The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-24
The vaudeville at the Grand.

Although Hal Stephens, an impersonator,
Is not billed as the chief attraction of this
weeks programme al the Grand. he really
deserves the place of honor. Mr.. Stephens
has been seen here before but he CONS this
time with an act of mimicry that is a now
city, his speciality being put on the stage in
an elaborate and attractive manner while
his limitations are far above the average.
He carries his own stage setting and the
first scene shows the lobby of vaudeville
theater. He makes his appearance, buys a
ticket to 1.-The show and goes into the
"theater." The stage is darkened and on
curtain are thrown stereopticon pictures
of the actors whom the mimic is about to
impersonate. In this way he makes a de-
introducing limitations, which consisted of
saying, Ladies and gentlemen, my next
limitations will be-, etc. He gives a series
of capital little satires on well-known play
Mansfield. Joseph Jefferson. James Russell,
of the Russell Brothers, Joe Weber of
Weber & Fields, Joseph Hart, Lew Dock
stader and that eloquent monologuist. John
L. Sullivan His impersonation of Jefferson
as RIP Van Winkle," which is the longest
and most pretentious of his offerings. is ex-
eelient Mr.; stephens IS act acts can hardly fail
Is delightfully."- fresh In its make up. Such
specialties are needed in vaudeville.
The advertised '.headliners' of the bill
are Janet Melville and EVE Stetson, who
have for several years been popular favor
ties in the vaudeville houses throughout the
country. There is no doubt that they
please the greater portion of the people
who compose their audiences, and as their
only purpose is &c amuse. they must be
considered stars In their line of endeavor.
But they are not always refined in their
funmaking methods and they do not always
AiCnkaxr no hast NJ ta In THAR
OF songs and dialogue: They score a hit
with their sarcastic illusions to each 9TH
ers personal appearance Miss Melville is
as thin as Sarah Bernhard used to be and
Miss Stetson is about the size of Nav IT.
VIM and when they once get their audi
ence in g0od-natured frame of mind they
keep the spectators amused with all sorts
OF antics, even resorung TO some horse
play.
The performance of c. H. Unthan. the
armless man from the European music
halls, Is more In the nature OF an interest
ing. exhibition than an entertainement The
audience cannot be otherwise than ainazed
at all that this man accompishes without
arms. He has completely overcome the
hadicap imposed upon him by nature, not
only having taught himself to do every
thing with his toes that other human be-
ings do with their fingers. but has also
learned to play various musical instru-
ments. He renders selections on the cornet
and violin, managing the brass stops on
the former instrument in a surprisingly
efficient manner and executing the bowling
and fretting OF the string instrument in a
way that would seem utterly impossible.
His performance is sure TO attract more
than passing attention during his stay at
the Grand
Beatrice Moreland makes quite a sue
cess as a society monologuist" Some OF
her stories are funny and she has a humor-
Gus way of telling them-a.. remarkable
thing, for feminine humorists are seldom
mirth-provoking. To be top-notcher on