The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-09
Music and Drama
Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement Lovers

/ The production of Private John Allen
/ by Charles 3. Hanford, has been a reve-
1 la1on Of the adaptabilfty and resources
| Of this remarkably popular Shakespear-
can star. That ne should turn from the
/ temptuous Othello to the signing Romeo;
from the sneering Iago to the frank AMI
generous Mercuuo,, was not considered
so remarkable. All these characters were
/ in Shakespeare and Shakespeare mad been
had been the primer, the grammar
| school and the university Of Mr.. Han
ford's education as an artist. Yet when
all is considered, his change from the
hero Of blank verse to the hero Of mod
ern diction is largely matter of COS
tune. Private John Allen is man Of
| heroic mould, whose masterful character
refuses to bargain with conscience when
considerations Of self interest assert
themselves. His speeches appeal with cpl
granmatic force and have a sincere
quality which highly polished rhetoric
sometimes lacks. In this part Mr.. Han
ford has had new laurels fairly showered
about him without sacrificing any of his
| former prestige. He has convinced his
admirers that he IS an actor Of wonder
| ful versatility as well as exceptional
force in certain lines. HIS new play is
one which takes hold Of the interest at
the start and holds it without a break
until the close OF the play. It's scenes
are laid in CaddO parish, Louisiana, and
| the quaint personages introduced by the
plot are wildly depicted by q cast Of
| characters especially selected for this
| production. Mr.. Hanford has given every
detail of the work of producing it an
il 4+lv
| some Of the splendid Shakespearean pro-
! auctions with which he is so conspicu-
ously associated. The assignment Of parts
was most happily effected, Mr.. Hanfords
! long experience as a stage manager hav-
| ing enabled him to choose a company
which needed scarcely any. changes after
| the play was put into rehearsal. There
| is display Of character studies from
"Old ST." the colored servant, to Bessie
Stokes the adventuress, which is al
| most kaleidoscope in it's variety. The
play has proved one Of the big successes
of Mr.. Hanford's career and one of the
most notable of the present theatrical
| season. Mr.. Hanford's engagement is an
nouneed for Thursday. December Is, spe-
cial matinee at and night at 8, in the
Crawford theatre
Manager Mar+ling takes pleasure in
presenting to his patrons the special en-
gagement of Miss Ester Ru Jairo in her
new play "a Broken Heart" a western
melodrama It Is not often you have an
opportunity to see the author Of the
piece playing the leading part. Miss Ru
Jairo, the former star OF Human
Hearts," Is a charming young Kansas
woman. Don't fail to see her as Marcel
in "A Broken Heart" at Crawford Grand
for one night only. Tuesday, Deem
Der Il
A large audience laughed over the ab-
surdities of Hoyt's farce "a Brass
Monkey" at the Baker theatre last even
ing. It is one Of the playwrights earlier
farces and contains much of his best and
most characteristic work. It is a satire
on superstition, and he had no lack of
material to mold into dramatic shape,
such as black cats on moonlight nights.
fateful Fridays the number thirteen
walking under ladders, breaking looking
glasses, and various other unlucxy omens
on which the genuine believer in super
stfdon puts an unqualified taboo There
never charger, even by his most i'm
placable enemy, with such thing as q
plot and there is about as much sense
in it as there is in his other farces. But
It has many funny lines, is amusing
throughout. and the company is capable,
William Keller Mack impersonates
Jonah" the character originated by
George Marion, and his work is fully as
funny as his predecessor Miss Maize
Trumbuu is a clever Coincidence and
makes everything out Of the juvenile
part of Baggage" The "Razzle Dazzle
trio are as funny as ever, and the com
pany contains some good singers. Miss
Taylor sang ''Mandalay" in a manner
that won several encores. The satire on
a vaudeville performance sung and acted
by Mr.. Mack and Miss Trumbull, was the
most enjoyable feature Of the perform
ance.-ROchester n. Z, Express, Septe1n-
Der q
The story Of "The Prisoner Of zenda'
has been referred to as "a romantic,
dramatic lyric" so sweet in conception
and construction is the theme. This sea
sons presentation is promised to be one
Of the best ever given Of this delightful
romance, for not only does the company
carry ali the massive and magnificent
scenery effects. etc, which distinguish
ed It's successful run at the Lyceum the
atre New York, but the cast is composed
Of several OF the former players
SATURDAY, DECEMBER y
Eagle Scholarship Contest VIII Close
d on Above Dafe at 8 % NJ