The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-02-19
'"The Wizard of Or Mt EngIish's.

UNIQUE-VaudeviIle, 8 and 5 p. m.
"The Wizard of Or" at EngIish's.
They have arrived in Indianapolis at last
the homeless, brainless Scarecrow, the Tin
Woodman, whose joints require occasional
oiling, the dimpled little Dorothy Gale, from
Kansas (nothing's the matter with Kansas
now), the cowardly Lion, the ridiculous
Cow, the Poppy Queen, the Lady Lunatic,
Trixie, the waitress, and the Wizard or OZ
himself, in all his glory. 1t took them a
long time to reach the HOOsier capital, but
then il must be remembered that they Sc
lected a very roundabout way, starting, as
they did, from Chicago, and making the
journey via New York, with a little stop
over in New York that lasted about a year.
They really belong to indianapolis, you
know. In all the comments of the critics
concerning them this fact SENS TO have
been kept in the background. But it was
here that they first made their debut, when
they appeared between the highly colored
colorS of a DenSlOw picture book-one or
those delightful holiday creatiOns-with the
text by Frank Baum. The Wizard of OF,
in his original form, and all of his jolly as
sociates, in their original forms, made their
first bows from the counters of a Hoosier
pretty much like old friends when they re-
turned last night to make many more. bows
from the stage of English's, a stage that
land.
The audience was a big one, and the au-
dience was a happy one, and everybody
had a good time. Musical comedies, comic
operas, Americanized London p~antomimeS
and tuneful operate farces have followed
each other in rapid succession in Indian
apOliS this season, but it is quite safe 10
say that none of them has been produc-
tive of more genuine fun and wholesome
amusement than this stage version of
Frank Baum'S fanclful chlldren'S story,
with it's bright music by Paul T~ietjens, its
merry interpretations by other song writer's,
its magnificent scenic equipment and cos
pa n,rn h. Thn min af nma No
Julian Mitchell, and its splendid company
of ~funmakers, singers, dancers and pam
tOmimists. The Wizard of o. is the at
traction of the season, so far as nOnsensicaI
entertainment is cOncerned-and this is the
era of nOnsensical entertainment.
OF course, there's a story to be followed
out, but it is not exactly the same story
that Mr.. Baum had to tell when he first
disclosed the remarkable happenings i'm the
land Of the Munchkins. For theatrical pur-
poses, 1t was found necessary to utilize the
plot as a framework for the holding TO-
gether of an unusual assortment of bril-
liant stage pictures, comedy scenes, special
ties, dances and transformations Such as
it is, the story runs like this: A wee win
some Kansas maiden named Dorothy Gale
is lifted off her tiny feet by one of those
dreadful Kansas cyclones that William
Allen White does not write about, and is
blown, together with her pet COW, Imogene,
into q fairy region known as OF. DOrOthy'S
little Kansas homestead, in falling from the
sky, brushes the wicked witch who has been
ruling the Munchkins, as the inhabitants
of OF are called, thus setting the people
free from her magic spell. The good witch
of the land appears, and in gratitude to
Dorothy, presents her with a ring which
will make two wishes come true" One
wish is wasted entirely, but the other is
used by the little tourist i'm bringing a
scarecrow to life. All. that scarecrow!
Well, when the Scarecrow. who, of course,
has no sense at all, becomes animated, Dora
Othy takes him in hand and sets forth TO
find the Wizard of Or, who is the only chap
in existence capable of supplying the Scare
forest they meet the Tin Woodman, who be-
comes quite supple as soon as his joints are
oiled. Now, the Tin WOodman has no heart.
that organ having been taken away from
him by the late Wicked Witch for daring
to make love to a beautiful girl named gym
thla. The three companions proceed toward
the palace of the Wizard, and meet with
many strange adventures on the way. Pas
tOria and Trixie. a motOrman and a wait
ress from Kansas, who also blew in on the
same cyclone, are added TO the party. While
going through a poppy field they are all
overcome by the deadly OdOr and fall fast
asleep. The Good Witch comes to the res
cue, orders a frost which destroys the pop
pies and restores little Dorothy and her
friends to consciousness.
On reaching the Emerald City the Wizard
is seen and is induced TO provide the Scare
crow with brains and the Tin Woodman
with a heart. ~Innumerable minor details
are introduced to make up the complete
story, and in the end the Good Witch sum
mons the spirits of the air, who are instruct
ed TO watt Dorothy back TO her home in
Kansas, and all ends happily for everybody
concerned.
THE Wizard of o. has never been ex-
celled as a production, the seven gorgeous
scenes, charming stage pictures and novel
e1eclS being something 10 wonder over.
The Kansas cyclone is wildly realistic, the
effects being produced by means of a stere-
nnT1GOn nUnn 4 a TnnCf Elf1IfH1 ~
ner. The setting showing a road through
a forest is attractive. white the poppy field
Is one or the most beautiful ideas ever de-
VeIOped by q scenic artist. and John Young
peoples, growing in rows, are represented
by chorus girls dressed in green with large
red hats, and the effect is extremely pretty.
A transformation, made during a stereopti-
con SnowStorm, brings into view the same
poppy field in winter. The flowers lay dead
upon the ground and everything is covered
with snow, and this scene is even more ef-
fective than its predecessor. The scenes
showing the courtyard OF the Wizards pal
ace and a beautifui grove with wisteTia
vines clambering over everything are also
lovely pictures. The costumes are very
elaborate and in the best of taste. and the
chorus girls, most or whom are very pretty,
display them TO perfection.
Although there Is nothing especially bril-
liant about the dialogUe-sOme OF il, in fact,
being rather i~nane-One can easily afford
OF the general excellence of the entertain
ment. MI. llet1enS score Is tuneful and
most of the interpolated songs are new and
attractive.
The company is one Of unusual merit.
with the hTst hOnors falling TO Fred A.
Stone. as the Scarecrow. The character is
quaint and original and MIR. Stone makes
the most Of his many good opportunities.
He is apparently as homeless as an India
rubber doll and his dancing is altogether
out OF the ordinary. as he introduces novel
steps and antics that are inimitable. The
audience last night literally went wild over
him, and ii is doubtful If any grotesque
comedian ever scored a greater hit in this
city. He has a splendid second in his
partner, David Montgomery. who plays the
Tin WOOdman with remarkable cOmicality.
The two are on the stage together in most
of the scenes and there are no dull mo-
ments when they are before the audience.
Dainty little Anna Laughiin is best de-
scribed as cute" in the role OF Dorothy
Gale. She looks no more than twelve years
old. and with her childish voice and big
baby eyes makes a delightful foil for the
two leading comedians.
The Cowardly Lion is played by Arthur
Hill. the English ~pantomimist. IN truly
wonderful style. He presents the real Dens-
low lion such as the comic artist dearly
f,rrru 70 ~ nnI Fnulrr. ~ - s-..