The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-10-30
ArTHE PLAY LAST NIGHT.

snThe Belle of New York. did not have
a large audience at the Crawford last
night. but Beulah Dodge was just as
demure, Mae Sailor was just as cute
and vivacious, Joseph Kane just as era
w. Arthur DEACON just as Bowery ana
Edward J. Connolly just as funny ana
all contributed to make the piece as en-
tertaining as it was when seen mere Tor
the first time with the same principals
a year ago.
1t is seldom. too. that musical COM
edy in the fifth year of its life is up to
its own standard but the Belle is an
exception for the stage settings were
Just as complete, the costumes just as
fresh, the company just as large, the
choruses were just as thrilling and the
solos just as pleasing as before Wnen
CuStaVe Kerker wishes to point MS
finger of pride at an achievement ne
has only to single out the fact that ne
wrote the music for the company. one
song ssThe Belle of New York, has
given him a passport to popularity
Sam s. Shubert may have many fall
ures in the Herald Square theater IN
New York but he too can point to the
Belle" with pride either in England or
America and say 81 did it"
This year the piece has new. Harry
Bronson" The part is in the hands or
Burrill Barbaretto, who looks as II ms
real name may be Smith or Jones and
possessed fairly pleasing voice but his
stage appearance gave him an awful
| set back Joseph Kane is playing keri
| Won Pumpernick," the polite lunat1c
| who has no place in the comedy by
| rights but who wishes to kill mister
Bronscon,'' Kane has made tremend-
| Gus hit with the part.
When it comes to sharing the honors,
| Arthur DEACON, who plays 'Blinky Bill
McGuirk' to Pearl Revare's Mamie
| Clancy" has always received the por-
| ton due him. His solo. "She Is the
| Belle of New York; received the most
applause of the evening. Mr.. DEACON S
| voice is particularly pleasing. Howard
! Champion played his old role of DOC
! Snifkins" with as much humor IN 1t as
| before. Gertrude Rutledge handled her
| part of 1.-THE Queen of Comic Opera
| with the same stop watch exactness-
| Hattie Wells as 'Kissie Fitzgarter" was
| as nimble as ever.
| Beulah Dodge in the title role of wi
| olet Grey has not changed. She grad
| mated from a Buffalo church choir to
! the stage with leap. The springboard
| was money. A great deal was said
| last season about her church ways and
| shyness being just the thing for the
part of the Salvation Army lassie She
| has had two years experience and Is
! inst as shy The church training does
/ not seem to have worn off 1t is act
ing Beulah Dodge now poses for pho
| tographs and does just as any Other
| musical comedy star would do. She
does well, too, in the part made famous
| by Edna May.
The audience which saw the perform
ance would have been good for some
| attractions but the people seemed Il
| fight shy of seats in the parquet at $1.5
per and there were several rows in tina
class that were entirely empty 'Th'
Belle of New York. should have had {
packed house; as it was there were plen
ty of vacant seats on the main floor
but the "Belle' has almost reached tn
bewhiskered age of senile decay Whil
it is good and people will go even if |:
is old just to hear tuneful music wei
rendered it scarcely seems fair tina
they should be required to pay more TO
the privilege than people in other cities