The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-07-21
Largest Audience to Witness a
Stage Performance
Ever Seen in Topeka Attend ed
the Cinderella Show.
The Entertainment a Splendid One
But Needed More Light and Bet
ter Arrangement of Seats
These Defects to Be
Rem edied.


1t was so big that it was almost un-
manageable. It was rendered still
more unmanageable by the fact that
certain persons in the audience would
insist on standing up, which of course
compelled those behind them to stand
up. A thousand or more could not
obtain seats. There were some bitches
In the performance, but considering
that it was the first night, that il was
in the open air. and that there had been
no opportunity for a rehearsal on the
new stage it was success. The cos
tuning was superb. Nothing more
beautiful was ever seen in Topeka. The
dancing was excellent and tonight and
tomorrow night great improvements
will be made. Another large audience
is expected tonight.
Last evening over 5000 people were
grouped in front of the stage on which
the opening performance was given. 1t
was a good natured audience, but as a
every outdoor audience there were some
| brilliant" wits who were anxious to
| make people hear their remarks and
| thus disturb the performance. The
whole vast audience seemed to rise
with one accord whenever the play was
| in action.
When people arrived at the gate they
showed their tickets and passed to the
entrance of the amphitheater. Two
men stood here and took the tickets
| Many had purchased tickets before go
| ing to the grounds and delay was thus
/ avoided. There were three men SELL
| ing admission tickets outside the gate.
The seat space and stage were COM
| pletely surrounded by a high canvas
! fence.
There was an arc light over the audi
| ence, but no footlights on the stage.
| There should be footlights by all means
| for tonight and tomorrow night, as the
| stage was too dark last night except
| where the round glare of the calcium
i light was thrown. 1t is understood
| this matter is to be looked after today.
| Steinberg's orchestra was stationed at
! the north side of the stage and played
| for some of the songs and the dances.
| 1t was trif1e weak for the open air,
| and if two or three more pieces were
| added for the remaining two perform
| ances the effect will be heightened
greatly, OF course the calcium lights
| didn't get there on time and at 8:42 p.
| M the opera was begun and the audi
| ence strained its eyes and ears to get
! everything. The various fairy tale in
| cfdents of the story We're begun. The
naughty sisters appeared in their
| gowns ready for the Princes ball. They
| left. at the same time Gliding Gin
| derella'' for her poor dress and her in
ability to enjoy the court pleasures.
| The naughty sisters were, Lady Flor
| india, Louise Henderson; Lady Arabella,
| took the part of Cinderella The fairy
| godmother, who was Rae Chesney, APP
| peared. and, glorious to relate, the cal
| cium light got there too, and the trans
| formation scene occurred in which
| pumpkin was converted into a beau
| tifuI coach, and the mice in a trap into
| Shetland ponies. Then Cinderella got
| into the coach and was driven Ito the
| ball.
The coach and ponies looked very
| pretty under the calcium light.
| At the Princes ball many dancing
| specialties were introduced, which went
! far in making the production a great
| success. 1t is the spectacular part of
the show that saves it for an open air
| performance. All the dances were too
| long, but they will be cut in two to-
| night.
| The ribbon dancers appeared and
! went through many pretty figures to
| with ribbons stretched between arms
| length Those who took part in the
dance We're: Louise Allen, May Falley,
| Urmy, Ethel Kingsley, Esther Ranch,
| Edna Miller, Mamie Mason, Ethyl
| Nichols, Anita Collins, Pearl Pensyl,
| Grace Slayton, Eleanor Thompson, Per
| mie Curtis.
The tambourine dance by Louise AL
| ison, Anita Collins, Permie Curtis, May
Falley and Eleanor Thompson. was well
| executed
| The march of the palace guards was
really fine. The girls did remarkably
well and their costumes of green and
| gold looked brilliant
| Those taking part were:
| Misses Allie Milliman, Blanche Sim
| mons, Ada Pulley, Lena Tallman, Lot
| tie Deischer, Myrtle Clark, Carrie Com
stock, Florence Welsh, Bertha Farrow
| Ada Taggert, Pearl Gilmore. Grace
Koonce, Matte McNair, Ethel Henry
Stella Hanahan, Claire Stryker, Alice
| Hopkins, Pansy WintrOde, Stacey Bur-
CESS, Cora Shull, Nellie Breidenthal,
| Edith Groves. Minnie Maiers, Maggie
| Seahill, Mabel NicOl, Blanche Goddard,
| Iva Coe, Juanita Fox, Mary Coulson,
| Lizzie Pierce, Lou Groves, Grace Mil
| Ter, Leda Hyles.
When the blackbird pie was brought
on the stage and cut the audience was
| greatly surprised to see "a little girls all
| dressed in black pop out of it one by
one. Charlotte Butterfly did a fancy
dance in front of the blackbirds, who
| were:
Emma Klebenstine. May Anderson,
Emma Scott, May Bowen, Florence
Smith, Mary Henry, Emma Marine,
/ Nellie Smith, Pearl Boam, Leila Bur-
CESS. Helen Barkman, Eveline Bark
| man, Ethel GiIchrist, Nellie Babcock,
Primrose. Gilchrist, Minnie Hopkins,
Lizzie Smith, Flossie Newland, Ada
Snyder.
| Leo Shreve, dressed as a lobster made
hit in his dance to the music of the
Irish Washerwoman- He is extreme
ly Timber and is graceful. Odes Sam
uel gave a very pretty modified form
of skirt dance. Allan Miller and Blanch
Mcdowell, dressed as Mr.. and Mrs.
Tom Thumb, were introduced. They
are feet inches in height and were
most amusing.
The pages of the king, willert
| Bean, Leo Conwell, Roy Rauch, Walter
| GiIchrist Hiram Kingsley, John Shull,
6eTIdTO SIilAlh, TtSO 1hOScA' q u C11A-
| laham, Kenneth Barber, Harry Gillett,
ERalph Cross. Ray Hartwell gave a
| specially Mrs. Meredith's little daugh-
ter sang a song and the pages Joined in
| the chorus. The dance of the oysters
| and forks We're given by:
| Oysters-Guy McKinstry, Ray Miller,
| Clarence Dolman. Hamilton Shugert.
| Forks-Kate Rafferty,, Addie Smith,
| Edith KIebenstine, Nellie Smith.
| The flower speciality, the dance of
| the stra wberries. the introduction of
| the ice cream, the song by Mary Suth-
| erland and Charlotte Butterfly in black
| face the butterfly dance by Irene Peal,
| Nellie Yates, Anna Pulley and Fay
| Sbrave song by Dimple Raker d11at