The Topeka state journal., 1899-01-28
1T WAS NOT ssCYRANO,"
But Almost a Burlesque of the Soul
Stirring Play, Seen Last Night

But Almost Burlesque of the Soul
Stirring Play, Seen Last Night
Topeka theater goers had a taste of
Rostand's "Cyrano de Bergerac' at the
Grand Opera House last night.
| To those who have read the play the
taste was fairly interesting as sugges-
| tive of the stage production if nothing
| else. They were able to realize what
was lacking. To those who are not ia
miliar with the work, but have formed
an idea of what the production should
be from reading reviews, the taste was
! rather unpleasant, and many left be-
fore the performance was over.
The audience was large and made up
in part of representative people and
regular patrons of the theater. 1t wit
messed a production of "Cyrano" which
may at least be said to have been worth
the price of admission 1t was greatly
abbreviated, but so We're the prices. 1t
was devoid of artistic effect so neces-
sary in such a production, but artistic
effect is not purchased at 10, 20 and 30
cents
1t was an ambitious undertaking for
a company of comedians who put on
cheap comedies and melodramas only
IN an average way, to attempt a pro-
duction of "Cyrano de Bergerac."
performance was "Cyrano" himself He
surprised the audience because he was
so much better than it expected. But
little, of course, was expected
The part was taken by the young man
who announced on the opening night
that the company's production of "Cy-
ranO' had been faVorably compared to
that of Mansfield. He was the same
said it. Possibly some of the audience
of last night remembered in him the
artist of the opening engagement of
the company. The remembrance was
brought to mind by the way he strobe
across the stage. His "Cyrano'' walk
ed in identically the same manner as
his Cincinnati canvas dauber of the
opening night. But then it was only
proper that "Cyrano" should be given
an" artists stride.
The young mans stride was his worst
feature. His nose was much better and
his voice better still. Once in awhile he
moved in a manner that was not alto
gether inartistic. He gave evidence of
having dissipated more time in reading
Rostand's work than any of his associ-
ate labOrerS. The audience would have
liked him very much had he made a
stronger effort to bring out the basic
principle of the play, the almost divine
self-sacriflcing spirit of "Cyrano." He
simply played the part as he has been
accustomed to playing wronged hus-
bands and other somewhat common
place characters. He spoke the lines in
audience feel in the slightest degree the
wonderful spirit of self-sacrifice which
is the foundation of the play.
Still his work was the redeeming fea-
ture of the performance, He was SO
much better than the others Of the cast
that the audience was willing to forgive
him.
A young lady bearing the name of
Leone" was cast in the part of ''Rox-
ane." She is the best looking member
of the company and her looks were re-
sponsible for the selection. What Miss
Leone needs is dramatic study-very
much of it-and. opportunities. With
this she may be able at some future
time to portray the part of ''Roxane"
successfully. By that time she will
probably have realized that "Roxane"
is not supposed to dismiss Christian
by the simple command. "Gwan away
from here
In one sense the young man who took
the part of Christian" was competent.
He looked the numbskull lover to per-
lection. However, he was by no means
handsome. 'Cyrano's' reference to his
accomplishment in features served to
provoke smiles from the audience
The other characters demonstrated in
different ways that they were men and
women, but that was about the extent
OF their demonstration. Mr.. Mylie, who
can do a really creditable clog dance,
was somewhat ahead of his comrades
as the baker and the audience laugh
ed from time to time at his actions.
ties'' of various kinds We're introduced.
The programmes stated especially that
they were foreign to the production, and
the audience felt very kindly toward
the management for the information.
They would have been just as appro-
pirate between the acts of Hamlet" or
"She Stoops to Conquer"
The performance last night proved
simply what everyone knew. That was.
that "Cyrano de Bergerac" can only be
presented in a semi-amusing way by a
cheap repertoire company. The play
must depend entirely on artists of great
feeling and powerful intellect, and of
course this is Impossible by such COM
pany The large audience of last night
was due to curiosity, and the company
will probably be able to fill the opera
house in every town it visits just be-
cause of this feature of human nature.