The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1927-10-01

Now Has
Good Shows
Gilbert and Sullivan 0per-
eta Given a Fine
Revival.
BY DIXIE HINES

BY DIXIE HINES
NEW YORK; Oct. 1.-The week
has been made melodioul by the
third Gilbert and Sullivan operetta
revived in matchless style by Win
throp Ames, who is becoming oul
leading G & S authority. "The
Mikado" the tuneful, popular and
amusing satire, is the present offer
ing, and like the pair that preceded
it, 1t is done with consumnste skill,
perfect taste and with full effect.
There is little that can be added
to 'The Mikado" which has SO often
been done by our leading comic
opera farceurs, but Mr.. Ames has
strayed from the usual path by CIV
ing it an original setting, and the
director has shown some skill in de-
vising new and amusing scenes, and
not few picturesque ones.
John Barclay is the Mikado, Will
liam Williams the tuneful Nanki-
Poo; Fred Wright, brought from
London, an amusing Koko; Lois
Bennett, a delectable Yum Yum;
Suissaben Sterling and Bettina Hall,
her mischievous companions from
school, Pitti-Sing and Peep-Bo and
amusing Vera Ross is the Katisha.
1.-THE Mikado," summed up, is like
the other Ames' Notwithstanding,
artistic, delightful and deservedly
popular.
In order to keep the world smiling
George M. Cohan brings to New
York new comedy 1.-THE Baby Cy-
Clone" and it is one Of the merriest
comedies of the new season. With
Grant Mitchell, Spencer Tracy,
Charles F. Mccarthy, John T. Doyle,
Joseph Allen, William Morris, Nan
Sunderland. Natalie Moorehead,
Georgia Game and others, there has
been assembled star cast of come
dams, and the story is SO uproar-
iously funny that the combination
makes for perfect evening. 1.-THE
Baby Cycline" is none other than a
Pekingese dog.
A new husband resents the place
the dog holds in the affections of his
wife and seeks to dispose of it by
the simple expedient of selling it to
the first woman he meets on Fifth
Ave-, unaware that the purchaser is
the finance of a young man who is
to play an important part in his
life. The dog again turns up, and
the wife from whom it was taken
demands it while the f1ancee who
purchased it also demands it's pos
session.
Here the families of both women,
and the innocent fiance, are in
volved, and for three acts there Is
consistent and hilarious flow of
fun, clean comedy and most delight
full stage characterizations. 1.-THE
Baby Cyclone" is we'll named if it
means the degree CT laughter at
each performance. To miss it will
be to miss one of the real amusing
plays of the season.
Good Melodrama
A real, honest to goodness, thrill
ing melodrama is 1.-THE Trial of
Mary Dugan," one of the most ex-
pertly cast and directed plays of the
season. 1t is by Bayard WELLER, and
A. H. Woods is the producer. The
scene of the evening is part in the
supreme court devoted to the GRIM
ina1 branch, and one Mary Dugan,
a showgirl, is charged with the MUIR
der of her lover.
The case is built up about her by
the relentless district attorney until
the brother of the defendant arrives
and supplants the attorney for the
defense. Thereafter thrill follows
thrill and surprise treads upon the
heels of surprise. The progress of
the story is breathless in interest,
and reality is lent to the situation
by the excellent setting, a setting
which is facsimile of any court
room. ~
The curtain is not lowered, but as
the audience enters they find the
stage filled with the usual class and
number of court hangers on who
seem oblivious to the fact that it is
stage. They walk about, chat with
each other and otherwise act as
people in like situations do in real
life. Naturally the finish is a sur
prise, the crime having been fast
ened upon one whom the audience
and apparently the players least
suspected. The entire three acts
is taken up with the trial, the open
ing speeches, the examination and
cross-examination of witnesses. The
celebrated murder cases of history
were no less real and no less grip
ping than '"The Trial Ct Mary
Dugan."