Wichita eagle., 1888-05-23
ANUSEMENTS
EORT. DOWNING.

! Robert Downing appears at the Craw-
! ford Grand tonight as ''Spartacus" and to-
morrow night as 'Ingomar" The Kansas
/ City Times in speaking Of his engagement
III that city says:
| The first appearance in this city of Rob
/ ert l.. Downing as Il star wGs surrounded
! with a peculiar interest to playgOers. Not
| since an untimeiy death hushed the thrill
| ling voice of John Mccullough had any
| one essayed the role of SpartacuS. With
! memories Of Mccullough great impersona-
tion of this character, the lovers of the
! heroic were much interested In the young
actor who had suddenly come into favor as
the most fitting representative to preserve
the character of Sparatcus on the AmerI-
can stage. The welcome was all that
could have been desired, and the continuous
| encouragement as interest grew to admira-
tion and hope was rewarded by positive
I recognition OF talent must have been
gratifying alike to actor audience.
On each successive appearance
as Spartacus the audience was larger than
| the preceding, and from the first the at
tendance was larger than Mccullough In
his palmieSt days ever enjoyed IN this city.
With voice full aud deep and with
magnificent physique, Mr. Downing Is adj
mlrabiy fitted to the heroic line OF char
acters That he should appear to equal
advantage in Ingomar with all its phases
of character, was an agreeable surprise to
those who had looked upon him as capable
of only the heroic roles. Following this
came his Nirginius. a clear, strong and
distinct impersonation. These three char
acters, reqniring such range OF talent,
served to establish Mr.. Downing as an
actor deserving the best support of the
lovers of dramatic art. Mr.. Downlng's
extreme modesty and naturalness, while
occasionally detracting from the force of
ri rrIS a
tender scenes in ''Ingomar" and "Nir-
ginius."
There is no reason why Mr. Downing's
success should not be permanent. First of
ALL he is talented; besides, he IS possessed
of a striking and always pleasing person
ality both on and off the stage, is gifted
with powerful voice and has a field in
which he is looked upon by the American
people aa the most promising young man
IN the profession. And last, but by no
means least. Mr. Downing has one of the
most successful managers IN the country.
who has thorough confidence in his star
and spares no pains or mOneg to surround
him with the best possible support and
stage setting. While Mr.. Mack gives his
star every consistent advantage there is no
evidence of the studied Subordination of
the minor characters SO common among
managers of today. The object seems to
be to give the best possible all-round pro
duction and for this the public should be
truly grateful.
THE MEXICAN BAND.
There was a good sized audience at the
Crawford Grand last night to hear the
concert given by the eighth regiment Mex
lean band. 1t was pleasing and delight
ful entertainment and was most heartily
enioyed by the audience. Every number
Of the program was received with hearty
applause while many were encored-
THE MUSEUM.
Carrots or John Logan's Cdrse is
certainly the strongest drama that has
been produced this season. and is taking
well. In the curiosity hall ''Ealeen, F" the
water queen. is witnessed with great won
derment. The lady eats, drinks and sews
under water with IS much nonchalence as
If she were not totally surrounded by
water Her performance is something
marvellous. The usual handsome presents
will be given TO the ladies next Saturday
afternoon. Ia the meantime they are re-
ceiving tickets. for beautiful pair OF gold
mounted pearl opera glasses.
MAIN STREET THEATRE
Tonight the romantic spectacular play
OF Loyalty VIII be the attraction al
this place OF amusement The drama Is
founded On this incident Of the late rebel
lion. THE first SHOT at TT Sumpter was
aimed and fired by Edmund Ruifin, a
white haired. crack-brsined old man of
Virginia. who was rss0lute traitor and
gloried in having nred the first shot at
The old hag He lived until the close OF
the war and this tinae fired another shot
into his own brain -"-Barues's history Of
the e. = This tragic incident forms the
basis of Legally" IN speaking Of the
merits % tas. play ex-tIOyernof. Ireland. Of
Texas. who nad witnessed IL at Austin,
the capitol az that state. said: ct is the
only play ever pTosiuced that has given
tnc soatn a fair chance The name Il ap-
propr.a1e. Ille sentiment OF the piece is
expressed in these xor4s taken from the
play. There IL a greater loyalty than
tnat sse owe 10 goseE aansIals. tDe loyalty
we give 20 those we love-