The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-28
AT THE PLAY LAST NIGHT.

The perennial Bostonians were at the
Crawford last night in their DeKoven and
Smith success. Robin Hood" Nothing
need be said OF the opera. for it has been
heard so many times that THE ArmOrer s
Song" Brown October Ale 90 Promise
Me- and the tinkers' song never fan to at
tract good audiences.
at least. as the hub of the universe, and
the Bostonians are certainly the plVo-
around which swings all light opera organ
tzations. None survive as do the Boston
tans and many are thrown of by the cen
trifugal force of small receipts But the
BOstOnianS they go on forever Henri
Clay Barnabee, one OF the proprletor5' IS
Just funny he was the first day ne
was seen as the willy sheriff OF Nottln{ E
ham" Barnabee is 80 years old and II
anyone We're to wander into the opera
house and see him they might readily be-
Ueve that Webb McNan was before them
Barnabee has a wind, laugh and a smile
that could travel double with those of the
former superintendent of insurance.
Barnabee once sang In church cholrs.
This period lasted for 10 years. He mig mt
sing behind chancel rails now. so far as
his voice is concerned. but he would re
liable to drop willy grin right IN the mid
die of an anthem. and that would break
up the meeting. No one knows how many
times he has played the part OF the sher-
iff. but it has been so many times that
he seemingly goes into trance and walks
the stage with the naturalness of the real
sheriff if such a person ever existed.
And why should not such a person have
been real? The Republicans Of Kansas
Nall and that as the sheriff he levied At
will upon mis- subjects as McNan levied
upon the insurance companies.
Barnabee is very funny in a dignified
way. 1t can not be overlooked that age
has put the hobbies of stiffness on some of
his joints and that he is not so sprlghtIy
as of years gone by, but he OvercOmes that
with the adding of a little more dignity to
the role. The humor of the role is ac-
complished by Barnabees facial express
siors, but he has few lines which contain
humor of an cid enough vintage or with
enough sparkle to make them particularly
William H. Macdonald. the other mcm-
Der Of the firm, took the part of Little
John" and he is anything but little. lie
is quite as tall Barnabee. Macdonald
is old, but he refuses to tell just how old
he is Instead ne explains that he WAS
born in Steubenville. o. Macdonald sang
his famous Brown October Ale" with all
the zest that the part requires and in that
he certainly had the best opportunity in
was born in Steubenville, he studied in
England Germany and Italy and he can
sing a sight better than many younger
man.
There is another member of the company
not of the firm-who has made a great
success out of a woefullly meager part.
and that is George B. FrOthing ham. He is
not young by any means and he is the son
of a brewer. 'Friar Tuck with his keJ-
tie of frog soup. is quite funny.
Grace Van Studdiford was not in the
cast last night. She is sick in St. Louis
and her part was taken by AntOinnette
Martin. Miss Martin does not make a
good Maid Marian, and her voice VAS
lacking in richness She wandered from
the key occasionally and her acting left
much to be desired Miss Martin is not
even understudy to Miss Van Studdiford
and was taken from the chorus to fill the
part.
The ALAN a Dale" of Celeste Moore's
was positively bad. Miss Moore is haunt
ed by man in New York whom she does
not know He sends her flowers tele-
grams and bon bOns while she is on tour.
She may have received something from
the unknown yesterday that disconnected
her. for she acted during the entire three
acts as If she was worried or panied about
something. Alice Judson. as ''Annabel.' =
had little opportunity. but she gave evil
dcnce that all she needs is the chance tc
distinguish herself William c. Wssden
made a good robin Hood " and his ricr
tenor lent much to the attractiveness OF
the Brown October Ale" chorus In The
duet Miss Martin was unable 10 balarcc
She musical scale and she failed ute Y
to make anything of Jessie Bartlett Davis
famous song %. Promise Me" Allan
heavy solos acceptably. Josephine Bart,
lett still sings the part she created
Dame Burden
The production was excellent. The stage
was too small to allow any but sarline
box condition. The settings were fresr
and the costumes were exceedingly pleas
ing. The company carries it's own orches
ira
The Bostonians are looked upon as nj
most a family affair. When singer sign.
with the company and pleases. the publ.
may expect to see him or her. as the ca Is,
may b. in the company for years &c
come. That is one reason why the pl1hfi.
knows that the Bostonians viii be good
Singers have been graduated from thf
company who have received 81 00d WeeI
for singing one song night in vaudeville
etc. Among them are Jessie Bartlett Da
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