The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-02-06
MUSIC AND DRAMA.
THAT LITTLE SAVAGE

| A packed house greeted the initial per-
Torrance OF Mrs. Sailie Toler's new
play, THAT Little Savage" at the craw-
ford Grand last night. A company Of
talented amateurs interpreted the lines,
Under the direction Of Colonel William
Innes. the play is modern drama with
many strong situations and a distinct
plot. II offers some excellent opportuni-
ties for emotional work, as well as good
comedy. The cast was carefully Sc
| lected by Colonel Innes, and Opal Street,
the talented Wichita girl, who very ef-
fciently presented Mrs. Toler's first
play, Jewell appeared in the tide role,
as Stella Rayburn. Miss Opal has GER
tainly strong inclinatiOns towards his
,ronic work, and she appears on the
stage with perfect ease and natural
grace. The character of Mrs Mckiilop,
an eccentric Scotch woman. was beauti-
fully presented by Dr.. NJ +. Toier. who
! as female impersonator can be classed
among the best. He made a decided hi.
Miss Sadie Caldwell who also assisted in
the presentation Of Jewell. appeared in
the role of Bobbinette. a French maid,
and cleverly delineated that characters
Mrs r. H. Short as Bertha Raymond,
the erring wife, displayed considerable
Z
Der of scenes between her and Mr.. Bruce
keenan,, who portrayed the character of
the wronged husband and loving father,
were touching, and elected favorable
comment The new woman in the play,
Roberta Selwyn, was very cleyerly done
by Mrs Mabel Boyd Howe. Mrs Howe
has much natural dramatic talent, and
has frequently appeared, TO her credit,
in amateur productions here, and last
night she acquitted herself very credit
ably. Amos McClain, who has consider
able oratorical talent, especially as po-
litical speaker, essayed the role OF Rich
ard Selwyn, a chronic dyspeptic and
crank on general principles, in salts
factory manner. He never lost sight OF
the role he was portraying. and gave
faithful representation OF the character.
Hal Mccoy as Larry was quite comical
and made several hits. One of the big
gest hits of the performance was Colonel
lines in the character of Arthur Pow
ers, an English gentleman and frghtful
masher. His representation OF that char
acter was exceedingly realistic and pleas
ed the audience immensely. The stage
settings were tasty and adorned with
flowers and plants in profusion.
SOUSA ABOVE ALL.
While Gilmore lived he had no rival at
the desk of the conductor of an orchestra
or chorus. Al that time Sousa was just
beginning to be heard from. He occu-
pied the position of musical director OF
the famous Marine Band at Washington,
which organization stood then. as it
stands vet, the finest essentially military
band not only in America but in the
world. When Gilmore died an effort was
made to continue the work of the organi-
cation which ne had gathered about him.
The band continued for a time, but the
redoubtable, energetic Gilmore was no
longer at the desk; another hand held
the baton, and although it was the hand
Of an artist who did WELD il, it was not
Gilmore. Sousa had begun TO appear
from among the maze of musicians when
Gilmore passed on to higher orchestra.
He had lifted the Marine Band into ma
tional prominence, and his individuality
was in such demand that he left it and
later he appears as the director OF the
finest concert band in existence. When
Sousa is there his personality is with his
band. He is no pet of the hour, but has
lived as the chief among band directors
for several years. Mozart once conduct
ed an orchestra who played a difficult
overture before an audience which had
been written by Mozart and had never
been seen by the orchestra until ready
to begin Ii before the opera. II was
played with hardly false note. Mozart
stood at the desk: that was one reason;
the orchestra was made up of artists;
that was another. This is true Of Sousa
and his band. Sousa is a master, his
band artists. When the band goes 70
pieces. as il must some day. just as ev-
erything must end. Sousa vii be regard
cd as Mozart. his band as the leading
musicians in their line Of the time.
ALDEN BENEDICT.
On Friday, Feb. 18TH. the melo-drama,
Fabio Romani, a matizaticn OF the
well known story OF The Vendetta, VIII
ne given by Mr.. Alden Benedict, SUD-
ported by good company.
The Denver Evening Post OF February
1st, says:
"Mr. Alden Benedict and clever sup
porting company began a weeks engage
ment yesterday a. the Orpheum. giving
two performances TO splendid business
Their play, "Fabio Romani.'' ia one Of
the strongest. best staged. best acted
and best dressed plays that has appear
ed at the Orpheum this season. The
scenery is brilliant and effective. espe-
cially the Bay OF Naples ard the erup-
ton of Vesuvius The fire and other
dances by Miss Grace Hunter. were
startling and beautiful. Miss Olive West
= very clever actress and presents her
part in an excellent way. Willard Bow
man is deserving Of especial praise
John Fisher was called TO Sedgwick by