The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-04-27
MISS MATHER.s CYMBELINE
Excellently Played and Grandly
Staged-Audience Not Large.

A Shakespearean production magnlf-
icently staged and in details IaItnIuI 70
history was seen in Margaret Mather's
"Cymbeline" at the Grand opera
House last night Tt was undoubtedly
the most elaborate Shakespearean pro
duction that has ever been seen IN TINS
city. The audience was not large.
To theater goers whose tastes do not
run in the line of Shakespearean dra-
ma. Miss Mather's "Cymbeline" still Of
fers a Sufficiency in the art OF modern
staging The play is presented in six
acts and a dozen different scenes, ana
each one Of these scenes is triumph OF
the scenic painters skill. Miss Mather
expended $40, 900 in arranging "Cymbe-
line and in so doing she prepared
production artistic and lavish enough to
satisfy the most exacting nineteenth
century spectator.
The curtain rose on the garden sur
rounding Cynbeline's palace in Britain
with the entrance to the palace in view,
and the sea stretching away in the
background in q. misty blending of col
ors. The scene was a beautiful piece
of work, and won the first applause OF
the evening. The second scene showed
the interior Of Philario's palace in
Rome, with rows of columns and reced-
ing corridors, and as the curtain rose
disclosed to view a Roman noble re-
Ginning at full length on a couch intent
ly engaged in watching three Oriental
dancers.
Then followed the interior of Cymbe-
lines palace in Britain; in front of
Cyrnbeline'S palace in Britain; 1mo-
gems bed chamber, showing an exquis-
itely tapestried room in a dim red
light, with Miss Mather reclining in
white on her couch, while IachimO
crawIs from his trunk and works out
his ViIlianOuS mission; the cave of Be
larius in Wales, a vale in Wales near
milford Haven; and the mountainous
place of battle. The scene of the cave
of Belarius was particularly realistic
and beautiful. The costumes were in
keeping with the scenery.
Miss MathGr'S ''lmOgen, was excel
lent In every scene in which she APP
peared throughout the play her acting
received generous recognition, and sew
eral curtain calls were accorded her.
These she answered with readiness and
always in a winning manner.
Miss Mather's supporting company
was on the whole good. The "Posthu-
mus" of Mr.. Courtleigh and the tIachi-
mo" of Mr.. Henley are especially de-
serving of praise. Both actors were
warmly applauded in their widely diff
ferent characters.
Up to the time of the bringing out of
Gym beline," Margaret Mather was
not seen on the American stage for a
period of three years. In 1894 she was
married to Fred Pabst of the Pabst
Brewing company of Milwaukee, and
retired from the stage. 1t was not
long, however, before a domestic diff
Guilty arose between the gifted actress
and her husband, and she finally Sc
cured a divorce from the Milwaukee
brewer. A year ago she decided to re-
turn to the stage, and at once set to
work to bring out "Cymbeline.
Miss Mather's engagement for this
| season will end about the middle of
May, and she will then Immediately
| leave for England, where a villa on the
| banks of the Thames in the vicinity of
| London has already been secured for
| her. She will spend the summer there,
| returning to this country in September
to again take up the production of
| Gym beline" which she intends to car
| ry through all of next season,