The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-12-26
HANFORD'S PLAY.
Two Large Audiences Witness
ssPrivate John Allen"
Play Is a Political One of Little
Strength.
STORY OF THE SOUTH
Woven Around Improbable In
cidents of a Campaign.
Tragedian Well Received in His
New Part.
TORY OF THE SOUTH

Two large audiences were at the
Crawford Christmas
Private John Allen" which was
played by Charles b. Hanford and COM
pany at the Crawford. Christmas matt
nee and evening, is tedious. The lead
ing character giving title to the play is
a type worthy of admiration His pure
unsellshness stands in strange con-
trast to the rest of the cast, not one
of whom is allowed to be constantly
noble, but are allowed to exhibit un-
desirable traits at various times.
Mr. Hanford's resemblance to Bryan,
which is accentuated by his makeup.
is noted by almost every one There
Private John Allen is a politician,
and Mr.. Bryan a, leadingapolitical figure,
but there the parallel ends.
Private John Allen" won his title by
fact that he was. by some strange over
sight, the only man in his community
who had not been made either as
matter of compliment or by the official
formalities, a Judge" a major or
Colonel" He is a peculiar politician,
a hard fighter and ardent lover. but too
patient a loser and too generous
victor.
burnt-cork portrait of much originality.
He would be for money, and go to the
nourner's bench afterwards, but he was
true to his master in time of need.
BILLY TVarson" was another character
sketch of a backwbods Judge" who
knew how to carry an election by keep
ing the boys voting for a week and get
ting 5000 majority in a precinct of 600
votes
John Allen gave up his race for the
governorship because his character as
a soldier was attacked and the disproof
of the ca1umny stolen. The air was full
of deadly secrets which he thought it
conscientious to conceal, and to save his
daughters happiness he accepted an
other spot of tarnish for his good name.
In construction the play is faulty, Civ
ing too openly the impression of manu-
featured entrances and exits to carry on
the complicated conspiracies and giving
a jerky action to the play. Besides the
secondary villain has his faults covered
up for him with the weakest of repent
ance for the dishonor for which he was
responsible, and fares far better than
his Just deserts. The woman whom he
wronged forsOok her demands on slighter
persuasion than conventionality would
warrant The play abounds in weak
spots, and is a disappointing vehicle for
the talents of a popular tragedian. 1t
lacks strong climaxes and the strong
lines could all be picked out in short
meter The greater part of emotion in
corporated in the play is of that dazed
kind that suggests opiates. 1t strikes
one as too calm for the passionate. i'm
At the close of the third act a most
unexpected denouement occurs, requiring
the keenest Vaccinations of ''Old Sie''
to bring about The old darkey blows
out the lights, giving Ruth Blackman a
chance to escape from a. compromising
position, while Aliens daughter crosses 4
the room and takes her place. Last
night an appreciative audience gave a
triple curtain call TO this scene. Miss
Mae Miller suffered an unfortunate ac-
cident as the curtain rose for the last
call. She tripped in her skirts as she
hurried across to escape observation and
fell headlong in the center of the stage.
A striking piece of business" occurs
where Allen RECEIVERS his stolen book,
last oct He cuts open the villains
coat with a sword and snatches the
precious record from his pocket. Uncle
Sie's'' conversion to Democracy, as he
tells it, is unique. He says he was never
struck by a white man until three
union soldiers laid him over a well and
castigated him. In the water mirror at
the bottom of the well he saw himself
change to q. Democrat.
This line of 'fUncle Sies'' brought down
the house at Leavenworth Monday night,
Mr. Hanford told a reporter when speak
ing of the opening of the new theater
at the Soldiers Home.
THE Soldiers Home theater is a very
pretty and commodiouS hail." he said. |
II believe I enjoyed my appearance in |
it more than at any of the cities in this
vicinity. Tt is operated by the Soldiers |
Home amusement fund, playing compa-
MES receiving a. fixed guarantee. To be |
the first company to play in it esteem |
ed great honor. The soldiers apprecia- !
ted Private John Allen keenly and at