence is spellbound.
There is not such a great amount of fun
In Mr.. Blue Beard" as in It's predecessor,
1.-THE Sleeping Beauty and the Beast" but
what comedy there is furnishes much
amusement. OF the company the honors
are carried off by Eddie Foy, as Sister Ann,
and Bonnie Maginn, in the comparatively
small role of liner Dasher. Mr.. Foy, always
a good low comedian. is even funnier than
he used to be in the days Of the old Hen
derson extravaganzas from the Chicago
Opera House. His methods of provoking
laughter are all his own, and he has never
been seen in this city in a part better
suited to these peculiar methods that in the
present character of the homely relative OF
Blue Boards pretty sweetheart. His songs
last night were all sung in a grotesque
fashion that brought down the house, es-
pecially his dtty In the last act. Hamlet
Was Melancholy Dane" in which he in
troduced some ridiculous business that
will have to be seen TO be appreciated. Miss
Maginn has. greatly improved since the
time that she was the bright particular
star Of Weber and Fields's chorus girls.
She is not only sweet little singer but one
OF the most graceful dancers ever seen
movements behind the footlights.
Harry Gilfoil who was with the Hoyt
farces for so many years. appears In the
title role. His singing voice is painful to
hear, but he makes up to great extent for
his limitations In this direction by his I'M
usually clever limitations. Herbert Cav
thorne, brother of the inimitabie Joe
plays a small Irish part satisfactorily. get
ting all Of the fun possible out Of 1t.
Blanche Adams makes dainty little
| Fatima, Adele Rafter Is a statuesque Selim
| and Norah Cecil is a handsome Abdallah.
The dancing speciality of Frank Young and
Bessie De Voie is pronounced success,
AND Th h song Bird of n Melody Lane. rem
dered by little companies of singers
selected from the ranks of the big chorus.
are among the best musical features of the
| performance
Taken as a whole, "Mr. Blue Beard" is a
most praiseworthy show and is one of the
| rare treats of the season in the spectacular
and comic line. Every lover Of good, clean
! light entertainment will find in 1t three
| hours of solid entertainment and you
should not miss the present opportunity to
witness the production. The local en-
| gagement Is for four more nights and a
| matinee tomorrow afternoon. Those in
bear in mind that the curtain rises at 8
| o'clock sharp each evening and at o clock
sharp at the matinee. When the perform
ance began last night only half of the
| seated and the late corners interfered con-
| siderably with the first scene.