The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-03-15

was playing in Mr.. Barnes of New
York; and during the Topeka engage
ment he was sick and his understudy did
the funny Mr. Barnes. Mr.. Haekett was
here at his hotel but he did not act
When he came back last night as "Jen-
Idco'' in one of the most magnificent
and stupendous productions of the sea-
son, q few in the audience thought he
really had improved Wonderfully since
they saw him. play Mr. Barnes.
The company supporting Mr.. Hack
EFT is strong, wonderfully strong. All
had an opportunity to display the fast
that they were competent to handle thsir
part and to even handle roles much
heavier. Miss Bertha Galland was well
chosen for the part of Marie Ottilie."
In every opportunity, from the most IT.
significant to the important and heroic
lines when her husband stands at the
''Silver Stork Inn a mark for the band
of assassins, Miss Galland shares the
honors with Mr. .Hacl<ett and shares
them equally. When Miss Galland as
the princess IS incorporating as her own
waiting maid in the Castle of TollenS-
hail. and artfully trying to ent-slp
'.Jennico' as her lover as she appears
as the waiting maid and not as she
really is, the princess, she does her
sweetest if not the most difficult ard
trying acting.
After her chat with "Jennico," when
she promises to intercede for him with
the princess, she trips daintily out of
the room, and at the door, as women
OItene co, she DauSGS Tor an instant,
gingerly holding her frock in her hands
that she may not trip, glances around
at 'Jennico," and with a slight and
piquant jerk of her head she INDUCES
in a chucxle, so full Of meaning, so
natural to piquant young ladies and so
musical that the audience bursts into
applause It is in the true portrayal
of the character and the carefulness for
details which marks Miss Galland as
an actress of no mean ability, and
which makes her an instant favorite
with the audience.
Mr. HacAett's part in the hands of one
less refined and competent would make
the character of Basil Jennico" as har-
rowing as the average romantic char
acter in melodrama- Not once does he
overdO underestimate the role. He
never rants nor does he in the least drop
to the Kissing, gutteral utterances so
often used by actors when soliloquizing.
AS the young Lord of TOllendhall who,
because of the pride of tie Jennicos,
must marry a woman OF rank and sta
ton whether he. love or not, and who
loves a waiting maid against his will,
is so perfect in his portrayal of the
character that criticism is out of the
question
George Barber as the prince of Luz
satia," the villain, was so much of an
actor that while representing perfectly
the villainous character OF the prince
he was not disgusting Arthur Hope
as Sir John Beddoes,'' the friend of
'sJennico," was not before the audience
much of the time, but when he was he
never failed to win his share of ap-
plause Thomas "A. Hall as Baron Won
Krappitz.' the forgetful old chamber
lain, did not fail to put a sufficient
amount of comedy into the character.
Miss Margaret Ellington as MicheP'
portrayed the part of the gypsy girl
with her contending emotions and her
hate as If she herself might hate as bit
terly off the stage. Miss Ellington IS
handsome
The story of Basil JennIco,' in the
school Of love, learning his lesson with
stripes and bitter tears, is told without
a flaw.
The demonstration at the close Of the
third act was such as is seldom seen in
Topeka The audience would not be
satisfied until the players had been re-
called a half dozen times.
The actors are not the only members |
Of tine company who play an important |
part. But for the ingenuity of Toby"
the chief stage carpenter the audience I
would not have seen the handsome /
stage setting carried by the company. /
The scenery was not built for such small
and cramped stages as that at the !
Crawford, and when load after load of /
scenery and properties We're unloaded /
at the Crawford yesterday, there were
many who said there was not ROOM the I
scenery was too large and could not all 1
be used. But 1t was all useds ana every i