The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-18
In the Theaters Of Indianapolis

before the curtain went up on the second
act OF the comic opera "Babette." when
Miss Scheff was projecting about the stage
as the company assembled for the opening
chorus. She gave little ilck, and one of
her dainty slippers went rylng across the
stage Everybody made a rush for the
slipper. and there was a pile of comic opera
peasants stacked up like the Harvard and
Yale football teams on the day of the big
game. Eugene Cowles the bassO. joined
in. and. being the biggest man in the com
the prize. The curtain did not rise until
five minutes after the scheduled time in
order TO give the male singers chance 10
get their breath back again. Mr. COWes
replaced the slipper on the little German
foot amid the applause of the chorus girls
La Montansier' has beer splenddly
mounted in Paris and is naturally we'll
acted, with such players in the cast as the
two Coquelins. Cande, Grammont, Maupin
and Bresil. The story is typical. The first
act. says Paris correspondent. takes place
at the old curiosity shop kept by Marguer-
lite Montansier's aunt. When the curtain
rises half dozen men are seen, among
them Due de Richelieu, the Marechal de
COsse and Abbey de BOuilon, who have
each received letter fixing a rendezvous al
the same hour and spot. For fortnight no
one has heard Of La Belle Marguerite Mon
tansier: she enters with her latest flame,
Melville, to whom she has vowed her soul.
She determines to start a theater, make
her lover its manager, and by her wit raises
the money \ remarkable lady this, and
one who. if she had lived in these strenuous
theater- building days would have been emf
nently popular on the Rialto.
What is promised shall be Francis Will
sons farewell local appearance in comic
opera will take place Thursday evening
when the comedian will be seen at Eng
pany, in his first and greatest success,
"Erminie'' Only recently Mr.. Wilson
peated his intention TO go into straight
comedy after the present season. The re-
vival by the nimble-legged star of the old
favorite, with a splendid company 10 back
him up, has been met with great favor this
season. With Mr.. Wilson comes Marguer-
tia Sylvia, last seen here as the prima
donna of 1.-The Strollers:' Jessie Bartlett
Davis, the well-remembered cOntraltO of
the Bostonians; William Broderick and
Jennie WeatherSby, who were in the orig
iral cast; Clara Bell Jerome William c.
Weeden, Robert Broderick and Sig. Peru
gini, all of whom have made their mark in
the light musical field.
Although 1.-The Governors Son." the
Parks bill the first half OF the week, is one
of George Nj. Cohan's earliest musical eff
forts, it contains some of his best work.
1t bubbles over with the true Cohan spirit
in its songs and swinging marches 1t was
not many years ago that COhan not on
the list of composers who were seriously
considered producers of pretentiOuS
shows, but with this and two or three 9TH
ers he has had a rapid rise. He and j. J.
Cohan, with Fred Il. Niblo manager.
started THE Governors Son" on its career
and with it's financial success as an inspira-
ton it did not take Cohan long to get the
others in readiness. The entire company
MacVeigh and Charles Pussey, who pre-
scented the piece at the Park in January,
will appear in 1T this week.
Bryan and Waldron's Trocadero burlesque
company will hold the boards at the Empire
all of this week. opening with the regular
matinee this afternoon. The company is
headed ~ Annie Hill, statuesque singer,
and Annie Carter. a graceful dancer Tom
Haverly. the Irish comedian, is the prin-
cipal funmaker OF the combination. Two
musical travestes will be given-"The Mis-
it Family and satire on the popular
song ''Hiawatha." The chorus is said to be
very attractive one and handsomely cos
TUNED. The vaudeville olio sandwiched in
between the travesties. will include special
ties by Wink and Mack, comic acrobatic
team. and the Worlds Comedy Four, a
quartet of singers and comedians
nate 1ldktOn COMES TO the fdrk on April
IS for six performances of Two Orphans"
a play which made her famous twenty-five
years ago. 1t has been many years since
she has been seen in Indianap polls 1t is
said that her revival of the old melodrama
is on a pretentious scale and the engage
ment should hold interest for the Oldest
theatergoers as well as the younger ones
| Miss Claxton was invited to participate in
| the all-star revival of Two Orphans in
| New York, but was prevented by previous
| engagements of her own company in the
West.
Hamlin and Mitcheils next extravaganza
| -on the order of THE Wizard of Or and
| Babes in Toyland''-will be produced in
August. Frank Pixley, the librettist, and
| Victor Herbert. the composer. are now
busily engaged on the piece, and have pro-
crossed far that the managers have
| issued orders for several sets of costumes
| The title of the extravaganza has not been
decided upon as yet, but il will proba bly,
| be called 1.-THE Enchanted Isle
| = I
| William Gillette has closed his season in
| the English comedy by Barrie. THE Ad-
| mirable Creighton and is now at his coun-
| try home in North Carolina, finishing two
| new plays upon which he has been working
| for the last two years He says that he
! Will act only twenty weeks next season.