The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-11-20
zAzA AGAIN HERE
Mrs. Leslie Carter's Play Seen
at the Crawford.
Topeka Audience Sees a New
ssZaza" in Title Role.
PIECE is WE'LL ACTED.
Mss Hall Is, However, Not En-
tirely Satisfactory.
People Are Well Pleased With
the Production.
PIECE is WE'LL ACTED.

'Zaza," just as risque in lines and
situations, produced by a Charles Froh-
man company with that nicely and at
tention to details which calls for Gas
cart" to read a genuine La Petit Jour
nal, was presented last night at the
| Crawford for a second time, and drew as
| large house as a year ago There was
a new "Zaza," Blanche Hall, who sue
ceeded Mabel Howard, with the COM
pany on the road. Last year Miss Hall
was understudy to Miss Howard
'Zaza," the child of the slums, who
| did not know the difference between
morality and immortality, was again
depicted apparently to the satisfaction
of the audience, but little Miss Hall is
not an ideal 'ZaZa-" She appeared to
be suffering from a cold, and in the
parts where the frenzy of the actress is
given full sway she appears totally I'M
equal to the physical requirements o.
the part. 1t IS apparent that she has
been a careful student of the part and
she fails only in the physical require
ments
Frank Mcdonald as 'Dufrene'' ap-
peared weak in the Opening scenes of the
piece. He strung his sentences together
like a. child stringing popcorn, and his
work was decidedly mechanical, but in
yong Partisan that she has been to see
his wife and has told her ALL he rises
to the opportunities of the situation like
a true artist and his fury does not APP
pear to be counterfeited. Then the au-
dience at last forgetS that he is not
speaking the lines for the money there
is in it Mr.. Mcdonald shows in this
act that he is an actor, when he cares
to be, and if he would devote a little
more care to the other situations it
would be appreciated.
The part of 'tCascart'' seems to have
been written for L. F. Morrison, who
IL
of the character as 'ZaZa'S'' singing
partner was excellent. Lizzie DuRoy, in
her old part of Rosa. BCnne." ''Zaza's'
aunt, was as funny as ever. There are
ten members of the company who were
with Miss Howard last year.
One can not help sympathizfng with
ssZaza'' who is weak and yet strong,
who had learned to receive the atten-
lions of men as q. matter of course and
whose poor little calloused heart was
finally stirred by the handsome Bernard
Dufrene. The audience on the lower
floor did not enjoy the scene when Ia
ga is at last told that her lover is mar
ried so much as did the gallery but their
sympathy is again won by the hot head
ed young music hall singer when she
enters Dufrene's home determined to
wreck its happiness, the people felt that
she would have been justified. When the
revulsion of feeling comes in the en-
counter with Dufrene's little child and
her purpose is shattered, there is felt
the first real admiration for ''Zaza."
For the first time in her young life she
has conquered herself and noble i'm
pulses have triumphed.
But after all, what is the use of drag
girg a character like "Zaza'' before the
public? Must the people be compelled
to witness mans duplicity and woman's
immortality in all their hideouSness sim
ply to see in the end the ccurtesan be-
come a woman? Is the whistle worth
the price? The climax is decidedly weak
from a dramatic standpoint in compar-
ison with the other situations
s'Zaza." with Mrs. Leslie Carter or
without, brings before the people a con-
dition that would be better left unre- |
vealed The atmosphere of the play |
simply reeks with immortality and the |
stage would be better without it and |
without other plays of it's class. And |
s'Zaza" is a dramatic success.
The audience would have been better |