The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-12
Good Vaudeville mt the Grand.

The time is coming-and it cannot come
too soon-when the musical and spectacular
act will entirely take the place of the
stupid dramatic sketch in vaudeville.
There are some good vaudeville sketches,
but they have been rare. indeed, this sea-
son, and so when a bill of varieties is made
up without one of these slow-going special
ties there is cause for congratulation all
around. The Grand's bill this week is one
of the best of the season. 1t is without a
Sketch, and the HEADLINE feature of
the programme is one that scores a hit of
large proportions because of its refreshing
novelty. The Eight vassar Girls, as their
manager has chosen TO call them, form the
decided feature of the show, and they pre-
sent little entertainment of a very pleas
ing nature. They make their appearance
clad in the caps and gowns of college
maidens on graduation day, and play popu-
lar selections on musical instruments. And
they are good musicians. too. their playing
of both brass and reed instruments being
admirable The girls go through a pretty
drill TO their own musical accompaniment,
and then, after a change of scenery they
reappear in handsome costumes and ex
ecute a Maypole dance in which dazzling
electrical effects play very important
part. Their costumes are covered with
little electric lamps that are turned on and
off in a bewildering way, and finally, as a
climax, the floral strings which they hold
in their hands become Illuminated and
the act ends in a blaze of beautiful light
Good acrobatic exhibitions are wonder
fully numerous nowadays, but the Eretto
family deserve the second place OF honor
on on the programme, The Erettos are
full and finished kind. Whatever they do
they do perfectly. and many of the feats
which they perform are truly marvellous
tAnf. IL l. 1.,,l.
when they were seen at the Grand last
season, they have added several new and
startling features.
One of the very best single entertainers
now in vaudeville is AL w. Lawrence who
| contributes a speciality that has not dull
moment in ii. When 1t is remembered how
| many tiresome monologuists the Grand has
| had of late young Mr.. Lawrence deserves
| To be received with open arms. And his
| reception at yesterdays performances was
certainly not lacking in warmth. He
| caused more genuine amusement than any
| other performer on the bill. He combines a
| talent for effective story telling with a good
singing voice and unusual ability as a
| mimic, and. what is more. he does not make
/ the miStake-SO common noWadaVs-Of re-
naming too long before his audience Here
| is a vaudeville comedian at last who knows
| when TO quit-who can keep his hearers
| laughing heartily for fifteen minutes and
make his exit while they are wishing for
Green and Werner present a comedy sing
| ing act that is the best of its kind offered
| AT the OTdnu Tor some time. The act has
4 been given here before. but IL has under
| gone several improvements since its last
engagement. Both Mr.. Green and Miss
| Werner good singers of negro songs
/ and their lightning change from white face
| into burnt cork is surprising. Bailey and
| Madison are acrobauc comedians OF the
| horse-piay variety. but they create a good
| deal of merriment with their kaockabout
| antics and comical stage business" Their
| work is grotesque in the extreme and some
| of their Glowing is new and novel. The
4 magician billed the great Leon has
| never appeared in Indianapolis He is
| really an illuscnist, rather than a magi-
| clan, since he depends altogether upon me-
| chanical tricks in giving his speciality, not
| attempting anything difficult in sleight-of-
hand. His work is entertaining. but 1t Is