The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-04-22


Last Nights Production of sErminie."
Seventeen years ago "Erminie' was given
it's first presentation at the New York
Casino and scored a hit that made all
Gotham sit up and take notice. a new
comedian, with pair OF funny legs and a
smile like that Of the Cheshire cat in
"Alice's Adventures" danced nimbly
through the part of the comical rascal
Caddy and tickled New Workers to such an
extent that they labeled Francis Wilson a
buffoon of uncommon ability. A clever lit
tie woman with a Jolly round face, pair
or bright eyes and kissable mouth made
leap into popularity on the very same
night on account of her rolllcking perform
ance the gay Javotte. That was Marie
Jansen
Seventeen years have rolled by and here
Is Erminie" again and just as bright and
bubbling and entertaining as ever II was
In the days OF long ago. Francis Wilson,
still the droll clown and still nimble of
leg, again comes forth In his famous old
character and plays il just as he played II
during the first great run of the opera on
Broadway. Marie Jansen no longer plays
the right bower to Wilson's joker, but,
surrounded as the comedian is with a COM
pany of splendid singers, his revival of
"Erminie, as witnessed last night at
Englishs by large and delighted audi
musical performances of the season.
"Erminie" is a real comic opera and
quite a little classic in its way. 1t has
stood the test of years as few other COM
positions of its class have done. When it
was supposed to have been worn thread
bare MIR. Wilson appeared in other operas
with varying success, but from time to
no hos rcfrf raad h. lftfI1
piece by Jacobowsky and Paulton and has
always given more pleasure in this opera
than in any other. Good fun never dies
ana Erminie" is good fun set to spark
ing music, You may not care particularly
for Wilson's style of comedy when you see
him in other comic opera productions, but
1t seems to be especially suited TO the role
OF the grotesque Cadeaux and he gives
portrayal of character that is really artistic
in broad fashion He has never had a
part so admirably fitted to him as this
one. Wilson is the amusing Olddy TO the
nfe-Just as Joe Jefferson is Kip Van Win
kle.
And the production-what a satisfactory
one IL is in every detail. Messrs. Nixon q
reviving good, old "Erminie" in such a
sumptuous manner, If the production
served no other purpose than 10 be used as
a model for those writer's of so-called mu-
steal comedies-"The Runaways," for in
stance-who have been feeding the theater-
going public on rubbish. The piece is
lghtfully smooth presentation. The chorus
last night was good TO listen to, all of the
ensemble numbers being sung in a way
that showed careful training. Costumes,
scenery and appointments were new and
gorgeous, and the pink ballroom scene was
more beautiful than in previous productions
of the opera, Illuminated it with
hundreds of electric lights that proved
fairly dazzling.
Mr.. Wilson is droll, quzzical creature
in the character of the laundering jailbird.
He does not disdain broad expedients for
provoking mirth but he has such a mas
terry of his antics that they appear more
legitimate than they really are. His sing
ing voice is just tuneless ever, but he
is wonderfully light on his feet and was
excellent last night in the various dances,
his best work being done in the interpo-
lated comic song, Joseph, James and
john" which he sung with Clara Belle Je-
rome. Little Miss Jerome is not the vi
vacious soubrette that Marie Jansen used
to be. but she is one of the daintiest little
women on the American stage. and she
gave a charming rendering of Javotte. She
is refined in everything she does--ever
when she INDUCES In high kick-and i'm
presses one as sweet, unaffected little en-
tertainer, not gifted with an especially
good voice, but graceful in every movement.
She quite shared the honors with Mr.. Will
son in their numbers together.
A perfect performance of the role of
Ravennes was given by William Broderick.
who Is not only one of the best of comic
opera bassos, but also one of the best ac-
tors in his line of work. He looked like
character that had just stepped forth from
a Cruikshank edition of Dickenss "Nicho-
las Nickleby." and his acting was really
superb. Although Mr.. Broderick has never
headed an opera company, he was one of
the brightest stars of the many in the cast.
Jessie Bartlett Davis, as the dashing Cap
tain Delaney, appeared in the sort of part
she likes best and was every inch SOL
dier-a comic opera soldier. She seems to
be slighter in figure than when she last APP
peared in Indianapolis, and her handsome
costumes were immensely becoming. She
was not in the best of voice, as she was
suffering from a slight cold, but her two
interpolated numbers in the second act
were warmly applauded
Marguerite Sylvia, with her glorious>md-
night eyes and her Illuminating smile. made
a pretty picture in the role of Erminie and
sang her share of the score in good voice,
but fell into her old error of running her
words together TO such extent that,
both in the dialogue and musical numbers,
her lines could scarcely be understood Only
in her principal number-the ever-delightful
lullaby-was she careful as to her enuncia-
ton, and this song she gave in a very
pleasing way. Signor Perugini played the
character of the chevalier as the part is
intended to be played-that is, he made a
hopeless old bore out of that powdered and
perfumed gentleman. Robert Brodrick was
effective as the marquis and William G.
Weldon acted stiffly but sang splenddly in
the part Of the secretary. Mr.. Wedon's in
terpolated number. Star of My Life. was
one of the hits of the performance. the bal
lad showing his good tenor to much ad-
vantage. Jennie Weathersby, the only
other member of the original "Erminine
cast besides Mr.. Wilson, gave a good char
acterization Of the giggling Princess de
Gramponeur, and all of the minor parts
were well taken.
In response to long and loud applaudits
at the end of the second act, Mr.. Wilson
made humorous speech in which he gent
ly assured the audience, with q patroniZ-
ing wave of his hand, that everything of
an immoral nature had been eliminated
from 1.-The play" and that las the per-
Torrance now stood IL was an entertain
ment TO be witnessed by all classes OF peo-
pie from the very highest down to the ash
man. The engagement of this excellent
company was for one night only.