The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-02-10
MISS PALMER RETURNS
Topeka Actress Adds to Her Former
Triumphs.


When person accomplishes success
and still has the feeling that better tri-
umphs are in store it seems safe to say
that they are. Such seems to be the case
with Miss Ethelyn Palmer who was seen
at the Crawford Saturday night as
Mrs. Weston in 1.-The Cowboy and The
Lady"
Miss Palmer is one OF. the most sue
cessful young Topekans on the stage.
In four years she has succeeded to
part played by Maxine Elliott, the lead
ing female part at the head of a capa-s
PIE company. During the entire season
Miss Palmer has won deserved praise
for her portrayal of the part. Success, is
hers but Miss Plmer is not content. She
has always felt that the emotional is her
forte and while she has a deal of it in
her present part she wants more and
greater opportunities in that line. So
far Miss Palmer has won on her merits
as do all stage folk of the highest mas g
nitude whose career as stars depends
on worth and not upon diamond rob-
them before the public. There is more
than a dash of comedy in the part of
Mrs. Weston, especially in the first
act and in the second and the third
there are emotional scenes which give
Miss Palmer an excellent opportunity;
in fact from her appearance in the first
act as the cOQuette full of banter and
light heartedness, through the second act
( in the third act of agony and love, Miss
{ Palmer ran the gamut of changes in a
pleasing and accomplished manner. She
easily shared the honors with 5. Miller
Kent, who is the star of the piece or at
least is so designated on the play bills.
THE Cowboy and The Lady" is by
Clyde Fitch. Like all his plays it is
good. Really very good, although at the
end it leaves the impression that Fitch
wrote it on a mahogany desk in some
New York club after serving a cores
pondence course for the study of west
ern life by reading Alfred Henry Lewis
stories and looking at Frederic Rem
ingtons pictures. The play should be
quoted at about 125 if Jess of the Bar
z" is placed at par but Arizona" still
stands boldly out as the truest story OF
western life written by man who lived
among the characters and scenery he
transplanted to the stage. Nevertheless
1.-The Cowboy and The Lady is good.Al
can not be the best and except for few
technical reasons it is thoroughly ac-
ceptable. The Severest criticisms, which
may be turned into compliment to
Miss Mathilde Weffing, is the part of
molly Larkins,' the proprietress of the
dance hall. She made the part too nat
ural. The daredevil, cigarette smoking
and snake like movements of Molly
Larkins" We're disgusting.
The one who stands out in the back
ground of players is Rapley Holmes,
who took the part of the giant cowboy
Joe" His portrayal of the character
in looks, words and actions was the
most perfect of anyone who has aSsayed
the role of cowboy on a Topeka stage
in recent years Bert Merket as Pete
was pleasing, Joseph Williams as
Dave" was good, but Holmes was per-
feet.
Kent, who took the leading role of
Teddy North" was good. He is a
capable actor and the mixture of cow
boy life and Harvard culture which
was mingled in his makeup was suited
to him. His one great fault is the meIo-
dramatic manner in which he disports
his hands. The character of North is
the same as may be found in many
other dramas. He assumes the charge
of murder which he has not committed
to save the woman he loves, who is
also innocent, but who by circun stan
tial evidence would be convicted except
for his false confession. The idea is
made new to a degree by surrounding
it with cowboys and Indians. 1.-The
Cowboy and the Lady, is replete with
murders and swear words, but both
seem to belong there.
Miss Palmer'S gowns were of the sort
that attract the attention of the femi-
nine portion of the audience. Her APP
pearance on the stage is pleasing, and
she does not have to depend on silks
and satins for prepossessing stage APP
pearance. 1t was a large audience which
called Miss Palmer before the curtain
at the end of the second act.