The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-04-15
CRAWFORD THEATRE PACKED
Wilbur Kirwin Company Wins Sac
cess Over Strong Opposition.


Has Wichita gone mad over the Wilbur
Kirwin Opera company? It certainly ap-
pears that such is the case. Last night
in the face Of the strongest opposition
Paderewski at the Toler, the Wilbur
Kirwin company all bit packed the
Crawford theater TO the limit OF les ca
pacity. The receipts were S1eo larger
than on the occasion Of the opening and
initial performance Of that Organization
on Match Il. This was Que TO tlle fact
that at that time seats were sold for the
season at reduced prices. because the
company was unknown here. Last night
crowd was a deathblow 70 the croakers
who declared the company would do no
business on account of It's refusal TO sell
season tickets this time.
The bill was The Vagzbonds. French
opera OF ancient vintage. It more than
pleased the big audience and sent all
away laughing ana happy. Between
Paderewski and the Wilbur-Kirwin COM
pany it seemed that everyone who had
the price was at the theateT. In both
cases the verdict was that the audience
received full value for its money.
The Two Vagabonds" Is primarily a
comic opera, dealing with the adven-
lures of two joviai rascals who succeed
in getting into more vahieties OF trouble
than q Philadelphia lawyer could
straighten out in a month of five weeks.
1t is the vehicle for world OF good
music of the type people Ike TO whistle.
and no end OF wholesome fun The stage
settings were very pretty, the wardrobe
pleasing and the appearance of the COM
pany equal to that of any organization
that has played Wichita at s. prices this
season. The Wilbur-hirwin Opera COM
pany is not exactly a Maurice Graw or
ganizstion. but it comes nearer TO that
he lie
gets in the way of an operatic attraction
throughout the year. When the Wilbur
Kirwin Opera company appeared here
last month It numbered thirty-two peo-
pie outside Of its executive staff and
mechanical crew. Last night thirty mine
people were counted in one en- semble
In addition there is an executive staff Of
four and a stage crew Of four-fOrty
seven people. That is not q very bad
showing at prices ranging from 30 cents
downward. The performance pleased so
well that there IS no room for doubt that
the company Will do even greater
business than on the occasion Of its last
visit. when It gave ten performances TO
practically the capacity OF the Crawford
theater
Forest Hun has splendid voice and
was a handsome and dashing Robert
Macaire. ". II. Kohnle was irresisti-
bly, funny as Jacques.
Miss Forrest made a charming Rosa
lie Hattie Palmer was fetching as
Panchon and Bernice Harte was an ideal
Marie. But the chorus outshone all tho
principals. Miss Susie KirNin Is TO be
congratulated on one thing and that is
carrying the prettiest chorus on the road.
The girls are comely, shapely and have
fresh. pretty voices. Many managers
sacrifice these points in order to fiji the
stage with big women. Miss Kirwin has
not made this mistake Her chorus girls
are as fresh as a cluster Of roses from
the garden.
THE Two Vagabonds" will be repeated
at Wednesday matinee. This evening
Carmen" viii be produced. With such
a company it ought 70 be a wonderfully
clever production. and should pack the
house.