The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-04-24
"The Climbers" Produced in
Topeka For First Time.
An Excellent Production by a
First Glass Company.
AUDIENCE WAS LARGE.
Topeka Gets a Glimpse of Right
Kind of Stage Settings.
Satire on ''High Society With
a Strong Moral.

''The Climbers" which was seen at the
Crawford last night is not a gallery
play. The subtle meaning of the lines,
the moral that is taught are entirely
lost upon the denizens Of the upper reg
ions That is why the gallery was 50
orderly There were no shouts nor cat
calls. no vulgar outlaws TO mar the pa
thetic scenes.
There has never been play in To-
peka staged with such careful attention
to detail and with such complete and
gorgeous appointments. There has never
been a company in Topeka better bal
anced nor more capable.
Clyde Fitch wrote THE Climbers" It
is certain that he never did a better
thing Here is a safe model: If you
know that Fitch play is coming go TO
see it. GU may be slightly dIsappolnt-
ed at first but you may be sure that you
will leave the theater with only recOl-
lectiOns which make you better man
or woman The stage was never used
so effectively to noint moral lesson as
by Mr.. Fitch. His plays are wholesome,
Mr. Fifoh's play treats of society and
the aspirations of its members. The
temptations which beset some women
in the world commonly alluded to that
of the 400 the disappointments aceru-
ing from uncongenial marriages, and the
nobility of some natures which cOntrive
| to hold fast to their high ideals although
]
/ trOVertibIe fact. are trenchantly set
/ forth. Every character in the play
reaches up for something Mrs. Hunter
! and her youngest daughter for social
! prominence; her son-in-laW, Richard
! Sterling. for wealth through Wall street
/ speculations and her daughter, Blanch
! Sterling for happiness and nigh Ideals.
At the time of her fathers death Mrs.
| Sterling learns that her husband is con-
| nected with dishonest money dealings
/ She makes heroic efforts to save him.
/ assisted by a staunch friend of the fam
| lily, Edward Warden Love develops be-
tween Mrs. Sterling and the latter, but
Notwithstanding the fact that her hus-
bands contemplate rascality has killed
I her love for him, she conquers that felt
by her for her friend, Warden.
One of the features Of the production
| is the gowns worn
/ Miss Jennie Eustace introduces a sill
! yer gray satin dinner frock. Worn in the
second act. Just in color and texture
4 alone it is noticea BILE, though the grace
1 of the slightly draped Princess model
/ and the subdued brilliance of the che
nile embroidery interspersed with dull
| black pearls, adds to the charm of the
| whole.
Miss Marian Giroux. who plays the
part Of Miss Godesby, wears some of the
! handsomest gowns seen in this produc-
! ton. Miss GirOuX's first act dress of
| White broadcloth, skirt forming four
! white wings of dove, over old gold
| Panne velvet, a French seamless waist,
vest of old gold Panne velvet, outlined
with white silk roses. threaded in gold.
Her supper scene dress. which is of a
very rare bit of material, is made abso-
lutelV Princess " 1t fits her so eX-
tremely we'll that it has a tendency to
keep the masculine portion of the
audience guessing how she ever gets in
to it.
Miss Marian Berg, as the satirical
young Miss Hunter, wears an extremely
handsome gown that is very becoming
to her girlish style of seauty. It gives
one the idea of a nasturtium sunset, blue
silk grenadine over nasturtium- red, out
lined with a blue cOrding mixed with
gold, marvellous creation of light blue
silk chiffon, with pink roses, hand
some automobile coat of tan melton.
Miss Maize divers wonderful dress is
beyond description Suffice it to say, it
consists of 500 spangles, all silver, made
| over light blue silk with buffOon of 30
yards Mousselain de Sole with applique
of Sunf1oWerS in the natural cOlors CT the
flower in spangles. It is without doubt
the handsomest costume worn on any
stage
THE Climbers is a satire on society
in the large cities It pOrtrays a phase
= of life which playwrights have hereto
, fore avoided 1t shows Mrs. Hunter n
woman for whom the world has but one
l n meaning display. She returns from her
/ husbands funeral to discuss how she
appears in her mourning gown, and to
I lament because society demands that
J, she must be in retirement a year. In
the end she marries a young and BRAIN
{: less fop who has money to spend and
! who is always wondering if people are
> classy.
The strong character in the play is
: Mrs. Sterling, the daughter of Mrs
i Hunter This is the part created last
year by Amelia Bingham Mrs Ster-
Hng's husband has his mind on put one
thing-how to get money-he negleets
7 his wife. his family and friends. loses
! their money in speculation and ends II
I all by taking an overdose of morphine
: The part of Mrs. Sterling was brilliant
ly carried by Miss Jennie Eustace and
. Charles Kent as Richard Sterling han
! died the delicately difficult part excel
: lently. Edward Warden, a friend of the