The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-03-24
sTOO MUCH Johnson.
At Atchison, While Topeka Gets
"Uncle Toms Cabin"

Topeka is suffering this season from
the most unaccountable lapses in dra-
matte entertainment When the Grand
remains dark for a month at time in
the most profitable part of the dramatic
season, the question arises, of what
value is an opera house to its owner
and manager if it is not used? Satur-
day next AtchiSOn is to have the fam
Gus farce, TOO Much Johnson" while
Topeka languishes under an Uncle
Toms Cabin show. This is adding in
suit to injury. If Atchison can give
TOO Much Johnson" an audience, To-
peka can give it twice as large a one.
Why isn't Too Much Johnson" booked
for Topeka as well as Atchison? More
and more Topeka people go to Kansas
City to see plays every week, and the
habit is becoming so we'll fixed now
that thousands of dollars go to Kansas
City every season that might as well go
into Manager CraWford'S pocket if he
has the foresight or business perSp1cac-
ity to bring them here. The booking for
the Grand Opera House is said to be
done by young man named Br1gham
who resides in st. Joe and books for
Colonel SeatOn'S house at AtchlSon
and the st. Joe house. Why is it that
this Mr.. Brigham does not book more
good shows for Topeka? 1t is either
through his misconception of the capa-
bilitieS of Topeka or his liability to do it.
If he is to have charge of the booking
for the Grand next season, there ought
to be an effort put forth to give Topeka
her r1ghtful snare OF SOOu eHteTIdil1-
mentS. The ill treatment of Topeka
can't endure, forever There will be a
general movement for better things,
soon.
Topeka is waking up. 1t has under
taken a Fall Festival with success,
given a Food Show with $4,000 attend
ance, is building an auditorium to hold
5000 people and it means to have as
good theatrical entertainments as any
other town of its size in the country.
Theater goers have rights in these mat
tiers and they will assert them.
Topeka next season wants shows like
the following and she can give a large
and paying house to each one of them.
The Journal itself will promise good
houses for the following if they can be
secured:
Fanny Davenport
John Drew.
Richard Mansfield.
Hoyts A Milk White Flag
Francis Wilson.
Heartease (Frohman)e
BOStOnianS.
May Irwin.
A Contented Woman (Hoyt's).
Julia Marlowe.
Too Much Johnson.
Lillian Russell.
Nellie McHenry.
Corinne.
Ioie Fuller.
This list can be doubled in length
and every one of them will get $500
to 81, 200 house.
The Atchison Globe says of ''Too
Much Johnson:
..Too Much Johnson William Gil
lette's most successful comedy, under
the management of Charles Frohman,
will be seen here next Saturday night
Wherever TOO Much Johnson" has
been played, the audience has been
bubbIing over with laughter before the
end of the first act; the company en-
Enthusiastically recalled at the end OF the
second act, and when the play closed
there wasn't a smileless woman or man
in the house. There may have been
funnier comedies than 'Too Much
Johnson" but the popularity of Will
liam Gillette's effort would indicate the
contrary This comedy is clean and
clever; il has many harmonious situa-
tions. a lot of natural conversation, ex-
cellent scenes and a serious bit OF act
ing between Mr.. and Mrs. Augustus
Billings which is very prettily and ef-
fectively done. The play is reasonable
and is ingeniously constructed, ana
asks no favor from its audience except
a desire to be amused. Unless all signs
fail. the engagement will be more than
ordinarily brilliant Box once opens
Thursday morning.