Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1899-01-03
MUSIC AND THE DRAMA.
ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TO-DAY.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR TODAY.
COates-Frawley Stock Company. in The Dancing
Girl" S p. H..
Grand-'A Stranger in New York. s p m.
Orpheum-vaudeville. 2:l5 and Sis p. M.
GilIisS-"Darkes, Russia" Sis p. m.
COMING MEX EEK
COntes-An week. Melbourne Mcdowell and
Blanche Walsh in Fedora and La Tosca."
Grand-Al week. Murray and Mack. in 'Finne-
gan's Ball"
Orphcum-All week. Camilla Crs9 and other vau-
deville features.
GilIiss-AIl week. The Pulse Of New York"
Kansas City theatergoers are beholden to
the Frawley stock company for the priv
ilege of witnessing several plays that have
attracted much attention the past few
years. but which AVE not hitherto been
seen i'll this city. Besides the Frawley COM
pany is strong enough TO merit attention
on its own account. even if it does come
from the West instead of the East.
The engagement was opened at the Coates
| yesterday afternoon with The Dancing
| Girl" a play in which such distinguished
people as Mr.. E. II. Sothern. Miss Julia
Arthur. Miss Virginia Harmed and Mr.. j.
II. Stoddart have found much favor, The
Saints and sinners, The Middieman."
Judah" and many other successful plays.
Should add to the interest.
Mr.. Jones has generally written to good
purpose. He has taken a number of themes
| that many a dramatist would have handled
touched at all. and he has set himself to
the task of their development with a viril-
ity and d candor that are commanding.
even if his expedients are sometimes more
melodramatic than a strict application of
artistic taste would permit.
In The Dancing Girl" Mr.. Jones has
revealed several distinct purposes and en-
ployed sharply contrasted characters and
environments. He has brought into close
relation the extreme urbanity of London
and the trying simplicity of the Isle of
st. Endellion: the sufferings of poverty
ard the enjoyments of afiiuence: the sound
the morally decayed nobility of an equally
long line. He has shown 4 high order OF
skill in making these seemingly Ineongrn-
citation. The Duke of Guisebury may be
taken at his own estimate-a pretty bad
wholly bad. He has given him sone con-
science and sufficient purpose and courage
to want to end an existence that has been
satiated with Indulgence. Drusilla Ives
beauty seeking the eNcitements and fall
ing a victim to the perils of the fast
~ account for the sudden DEVELOPMENT.
frcm old Quaker stock. of such an utterly
vain and heartless creature as this pette''
lancer. The French dramatlst. OF CORE
spending aims and resources. would not
have failed to give a remote touch OF
heredity to this radical departure from
family traditions.
Miss Florence Roberts plays the difficult
role of Drusilla with a good deal of intelli-
gent discrimination. The part is difficult
only because it is hard to account for such
a shoot from such Il family tree. Had
Drusilia been born among dancers and OF
dancers she could not have been more
wholly absorbed in the vanities and the
selfshness OF the world of glitter. or more
oblivious to the instincts of filial duty. Mr.
Frawley plays the duke with repose ant
earnestness. but lacks the distinction tina
the role requires. Very important parts
Welles, who plays the philosophical anC
tenderhearted crippled girl: Mr.. Franz
Matthew. the John Christison; MIR. Sam Ed
wards. the David Ives: Mr.. Joseph p
Keefe. the affected Slingsby: Miss Fanchor
Campbell. the Faith Ives: Miss Lucille Ii
Verne. the Lady Bawtry, and our owl
Eleanor Carey. the Mrs. Christison. al
though it is a disappointment to see suci
an accomplished artist as Miss Carey cas-
for so ~thankless a part as that of tn,
crazy woman of the island. THE Dancin;
Girl will be repeated tonight. Wednes
DAY and Thursday nights AN U%nconveu
tional Honeymoon will be given and thu
remainder of the week. AN Enemy to TIL,
KING