The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-08-23
THEATRICAL NEWS
The Slater Company Will Open
the Grand.
" Held by the Enemy the Bill
For Monday.
BEEN PHOTOGRAPHED.
The Interior Resplendent With
Ivory and Gold.
Stage Equipped With New Cur
tain. and Scenery.
Other News of the Plays and
Players.


old ivory and gold. In the dome and
the proscenium arch blue has been
used with. good effect. In the dome the
blue is relieved by varf-colored flowers,
while in the arch a golden Tyre forms
tie center. with flowers on either side.
The ceiling shows one of the Drettiest
effects. The main color is old ivory
with garlands of flowers surrounding
the dome. The entrances are in empire
red with old ivory ceilings.
On the stage an entirely new scenic
equipment has been put in place. 1t is
all of modern and up to date pattern.
Half a dozen back drops are used, TAX
ing the place of the cumbersome flats"
with which the house formerly was
equipped. All of the wings" which are
used at the sides of the stage in a set
ting, have what are called Hlppers,
which close up the spaces between the
wings" One cannot. as formerly, sit
in box and look between the wings
on the opposite side of the stage and see
what is going on behind the scenes
Even in the first entrance, that is, the
one nearest the foOtlights, where the
big marble columned 'tormentoes"
which are always there in every theater
no matter what scene is In place the
view back of the scenes is shut off by
"f1ippers'' fitted with doors through
which the players must enter. A new
drop curtain with new draperies before
and behind has been hung. The
proscenium arch has been fitted with
many incandescent lights, as has also
the dome.
Some of the best playwrights in the
country have agreed to let their pro-
ducts be used by Stater's Madison
Square Theater company for the OPEN
ing of the Grand. Her Lord and Mas
bills for the week. Only last week
Helen Grantley, who was seen here last
season as katherine" in Charles B.
Hanford's production of Tanning of the
Shrew," made arrangements to use this
comedy for the first part of her starring
tour this season
Probably tie best known drama in the
Slater company's list is William Gill
lette's Held by the Enemy" for which
Mr.. Slater pays a round royalty to Mr..
Gillette The author of TOO Much
Johnson and Sherlock Holmes" is a
master hand at building war dramas,
as all who have seen Secret Service
and Held by the Enemy know: Held
by the Enemy will be the opening bill
and will be given Monday night for the
only time during the week The Slater
company management promises a fine
production.
Moths" Nell Gwynne,'' 1.-The Hand
of Man" and Among the Breakers
will fill out the week They complete
! the strongest repertoire that any COM
| pany has offered here. For this engage
| ment Manager Slater has especially en-
gagged two strong vaudeville acts, in
| addition to the good vaudeville turns
| given by the members of the company
| There are Is persons all told in the reg
| ular organization. Special scenery Is
carried for many of the pieces and this
| of the theater.
| There will be no advance in the prices
| and the rule of one woman free accom-
spanied by the holder of paid thirty
| cent ticket will prevail Monday night
| The advance sale now in progress al
| F'lad's drug store indicates a big open
| ing for the Grand.
AT THE CRAWFORD THEATER.
1.-The Penitent," Hall Gaines cOmpan-
! ion piece to THE Christian" comes tC
the new Crawford theater Monday night
| A company that includes the names OF
many favorite players, a scenic environ
| ment that is beautiful, and effects thai
| aid much in portra ying the locale of the
| story, among the promises held
| forth by Manager w. E. Nankeville
| This play was dramatized from Hal
Gaines most thrilling story, and like
The Christian" is both original in its
! theme and in it's conception The story
| is laid in the Cumberland mountain reg
| ion of England, and deals with the for
| tunes of two brothers and their illegiti-
with his half brother to rob the rightfu
| heir of his patrimony and wife, and
| aided by a wonderful resemblance be-
| tween them has his purpose practically
4
reasserts itself and he makes restitution
only to fall by the bullet of his fellow
! cOnSpiratOr. An eminent critic of
| Boston paper, in commenting on 1.-The
Penitent' said. "One cannot attempt
| to review The Penitent' in an hour. Al
the first glance one drinks in its beauty
| it's power, its greatness. To realize al
| requires a further knowledge, gained
| only by attendance at its presentation
| The Penitent' will live. 1t is not only
| brilliant end mastery play, but it is
| the equal o he best known of the Caint
| plays-'The Christian Entirely whole
| lating with wit captivating with its
| love story, supreme in its naturalness
| and teaching a lesson that none can fai
| to read who sees it's unfolding"
! This potent drama will be shown will
| all the scenic and other effects that aid
ed so much in making its run in Ros
| ton successful.
! The production of the big scenic melo
| dramatic play 1.-THE James Boys il
| Missouri will be the offering at tn
| New Crawford next Friday and Satur
| day and Saturday matinee. There /
| every indication of a general fnteres
| being taken in the event as it is a pla.
| out of the ordinary and embraces Sc
| ries of sensational features. The com
edy elem ent is also the breezy sort an
| a general dash assists in the action
| Every stick of scenery required for a de
| tail production is carried and is boil
| massive and picturesque, The Blue Gu
| Train Robbery" being particularly eff
| fective. The company includes Georg
| Klimt. Alma Hearn and others o
J ability.