The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-12-01
AT THE THEAFER.

The unalterable effects of age in
everything that pertains to the stage
is responsible. for the fact that "A
Black Sheep which visited Topeka
for the first time Thursday, is no lon
ger up to the HOytian standard of en-
tertainment. Like "A Texas Steer" its
present success is due more to its name
than anything else. "A Black Sheep
outlived its first success several years
ago. and is now one of the class Of
farcica1 productions, of HOyt and other
manufacture, that have seen better
days"
There is but one member Of the orig
inal company now with the farce, and
he the particular feature Big Biz
Devere has put in the greater part of
the last 43 years on the stage, and for
a number of years has been identified
with HOyts productions. Last year he
was seen here in "A Day and a Night
with Otis Harlan, the clever comedian
who created the part of Hot Stuff
Mr.. Devere makes q success Of being
himself on the stage. For years he has
been one OF the best odd men, before
the public. His big personality might
easily fit in any character of jolly
old fellow, and it fits admirably in the
role of the Arizona editor. The ht
was just as admirable in the part of
the sea captain of "A Day and
Night last season. For the first time
since he has been with the HOyt pro
ductiOns, Mr.. Devere is being featured
this year. Under the present circum-
stance he especially deserves to be.
If Mr.. George Allen. who is now the
Hot STUFF of a Black Sheen had
Otis Harlan's ability in a proportion
equal to that Of his resemblance to
him, the farce would approach much
nearer its former standard of excel
lence- Mr.. Allen looks enough like
Harlan to be his brother. but the like
ness of one to the other stops there.
Mr.. Allen says that he is under a re-
straint in his present part. because if
he attempted to copy Harlan, cOmpari-
sons would be made and he would con-
sequently suffer The restraint is no
ticeable. Mr.. Allen does not enter into
the part His impersonatiOn of the
black sheep of a distinguished family in
his Arizona haUnts, and the transfer
nations that afterward occur. are not
realistic and therefore not satisfac-
tory.
The company supporting Mr.. Devere is
not a typical HOytian aggregation by any
means 1t serves TO show up the age of
"A Black Sheep distinctly. because OF
the retrograding effect of time. Miss Ad-
elaide Nye makes her work acceptable at
trance anv favor sbe NAV deserve by al
tempting to sing. It seems to be a pain
only be painful to the audience. If ma
ture had been kind to her in the matter
Of voice as it has been to Mr. Harry De
we're in the matter of cOuntenance. she
would probably been an operate star.
Nature made Mr.. Devere amusing when /
It endowed him with his. face and but
val selections satisfactorily and looks suf- !
queen"
Mr. Devere's Laughing song was as /
much the feature of the speciality digres- /
S1onS as ne Is the feature of the farce. I
His laughter was infectious and the aud /
fence laughed with him. The limitations 1
of Gilbert Girard and the dancing Of Miss 1
Lulu Beeson deserve especial mention.
In constructing "A Black Sheep Mr. /
HOyt became almost melo-dramatfc It |
has more of a plot than the usual Hoyt |
farce. and contains d distinctive william /
The cutting lines that Mr. Hoyt has j
been prone to inject in all of his produc- /
tons are noticeable because of their
scarcity in a Black Sheep
Hoyts productions. with the exception 4
of very ancient farces. always meet with
q generous response en- the part Of To- |