The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-01-26

tions and substitutes.
in its way, exemplified last Thurseday
evening by Edward P. Elliott in his pres
entation of Captain Letterblair." He
made imaginary scenes by his art so
real that the dullest imagination had no
difficulty in believing and seeing that
different scenes and characters were ap-
pearing and acting on the imaginary
stage which his art had constructed for
them. 1t was a mind picture, but 1t
seemed to be alive. The people lost
sight of the one sole actor, and saw the
stage filled with characters which acted
before them and spoke to them in a most
delightful way. Mr.. Elliott is a true art
ist and knows how to mix his colors.
There were just enough, and not too
much. A person may be so funny that he
ceases to be funny. Mr. Elliott never
overdoes He will always be a welcome
visitor
Auditorium tonight Single admission,
50 cents.
''Too Much Money" is delightful
comedy that pleased the large audience
that saw it at the Crawford theatre last
night. Pleasing as the title is, the show
IS better The players all do competent
work in their respective parts and last
night played with the advantage that an
appreclative and responsive audience
gives to player. The Crawford was we'll
filler and the laughter and very frequent
applause of the audience showed that the
company as well as the play pleased
them. The costuming too, was good and
tasteful, and in every way those who
saw TOO Much Money saw very pleas
ing performance Among those in the
cast who deserve mention are Thos. Hair
who as the rich young man disguised as
a lady art student, was simply immense.
Arthur B. Lynde as the man with too
much money is a very fine character
actor, and he had the audiences full at
tention throughout the play. Dolly Dav-
export is beautiful and played the
Dunkard widow gracefully. The rest Of
the cast was well balanced, and the sup
port was sufficient The play is COM
edy with a we'll sustained plot, not too
heavy to give one a headache, yet enough
to fasten the auditors attention.
When future historians write the an
mails ofthe American stage, they will no
doubt refer to the fact that during the
last few years of the nineteenth CEN
tury style of entertainment that -four
ished with remarkable vigor was that
furnished by the 10 20 and SO-cent' rep
ertoire organizations" If any skeptics
went to the Grand last night to attend
the opening of the weeks engagement
-,,,st
dent the large crowd that pushed and
surged about the doors squeezed all the
doubts out of them. The time for ridi-
culing these companies has passed. The
best of them no longer deal in cheap and
crude heroics punctuated by cleaning
pistols and cigarettes. Better plays, bet
ter acting and better stage management
is now the rule, and the public has not
been slow to note the change and lend
its liberal support. Dramatics are view
ed by the majority from a mercantile
standpoint and there will always exist
the demand for q low-priced amusement
product. Ferris Comedians left, a good
record behind them last season, and the
enthusiasm of the audience last night,
which crowded the theater to standing
room speaks well for the success of the
engag cement this week. The play was
my JIM" by F. Grahams. It's mission
was to entertain rather than to- set forth
any canons OF dramatic art, and its OBJ
iect was attained. The company Worked
theoretically and conscientiously. Dick
Ferris played an uncouth country boy
with considerable fidelity and a great
deal Of fun. Sam Mylie was the old Maine
farmer, and others in the company are
Ferdinand Graham, S. Philleo, Ted Brack-
EFT, Grace Haywood, Kittie De Lorme,
Emily Batio and Jessie Pringle. There
are no waits between acts, and the time
is filed in with specialties. Tonight IAN
Innocent Sinner" the play in which Lii
Ian Lewis last appeared, will be present
ed-Des Moines Leader, December 10.
THE MANHATTAN STOCK. co.