The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-13
AT THE PLAY LAST MIGHTY

'"Tbe Evil Eye at the Grand last
night drew a good sized audience. and
made people laugh almost into hysteaia
who would hardly smile at some of the
comedies now on the road.
THE Evil Eye is advertised as the
mammoth Kaleidoscope spectacle and
being the further funny freaks OF Mo
and the continued comical contortlonS .,
Nod" It is what can properly be called
show not the kind that is to be seen
under canvas but the real. dyed-ln- the-
wool stage show, with the word SNOW
used advisedly. 1t was a good show IT
used to be that three or four such oro-
auctions played Topeka every season,
but this IS the first that has been acre
since 1.-The Devils Auction" made its
last visit some three years ago
There IS a plot. a plot of the deepest
dye, in The Evil Eye" that is thrilling.
1t is about tie abduction of fair fish,
maiden by Evil Eye, a JettatOre," W10
carries her half around the world and
lands her. clad in mighty thin clothes.
in st. Petersburg during a cold snap
The rest of the plot tells of how eVerN-
one else in the company chased The
Evil Eye" In the last act the wonder
full charm is broken. the spell that has
protected the "Jettatore" is disbelief,
and he loses the girl, the hidden treasure
and his life.
The attractive fea lures of the prodUc
ton were the specialties and mechanical
effects. The first act concluded with an
old-fash toned Dutch windmill Of the
enough to keep up with a Kansas
zephyr. There were four arms to the
windmill, and on each arm cluug
man
The second act concluded with the
wonderful revolving house The audi
ence saw the interior of z house revolv-
ing about its center The people in the
house tried to stay in the same location.
geogra phically, and to do they had TO
do a treadmill pace. The cortrivance
was awarded its share Of laughter.
The really meritorious spectacular fea-
ture of the entire show was the electrical
ballet. A dozen dancers clad in May
day costumes stepped about May pole.
The costumes OF the dancers, the floral
ropes from the pole the pole itself and
the festoons BETTING the scene were
studded with countless miniature cleo
trio bulbs. The stage was darkened
and part of the electric lights were
turned on at a time. First the dancers
feet were brilliant with electric lights.
Then their hats blazed forth. Then their
skirts were brilliant with lights. and ;
a finale every light was turned on at
the same time. The effect was very
pleasing.
The tumbling work was done by the
Brothers Kennard, mid and Nod"
They dived through stone walls. fell un-
der pumps in time to be pumped full of
water, and had little trouble in keeping
the laughter going. It seemed that the
same antics which amused the children
We're as funny to the grown people The
| particularly strong. Richard T. Brown
in Al H. Wilson's old part was fairly
well received. and Josie Sisson's singing
was aDplauded Miss Helen Foy is re-
markedly pretty Gerda Jams. There
waa the Troubadour Four which sang
with all the gusto imaginable and in
troduced a sufficient number of switch
shanty minors to please the gallery.
They held onto whole notes longer than
an urchin would clasp a fresh piece of
gingerbread. The singing was nos bad
at all. however. and the four "Tere re-
| calico several times.
The Fhasey troupe of twelve English
dancing girls danced and did brass
the requirements of concert band work.
members of the company to Introduce
the usual "Sousaree' burlesque, which is
old enough to be retired, but on account
of the recent visit of Sousa Was quite
funny.
TIE scenery of the piece was good. and
all in all the show was UP to the
quirements, and the audience was
amused. There were staid business nIcn
| in the audience who broke their rule and
| laughed. It was the sort OF a show
where The Volunteer is parodiei ard
makes a hit with the audience when me
tune is used for the following words:
you don't belong to the ,nilliouaires,
You're Just a nottingham;
You've been crowded by rank and file
Ever since time began
| Now stand together and wait and hope,
And do the best you can.
| And the millionaires will take off their hats
To you, Mr. Workingnlan."