The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-06-02

other than a framework designed for but
two purposes-frst. 10 amuse the audience.
and second. to show each OK the Weber
Fields stars at his or her best. In the
hands of company of secoEd-rate per-
formers. "Twirly Whirly'' would be i'm
possible. for the dialogues invented by
Edgar Smith, the librettist, and the music
composed by W. T. Francis are not of ex-
ceptional merit. although some of the melo-
dies are quite tuneful But with such
excellent funmakers and singers as William
Collier. Weber and Fields. Peter F. Daley.
Charles Bigelow. John Il. Kelly, Fay
Templeton, Lillian Russell and Louise Allen
becomes a very amusing affair indeed and
one can easily forgive, in the enjoyment
Of the individual work of the players, the
inanities Of the production itself.
Besides the principals there was, as usual.
the large. beautifully-costumed and we'll
drilled chorus for which the Weber and
Fields's entertainments have become
famous. 1t is a real pleasure to observe
the work of ''weber-Fields chorus" The
young women are all graceful. so
sprightly and so whole-hearted in every
thing they do that their united contribu-
ton to the show is of the greatest value.
better singing and dancing chorus has
not appeared in this city during the sea-
son.
All Of the stars had songs TO sing and
jokes TO tell John 7. Kelly, sailor,
was first on the programme with a sea-
song and then came Lillian Russell, as
beautiful as ever IL not sweet a singer.
with dashing ditty called Vanity Fair.
in which she was ably assisted by the
chorus. Miss Russell~ afterward rendered
the prettiest musical number of the even
ing-"My Evening STAR" one OF the last
songs ever written by the late John
musical director at the Weber & Fields
Music Hall The fair vocalist was charm
ingly gowned and presented most effec-
tive stage picture, but her voice in the
higher register Is not TO be relied upon
any more. Peter +. Daley sang a negro
piece that seemed to make a hit with the
audience. although the words were even
more senseless than the words of most
coon songs" which Is saying good deal
The big comedian. as Is his custom, spent
much OF his time in guying his associates
w. T. Francis. and also In trying TO cause
laughter among the chorus girls with
"asides" between the verses of his song.
New Workers think that this sort OF thing
is very clever Of Daley, but Ii Is doubt
full if theater-goers out this way agree
with them. When performer seeks 10
amuse himself instead Of the audience
there is danger of his wearing out his well
come. Daley is funny when he wants 10
be and he was funny part Of the time last
night-but not all the time.
ways amusing in his own dry way. The pro-
nounced hits of the pieces were scored by
Collier, Louise Allen and Fay Templeton
Miss Aliens satire of Mary MacLane, the
Literary genius from Butte was deli
ciously artistic, and the same may be said
of Miss Templetop's burlesques OF Marie
Cahill, Thomas q. Seabrooke and Mrs. Les
lie Carter. Mr.. Collier and Miss Allen
gave a very humorous duet entitled I'm
Stageland." in which they offered imita-
tons Of the actors in society plays and
melodrama and wound up with very
funny take-off of a couple of variety show
song-and-dance people. Weber and Fields
themselves caused roars of laughter with
their familiar foolery. They arrived upon
the scene in an airship and, together with
little Will Archie. who was made up as
monkey, furnished a comic scene that
aroused much merriment. Charles Bigelow
had scarcely any opportunity TO show what
he could do. He is remembered here for
his comical work when with Anna Held's
organization and his old admirers must
have been somewhat disappointed last night
as he was not given a chance to appear
to advantage either in ''Twirly Whirly" or
in the burlesque that followed His only real
chance TO distinguish himself since he has
been connected with the Weber and Fields
company Is In the burlesque or The Little
Princess" In which he plays the part Of
the old school teacher.
xxx
1.-THE sickness Of Gelatine" proved a
novelty and 1t was very well presented
that much may be said of ii. The stage
was set to resemble the upper deck of a
waves, and SO realistic was the motion of
the mimic vessel that the audience could
almost imagine that the players in the
burlesque were actually as seasick as they
pretended to be. Louise Allen again did
some very clever work in this piece, her
portrayal of a young woman experiencing
her first attack of seasickness being the
best bit of acting in the travesty. AS local
theater-goers had never witnessed the orig
inal play, much of the satire was lost upon
who was not allowed on the first-clss pas
senger deck; Charles Bigelow was the
model husband of the seasick wife; Miss
Templeton played the title role of Celia
tine and sang a coon song in her deep,
mellow voice. while leaning lazily against
the ships rail; William Collier was seen
in ludicrous impersonation Of a young
Western girl: Peter f. Daley caricatured
an English swell and Joseph Nj. Weber
played the part Of a German woman who
could eat sausage even when the ship was
rolling at its worst. The chorus girls ap-
peared as sailors, cabin boys and passen-
gers and the ensemble picture as the final
curtain fell-whens all on board were waving
their handkerchiefs in a farewell to the
audience-was very pretty one. and one
that sent the audience away in pleasant
frame OF mind.
Taken as a whole. Weber and Fields have
never been seen here with a stronger COM
bination of stars. or with a brighter per-
Torrance. But IL Is to be hoped that they
Will display better judgment in the selec-
ton Of their burlesque when them come