The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-11-14
With MASK OFF.
How Theater Company WOr-
ries Through Rehearsal.
No Gold Lace, Swords Nor Made
Up Faces.
is NOT INTERESTING.
Spectator Does Not Enter Into
the Spirit of the Occasion.
Young Paul Gilmore and His
Role as D'Artagnan.

you broke my heart sobbed Lady
De Winter" to the Duke of Bucking-
ham," on the stage of the Crawford
theater Monday afternoon.
Pardon, ma'am,'' said the stage car
penter, but your head is in the same
danger if you don't get out of the
way of the weight we're lowering. Will
your ladyship please move few
paces?''
It was a rehearsal of the Paul Gill
more company in The Musketeers,"
and it was rehearsal under difficulties.
While the members of the company
strobe here and there. gesticu1ated and
recited their lines, stages carpenters bus
led themselves repairing scenery and
stage hands worked noisily placing set
tings in position.
My duty is to my king" said Car
dinal RicheIieu, bending so low that his
black derby hat came near being dis
placed.
mer,' yelled the property man, as ne
destroyed the courteous attitude of the
great churchman by giving the desired
tool a vicious wrench.
Remember, am the queen of
France" exclaimed Anne of Austria,
with head erect and flashing eyes.
Come, lady, you'll have to move till
we raise the drop" said a stage hand in
nifty of her station.
Romantic drama in street clothes is
something ridiculous The rehearsal
Monday afternoon was an informal af-
fair, and shirt waists and golf skirts
sack coats and stiff hats took the place
of court gowns, feathered hats, high
boots and rich uniforms.
The swords, which play such a promi-
nent part in the dramatizatiOn of Du-
mas famous novel. were left in the re-
spective dressing rooms, and the par
~ and thrust was carried on in ges-
ture alone. No port hole was there to
jump through, and Mr.. Gilmore simply
ducked' his head and extended his arms
to signify that he had left the imagin-
airy ship through such an aperture. I'm
aginary gOblets alone were carried to
the lips of 'D'Artagnan," the cardi-
nal and his companion, and here, and
at other times during the progress Of
the rehearsal it assumed the proper
tons of a pantOmime.
"SOtto voices and "asides" were
shouted above the din of hammers and
the creaking of pulIeys. Locations were
repeatedly changed to serve the plea
sure of the stage mechanics
Regardless of the difficulties that are
invariably encountered in such instan-
ceS, Mr.. Gilmore insists on his company
rehearsing frequently. The rehearsal
here Monday afternoon was especially
called because of the third act, which
is new in the production. Formerly the
third act was not given in full, but not
long ago Mr.. Gilmore decided that it
would be to the advantage of his pro-
ductiOn to have it. The Topeka en-
gagement was the second time it was
put on, the previous evening in Leaven-
worth being the first.
Mr.. Gilmore is but q years of age,
and has been on the stage for the past
eight years. His first principal work
was with the Jacob Lift Stock COM
pany, which included among it's mem
bers Louis James and Julia Arthur. Mr..
! Gilmore played a small comedy part
in a revival of Uncle Toms Cabin"
when Louis James played Uncle Tom
and Miss Arthur Eliza Harris"
He remained with Mr.. Lift for sew
eral years. and later was connected
with one of the FrOhman companies.
About two years ago he was married to
a young lady of Dubuque, Iowa, and
she advised him to secure a production
of his own. Acting under her advise
he secured 1.-The Dawn of Freedom"
and starred in 1t until the stage was
glutted with melOdramas incidental to
the Spanish American war. He then
gave it up to put on The Musketeers''
in New York city, just at the time that
both E. H. Sothern and James O'Neill
were appearing there in the role of
"D'Artagnan."
Mr. Gilmore's wife died two weeks
before he was booked to open the pres
ent season in Chicago. leaving twin in
fants, boy and a girl The young ac-
tor was almost frantic for several days
as a result of his wife's death.
A few weeks ago while appearing as
"D'Artagnan, Mr.. Gilmore was struck
in the knee by a Wad from a shotgun
cartridge, and is lame as a result In
stead of firing in the air, the man with
the gun fired directly toward Mr. Gill
more, and the wad tore through his
clothing and imbeded itself in his flesh.
1t is only with the greatest difficulty
that Mr.. Gilmore is able to overcome
his lameness while on the stage.