The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-28
COMING DRAMATIC EVENTS

THE Prisoner of Zenda'' comes to the
Crawford tomorrow for a matinee and
night performance.
Despite the crying Of the devotees of
the "curate'' or 'fireside" realists, the
public's demand for romance the past
year or so has so overwhelmingly swept
the sands from under their feet that
such an apostle of rOmancers as An
tbOny Hope must stand aghaSt in won
derment at the phenomenal triumph OF
his principles for the great success of
his greatest of all great fables, '"The
Prisoner Of Zenda,'' has not only es-
tablished him as the foremost romancer
mand for that style of literature that
has set both uOvelists and dramatists
TO writing and thinking of nothing but
nlghly imaginative creations and ideal
1stic consequences. In presenting THE
Prisoner Of Zenda'' this season the
management has spared neither time,
labor nor expense in organizing a COM
pany that for completeness and merit
equals any heretofore engaged to give
life to this splendid romance among
whom are Vaughan CHASER, Charlotte
Titteh, W. NJ Wadsworth, Robert
CONFESS, Helen Strickland, Cecil Owen
Marion Daniels, w. L Buchanan, Luke
CONFESS. and others. The scenic equip
ment is of such magnitude that a car
is required for its transportation.
The announcement Of the coming of
Mr. Robert Downing and his company
IS welcome news to theater-goers. Mr..
Downing is this season surrounded by a
company composed Of such artists as
Miss Alberta Converse, whom the press
agent says bears q. strong resemblance
to Mary Anderson in beauty of face
and form as well as in her finished act
ing. ChaS- D. Herman who last season
was leading man with Frederick Warde,
and for five years previous with Nine.
ModJeska in the same capacity. will I'LL
the same position with Mr.. Downing
this season Er. DoWning's repertoire
consists OF 1.-The Gladiator s'Othello,"
'Ingomar," "Richard the Iion-hearted,'
and Damon and Pythias." For his en-
gagement here he has selected In
gomar' for the matinee New Years day
at the Grand, and Richard the Lion
hearted for the night performance.
"A Man of Mystery" will be the at
traction at the New Crawford opera
house New Years. matinee and night.
MeSsrs. Leary and Hagen, theatrical
managers. present this melodrama. with
the original cast, and the thrilling and
sensational effects Despite its sensa-
tionalisTn the play is said to be as pure
IN theme as water from a crystal
spring, not a detail is sighted or over
looked, and the comedy element is a
Sunburst of wit and hElmor, producing
a freshlet OF ripping laughter and mer-
riment- In "a Man of Mystery" as in
s'Tri1by,'' the science of hypnotiSIn has
OF all the depraved monsters the stage
has given, Richard GlenWood, known
as 1.-The shadow" is the worst A hyp-
nOtiSs who uses his baleful power for
wicked ends, an advanced criminal of
the fin de steele school, who robs his
friend, not by entering his house at
night by the fash of a dark lantern and
blowing open his safe, but by clasping
his hard in friendship and looking him
in the eye. The play is built upon his
last crime, the robbery of his own uncle
and sister. The sister is loved by Ned
Keene a detective who is tracing the
criminal and who because Of his love
hesitateS to do his duty and expose the
scoundrel The sister herself discovers
the crimes of her brother, and the sub
sequent events, including a beautiful
heart story, form the material for this
most wonderful play The characters
are all well drawn and true to life. The
comedy and dialogue are bright. crisp
and sparkling There is none of the old
fashioned claptrap and bombast in
either the language or action.