The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-19

PARK.-"Shore Acres" and p. m.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. and p. m.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, and y. m.
The Cohans in drumming for Office"
Designed for no other purpose than to en-
terrain in light and breezy fashion, Run
ming for Office" with the four Cohans do
ing most of the running is a huge success.
This does not mean that all four of the
Cohans (they are Irish. mind you, despite
the nance play the parts of offieeseekers,
for only one of 'em-Jerry-enacts the poll
tician but it alludes 10 the fact that in this
whirlwind musical farce everybody on the
stage does considerable running about, and
the COhan family more than does its share.
The audience which assembled at English
last night for the opening performance of
the engagement didn't care particularly
whether the Cohans and their merry asso-
ciates We're running for Office or rushing
the growler." In fact, this last phrase
would make just as good a title as the for
mer and almost as appropriate.
As play young Mr.. COhanS effort (tOr
George NJ. Cohan wrote Running Tor O1-
flee while grinding out score or more OF
popular songs Is not work of genius put
IL certainly serves as "A good vehicle Tor the
big company of comedians and singers now
playing at English's. The piece is simply
an elaboration of one of Mr.. Cohans sue
cessful vaudeville sketches. The second act,
in fact, is played almost exactly as IL was
when the Cohans formed the star feature or
the Behman road show. The story deals
with John Tiger, of Tigersville, who has
married u widow, he being a widoWer. lie
has a daughter and she has son, but the
middle-aged lovers have concealed TINS state
of affairs from each other, as the youngsters
are away at school. To make matters more
interesting, the young people have met and
have become engaged, without knowing lnal
,rt,. &c hoxr MAJ
boy and the girl turn up, of course, and the
complications that result form the basis or
an uprOarious series Of incidents, cleVerly
cOntrived and carried out in really 1unny
style. One situation follows another with
astonishing rapidity, and II is then that the
running about the stage is at its height. For
act the best, but as TO who is the best run
ner. There are many minor characters that
have absolutely nothing to do with the plot,
but which introduced for variety sake
and for Frightening up the stage pictures
and adding to the general gayety
The acting of the farce is '.gtngery from
beginning to end George M. Conan, as
usual carries off the honOrs. He is come
dian with methods that are entirely original
with him, a comic dancer in a class all by
himself, and, while not the possessor OF
a melodious voice, he knows how to score
his points tellingly in his several very good
topical songs His humorous ditty, II L
Were Only Mister Morgan" and his latest
comic piece, Always Leave Them Smiling
When You Say Goodbye" are unusually
clever songs, and he renders them In in
imitable style. His sister Josephine, dainty
and wnsome gives a delightful perform
ance and is always sure of a hearty well
come in her graceful dances. Jerry Cohan
plays the part of a Prohibition candidate
for mayor in a manner that is laughable,
and Mrs. Helen Cohan's portrayal OF his
bride is very attractive indeed Miss Della
Nivens is charming in her role of Temi-
nine hypnotist and sings in a pleasing con-
tralto voice. All three of the women prin-
cipals in the cast wear beautiful gowns
and the chorus girls are also most becom-
ingly arrayed.
James Fl. Manning is an Irish comedian
who can be funny without resorting to
boisterous methods. and his work as the
rival candidate for mayor is amusing
what there is of it, Irish comedy parts are
so often overdone that it is a pleasure TO
witness Mr.. Mannings portraiture and to
listen to his perfect brogue. The village
constable of John Keefe is comical char
acterization and NJ. j. Sullivan's acting of
the role of a one-night-stand Snowman is
we'll done. Joe Smith Warba as a college
boy and William Keough a popular hotel
Keeper, are good runmakers, and all of the
other people in the company who have
parts TO play contribute to the general
mirth of the occasion.
Judging by the continuous laughter, pro-
longed applause and many curtain calls
last night, Running for Office inn
mensely enjoyed by the goOd-siZed audi
ence The piece will be repeated this even
ing, the performance being the last of the
engagement here.