Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-23

his way to liberty, seizes a candle. mounts
to the grating and is shot by the guard.
This scene could be made very much
stronger by attributing enough strength to
Fairfax to make a good light.
II the play as 1t stands is the work of
Mrs. Thomson solely. she ought to write
more, for there is much to encourage her
talent In this. her first effort. The title Of
ever. to satisfy her ambitions BY writing
and allow others to act her characters. h
has no talent whatever for the stage.
MIR. James s. Wood made about all that
could be made of SO unsatisfactory a char
acter as Fairfax. Mr.. Woods manner and
reading have been colored considerably by
tory roles. and he does not always adapt
himself with colloquial naturalness to the
requirements OF the modern play. He has,
tents and effects of Characterization for one
who makes acting only an avocation. The
particular hit of the evening was made by
Mr.; William Demmon. who masqueraded
under the name of William Augustus, in
the character part of Professor Obidah
Finch. An interesting piece Of character
Mr.. George F. Smullin made a fairly good
villain and Mr.. Frank Lott played a light
part with comfortable ease and natural
ness. Two ioyable old plantation negroes
were particularly well impersonated by
Mrs. Julia Downing and Mr.. W. X. Miller.
the latter a son of the late Sol Miller. of
Troy. kas. One of the most promising peo-
pie in this cast-is MIR. ]. *. Leitner, who
has a most admirable voice and an unus-
udlly natural anu eueCtlSe style LOT an am
ateur. Mrs. NJ. Frechette did herself much
credit in a rather skillful handling of a
very disagreeable role. If Crazy Mag has
the effect Of being an homogeneous charac-
ter. no fault is to be found with the way
the part was acted. for it was played with
maniacal realism by Mrs. James s. Wood,
self billed as Miss Grace Dean. Helen Fair
lamb. the precocious youngster. who has
frequently been heard in public readings,
made quite a hit in a child part. Lesser
characters were ~acceptably taken by Miss
Min ketcham. Miss Laura Sibley and Mr..
George Franklyn. Much credit is due Miss
play was produced.
AUSTIN LATCHAw.
A big theatrical benefit for the relief of
Cuban sufferers has been arrange for the
Grand opera house Friday afternoon. April
an All rfe i, p !TSe Banii.s w,n lc, be made m q up ,.f Of
be the attraction at the Grand that week:
! specialties from the OrPheum's forces. and
and the Third Regiment band. The must
clans from the several theater orchestras.
most of whom are members of the SYM
phony orchestra. have unanimously con-
sented to give their services. Mr.. Carl
Busch. Mr.. John Eshr. Mr.. T.. T. Hulett.
Mr.. p. N. Hiner. Mr.: H. o. Wheeler and
committee on programme. The proceeds of
the benefit will be turned over to the Stars
fund, which has already aggregated more
than $4,000 in cash.
Among the numbers selected for the pro-
gramme of the Philharmonic orchestra for
the concert to be given by Mr.. Carl Busch
at the Coates Sunday afternoon, March q,
are the '.Inauguration'' march. the Scene
d'Amour.' odd Folks at Home" (tran-
| scribed for strings). and two selections
from "Reverie Pastorale., all compositions
by Mr.. Busch. Miss Cora Tracy will sing
a serenade by Nevin. and Miss Rosa Rosen-
berg the gifted young violinist. will play
a ballad and polonaise by vieuxtemps. The
concert promises to be one of the most in
teresting given by the orchestra this sea-
son.
Mr.. Busch reports great progress in SUBJ
sCriptionS for next seasons concerts. the
responses from old subscribers as well as
new ones having been very cordial. 1t is
believed that Il sufficient number of sub
scriptions to insure the complete success OF
next years series will be secured by the
first week in April. when Mr.. Busch will
leave for Europe. where he will spend some
time.
New York. March 2a.-Miss Margaret Full
er. a grandniece of Chief Justice Fuller,
made her first metropolitan appearance his
afternoon at the knickerbocker theater in
| the title role of the Duse version of Ca
mile The theater was crowded with n
representative audience. and frequent ap-
plause attested unmistaKable approval Of
the fair debutante'S efforts