The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-03-22
AT THE PLAY LAST NIGHT.

1.-THE Telephone Girl which was at
the Crawford last night as the attrac-
ton for a large audience, needs thresh-
ing. If it were run through the hands
of somesgood critic-separator and the
chaff and meat separated, it might
then be passable, but safe to say the
pile of waste would be greatly in ex-
cess Of the savings.
Dave Lewis as "Hans Nix did the
impossible character as it should be
done In fact. when he was finished the
character was not only done, through
and through and Spitted and pasted,
but it was in the process of being done
so long that it was somewhat scorcheo
The part of the burlesque German was
quite funny at times. 1t is nothing
more nor less than a counterpart of an
idiotic parsonage in The Belle or New
York" who is looking all the time, as
sisted by a large butcher knife, for
'-Meesster Broonsczon" in hopes OF sew
ering him from his breath. only NIX
antedates the Belle. The difference IN
favor of the idiotic character with
the Belle is that there are a score of
other more or less humorous characters
in the piece, which relieve the monot-
ony.
In 1.-The Telephone Girl" Nix" Is the
one and the only one and before the finish
the audience really feels glad that there
are no more on the stage like him.
Lewis was funny, very funny at times
and there should be no criticism against
his playing of the nonsensical role. he
made il Immensely 1udicrouS for an
hour That is all the time the part is
worth but the management made MIN
spread it out thinly over good two
hours. The management IS at Iault' not
Lewis.
The chorus was a remarkably shape-
ly, well groone ed and neatly dressed
CONTINGENT. The absence of the usual
acute red cheeks and overly loaded eye
lashes was pleasing There We're really
several members of the chorus VINO
looked quite lady like and sensible ana
they did not appear in even soch a.
unfinished costumes as knee dresses. III
minished at the lower end, it should De
said however, for few of the tall ones
looked around the head and shoulders
like white tulips bursting out OF their
cups of green. ]
The gowns worn by some of the
chorus girls were rather low but the
audience did not notice that MOI aIter
Marie Richmond as Beauty FAIRFAX
appeared in a costume that contained
plenty of goods from the waist down
and only about scant quarter Oh
yard above the waist line
The music of 1.-THE Telephone Girl -
we'll. there was none that belongs any
more to her than to half dozen Otner
stage productions. The Gustave keker
music was mostly absent and coon songs
sung by impossible singers MADE up
the list OF airs. The two acts as musi-
cal production are as bad as could De
ina qined There were redeem1ng fea-
lures. Eugene wiener anu al lhIAA IN
rade contributed some very pleasing
ballads and Anna Conrad with her song
s.R-r-r-r-r-p Van Wrinkle was lucky
man, made the hit of the evening All !
the rest of the singing was of the Sc,
verest kind Pearl Hight, who played
the part of "Estelle," is complete
failure in looks, singing and dancing.
Marion Hyde as ''Clementine ana
Annie Lloyd as '.Toots" shouted and |
Yelled from start to finish like Q. couple |
Of wyoming cowboys trying to sfloot
10 a town. Neither could sing, but |
they danced fairly we'll Miss HYDE |
possessed a mat of very black hair |
which had been very thoroughly curled, |
and to show that it was her own ana |
would stay on she. continually shook |
her head at the audience like an angry |
bulldog. The audience was just as |
mad at her as she was at them
Miss Lloyd lately graduated from the
part of '.Bowery Nell" in 'Tne Bowery |
After Dark so she said I'VE WIZ go |
ing to have an oyster supper but we /
ost an OYSTER in very naive manner. |
You all know how they do it. 'Chimmy
F'adden" and billy Baxter" style.