The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-25

Esther Rodgers as the lover was so fas-
cinating that no one could wonder at the
Princess loving him; Marguerite Park
inson played "Babette the Maid and
her behavior would be an excellent ex-
ample to the friyalous French maids of
the modern musical comedy. Miss Jean
Rodgers was the queen of the fairies
her attendants, Mary Parkinson, Flor
ence Wilson and Miss Ruth Raster and
four more winsome little girls could not
be found in Topeka. They danced
gracefully and sang charmingly and one
shudderS to think what would have be-
come of the unfortunate Princess if she
had not given them a part in her Dlav.
The honors of the evening naturally fell
to the playwright and star, Miss Holli-
day. and she carried them most grac-
iously. She made an ideally lovely
Princess and as the creator of the char
acter, naturally interpreted the role
without flaw.
The event is further memorable in the
formal opening of a new theater, The
Rodgers. at sol Monroe street This
playhouse, it may be we'll to say, will
not book such attractions as Richard
and Pringles minstrels or the Cherry
Sisters, but is to be the exclusive home
of the Sunbeam clubs dramatic efforts,
and when not serving such a purpose
will continue to be the residence of the
A. K. Rodgers family Last night it
was filled by fashionable first night
audience. Among the occupants of
Mrs. John r. Mulvane, Mr.. and Mrs.
Charles K. Holiday. Mr.. and Mrs.
Eugent Hagan. Mr.. and Mrs. A. A.
Rodgers, Mr.. and Mrs. A. K. Rodgers,
Miss Villa Rodgers. DR.. and Mrs J. P.
Raster and other notable residents of
that neighbOrhood in which the Sun
beam is best known.
The audience was uncommonly cor
dial and appreciative for a Topeka house
and there were several curtain calls
after the last act although the star did
not respond with speech. No doubt
she takes Richard ManSfield's view of
the curtain speech as inartistic. An or
cheStra composed of Miss Lulu Healy
Miss Nellie Raster. mandolins, Miss vi
Wan futile, guitar, and Miss Celia
| Smith, piano. furnished excellent entr'
acte and incidental music for the per-
Torrance.
The presentation of working Against
Fate" is a great triumph for the Young
crowd in dramatic and histrionic effort.
me dramat1st is only thirteen years old
and none of her cO-workers are older. The
play was written, renearsed and cOstumed
| entirely without aid from the Grown-ups
and in its production the mothers and big
| sisters were relegated to such humble Of
| fees as that of property men and scene
| shutters and did that SO badly that. the
curtain wouldn't work at the end of the
first act which was really the only serious
plunoer IN the entire performance. Inc
programmes were very neatly and clever
| ly gotten up, exactly like any Dill of the
play, calling attention to the number OF
! exits in THE Rodgers" but hoping that
nobody would use them before the end OF
| the performance and every idea was orig
mated and carried out by the members OF
the club whose mothers We're not permit
ted to so much see a rehearsal before
the production Friday night
To show the superiority of Miss HOlli-
day and the Sunbeam club as, producers of
the modern drama over Frohman. Belasco,
Brady. Mrs FiSke. ct al, it is only neces-
sary to say that whereas in the case of a
| first night under the direction of one OF
the latter nobody expects to get out of the
playhouse before midnight. last night s
performance was over before O'Clock.