The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-01-27

SIS p. m.
PARK.-"From Rags to Riches" ? to S
EMPIRE.-Burlesque and s p. m.
UNlQU 3 and S p, m.
''The Yankee Consul" ut EngIish's
Stars of doubtful briIliancy have recently
become so conspicuous on the American
stage that when production such as THE
Yankee Consul" which was presented at
Engiish's last night, is instrumental in ex-
plotting the unquestioned talents of CO.
median Ike Raymond Hitchcock there is
cause for receiving the new piece with
open arms. This original funmaker has
not attained his present high position as a
comedian through any stroke Of undeserved
good fortune. His achievements on the
operate stage during the last six years
amply justify the managerial wisdom of
Henry W. Savage in establishing him as
an attraction or the first magnitude. Al
though seen in Indianapolis several times
during the last three or four seasons as the
leading comedian Of different musical come
dies, last evening marked Nj. EitchcOcS's
nrst local appearance as a star. ana, Judg-
ing from the warmth OF his reception, there
were few in the audience who did not con-
cede his right TO that position
In his initial stellar vehicle Mr.. Hitch
cock has been fortunate in many ways.
The Yankee Consul is in reality a comic
these days OF endless musical comedies.
The book of Henry NJ. Blossom and the
music of Alfred g. RObyn are both some
what above the average of compositions in
this class. and the production a whole,
makes more pretentiOn to serious consider
alton than do the majority of the musical
pieces offered by Manager Savage. While
the plot is not especially noteworthy, either
for its originality or cOherency, still IL is
rather cleverly constructed and proves of
sufficient strength to support the praise
RObyn. The greatest weakness In Mr.. Bios
som 5 portion of the work is in the second
act His first act is excellent, but with
the rising OF the second curtain the stand
ard set at the beginning is not maintained.
But the music is held up to a good stand
ard throughout.
Partisan conspiracies and governational
revolutions form the vehicle used to carry
the main story of the opera along-a story
that deals with the suit Of Abjah Booze
the Yankee consul, for the hand of Donno
Ribera Uruburu, a buxom Spanish widow
with fortune that is to be mentioned in
reverential tones. The official duties of Mr..
Booze, who has been stationed by his Wash
1nSton bosses in the town of Puerto Plata,
are not those of the strenuous type of Office
holder. He sleeps through the night, rests
through the day and as means of diversion
gives much of his attention to liquid re-
freShment, as his name would suggest. He
has been something of a nuisance at his
home in 1.-The States" and owes his appoint
ment to self-respecting relatives who have
been dckled nearly TO death TO get rid Of
him.
This is a mere outline of the story of the
piece, but It Will suffice. Comic opera stor-
les are not the most Ineligible things in
the world when set down on paper during
the midnight hours while impatient printers
are waiting for copy, and the present re-
viewer refuses to become entangled in the
meShes of this one as badly as the Yankee
cDnsul himself became involved. So, then, 1t
rasafr H1a hot fnb TfN1a.
his buxom South American widow, after
being mixed up in several farcicial complica-
lions, and, so far as worldly goods are con-
cerned, the audience is LETT to understand
that he will in the future be deep in clover.
And the moral would seem to be: Office
holding breeds fondness for soft snaps.
Z
Mr.. Robyn's musical score is not to be
passed over without special commentator.
While most of his music is of the light,
frothy sort, and some of it reminiscent of
other musical productions, there are por-
lions of the score that far above the
usual compositions heard in attractions of
this class There is a distinct variety of
melody and tempo and not the least sug-
gestion of monotOny in the admirable in
strumentation. OF the two dozen numbers
the trio. we Were Taught to Walk De-
murely," and the songs, Tell Me, " In
Old New York and I'm Days of OLD are
all tuneful to an unusual degree, and there
are a half-dOZen others that appeal ire
10 anyone WIFI al cdr lOI IluSlC
There are marches, love songs, serenades,
waltzes, boleros and concerted numbers, all
pleasing of tune and ali written in musician
ly style, and several of them belong in a
class somewhat above the so-called ''popu-
lar music.
The color scheme of the opera is also a
thing to enthuse over-coStumes and
scenery are all so beautiful and and in such
good taste. and the handsome chorus, apt
and well drilled, fills in the various pic
lures most satisfactorily and lends faScinat-
N different ensembles
T
The greater part of the labors of the
evening naturally fell to the lot of Mr..
Hitchcock, a comedian to his finger tips,
unique. artistic, reliable, capable of getting
the best possible out of every line and stu
| alton afforded him; evidently a creator,
too, watchful and versatile. This is the
first time Mr.. Hitchcock has been seen on
| the stage without gorgeous makeup
| since the days of Three Little Lambs, .
with Marie Cahill-the beginning Of the
most successful part Of his career-and ii
| is interesting TO note that he be Just
as funny in straight part as in a ridi-
| culous characterization. His jokes were all
made doubly effective last night through
his inimitable way of telling them, and his
songs, particularly his topical pieces, Ain I
1t Funny What Difference Just Few
Hours Maker and In the Long Ago,
scored great hits.
The supporting company is deserving of
much credit. Harry Fairleigh Jack
Morrel of the United States navy, and
Hubert Wilke as Captain leopold Of the
Dominican army, are good dramatically
ana vocally, and William Danforth gives
capable performance of the Governor OF
Puerto Plata. j. r.. Hazard appears in a
German role Of the Louis Mann sort, which
is Of little Importance in the development
of the plot, and Parker Coombs is ade>
quate as Carlos. a ragged vendor of bas-
kets. The character of the wealthy Span
ish widow is played with delicious humor
by Eva Davenport, who is one of the very
best of comic opera condolences. Miss
Davenport not only gets the full value
out of her part but sings her share Of
tho score in a good, rich contraltO. Flora
Zabelle and Rose Botti portray the daugh-
ter and niece of the widow, and fascinat-
ing pair they make. Both OK these graceful
young women are sopranos of unusual
ability and their singing and dancing is
of a high order of merit. 1t will be of in
terest 10 Indianapolis music lovers to learn