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

Pfckwick, S:l5 p. m.
GRAND-High-class vaudeville, 2:15 and
PARK.-"To Die at Dawn" and s p. m.
EMPIRE.-Burlesque. 2 and s p. m.
MISUNDERSTANDING, 3 and 5 p. m.
AS was to be expected, it was the original
and extremely interesting personality OF
Marie Cahin that dominated the new mus
zeal comedy, Nancy Brown" which played
its Indianapolis engagement of a single per-
Torrance last night at English's before a
large and delighted audience. However. it
must not be inferred from this that there
were no other good features to the perform
ance. for several other members Of the rom
pany proved bright entertainers and the
production itself was t~uneful, pleasing to
the eye, and. for the most part, unusually
amusing. Perhaps the order of precedence
would be Marie Cahill. the chorus. the cast.
the music, tho nbretto, and, last Of all, the
little plot which once in a while stuck its
head above the swirling waters of song,
dance and costume.
Marie Cahill herself is indescribable. She
is not TO be written about in the customary
style with which the reviewer sets forth
the charms of a comic opera queen. She is
not beautiful and she is not a great singer.
But she is a thorough artist, and-most un-
usual in a woman Of the stage-she Is a
genuine humorist. She never Sights the
leaStA detail of her work; she takes her au-
dience into her confidence and makes every
body tout in front feel that he is a per-
sonal friend of hers, and when she sings one
OF her comic songs-wel, it's Marie Cahill
who is singing it. and, though you have
heard that song rendered a dozen times be-
fore, you have never heard until now the
delicious Interpretation that she gives 1t.
You have grown tired of the ditty of Man
cy Brown" you thought you would never
care to hear the thing warbled again, but
when Nancy Brown herself comes along and
sings it-for Marie Cahill is Nancy Brown
n Nancy Brown is Marie Cahlll-yOu ind
that there is a great deal in that little ditty
that had never struck home before
+ +
George H. Broadhurst and Frederick
Rankin elaborated on the book and lyrics
Of the piece, and on the whole they Gre
ated an entertaining work. But the music
of the three composers, Stein, Cole and
Johnson, is deserving of more praise than
either book or lyrics. 1t is unusually good
music for a light comedy of this class.
There is not a tiresome number in the two
acts; the Instrumentation is eceptionally
we'll done. and at times the score rises to
splendid heights-especially at the end Of
the first act, this finale being an excellent
example of operate composition. There is
Just enough plot to keep the piece to-
gether. 1t tells Of the Bey of Ballyhoo,
whose fortunes are at low ebb. He has
a m~afrlaSeaDle son and daughter and he
wishes 10 secure for each a wealthy spouse
In order that the royal eXchequer may be
r%eplenished. The children are not subser-
Went, however. to the will of the hey, and
they rebel.
Nancy Brown, a matrimonial agent from
New York, comes to Ballyhoo with a con-
signment of heiresses from America. The
hey tells her his trouble and she agrees
to act as his daughter in a matrimonial
venture. A travelling agent for a New York
house, Noah Little, is in a like manner
nhnnfn6 hr tho nxr nc - 49, - - ---%s
monial place Of the too-independent prince.
With this situation as the basis of the
fun, some amusing complications follow,
but the plot becomes thinner and thinner
as the bright, musical numbers become
more and more prominent. In the end, OF
course, the affairs of all concerned are
Strengthened out, and all get married and
live happily ever after. The piece proved
clean and Notwithstanding hardly to
be expected nowadays OF one of these
Broadway musical shows, and the costum-
ing was handsome and at the same time
in exceptionally good taste. The stage set
tings were attractive and the pretty chorus
girls we'll trained.
Miss Cahill. who has been seen in In
dianapolis in several seasons, won a well
come that was honestly enthusiastic. She
was encored again and again and each of her
songs was yet more appreciatively received.
Her easy, confidential way of singing-ap-
PaAShIS " SdCh lhSLlOeT Oh the auOlence
Observation-Disclosures irresistibly funny. Her
quiet, wholly original methods of comedy
playing were wonderfully effective. Miss
Cahills rendition Of the songs, "You Can't
Fool all the People all the Time Navajo
and THE Congo Love Song were especially
pleasing.
In the role of the hey H. w. frederick
was quite amusing and his comedy scenes
with his prime minister, played by the
veteran comedian, Harry Brown, were we'll
done. both entering into the spirit Of their
parts. Julius Steger won the vocal honors
of the evening in the character Of the
crown prince. Mr.. Steger is an excellent
baritone and he sings with so much express
sion that one forgives him his apparent
fOndness for keeping himself always in the
very center of the stage. ALI Grant, who
was formerally a monologuist in vaude-
ellie, made the most of his role of the trav-
cling agent and other comedy parts were
adequately portrayed by Roy Atwell, George
Beban, Henry Vogel, George ]. Damerel and
Edwin w. Lewis. Miss Clara Palmer was
very graceful In the part Of Muriel, a
Stenographer, Miss Helen Sherwood made a
widow, and Donah Denrimo was dramati-
cally good in the character of the Princess
BarboO.
De Wolf Hopper and several members of
his company were in the audience and
seemed TO enjoy the performance immensely.
The De Wolf Hopper company, which will
appear at English's tonight, arrived IN the
performance there was quite a reunion of
old friends from the Hopper and Cahill COM
panies at the Claypool Hotel.
De Wolf HOpper's "Pickwick" Make