The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-10-31
Production of " Modern Magda-
len +" in Topeka
Caused a Free Use of Pocket
Handkerchief.
ATMOSPHERE is BAD.
Play Brings Audience in Close
Touch With Vice.
The Cast Was an Especially
Strong One.

A better company, unless it were a
company supporting some dramatic
star who stands high in the professional
Permanent, has not been seen in Topeka
for many months than that which play
ed "A Modern Magdalen" at the Grand
last night.
Amelia Bingham, who. has lately
Sprung into prominence as a star and a
manager is playing the part of 'Ka-
einka" in a company of her own IN the
east and she has entrusted her role to
the hands of Roselle Knott in the com
pany playing in the west. Miss Knott
bears a slight resemblance to Miss
Bingham in face and figure and she is
capable of sustaining the difficult char
0cter.
"A Modern Magdalen," as might be
guessed by the title. is one of the So
called problem" plays. So called be-
cause there must be some excuse for
Haunting such scenes and incidents on
the stage. And still there is not much
Haunting. as there is a so-called clientel
from which such plays always draw
their patronage.
The story of "A Modern Magdalen" is
that of a young girl with a drunken
father and coarse and brutal step
mother, living in poverty and seeing her
sister wasting away for the lack of care
and nOurishment. There are several
Lotharios who force themselves into the
home Of "Katinka JenHiDs,, and attempt
to lure, her away from her life of
drudgery and starVa ton to a life of
tinsel and excitement at the usual cost.
But the persuasion does not have to be
great, for "ROSelle" offers only half
hearted resistance and after her father
had brought to the home a man with
money and a willingness to make
bargain and after, the sick sister had
swooned from exhaustiOnS the mind of
"Roselle" was rlfde up and she threw
herself into the life of debauchery and
shame with all thea bandOn that goes
with such woman in real life; Wo-
man who cakes the step but who dares
not stop for one moment the mad whirl
for fear she may review her past and
present and in fit of dependency end
all the sham existence with a draught
or a revolver. 'Roselle" becomes the
favorite of the most indecent variety
theater where she is known as The
MadcaD." N'it7 500 -tle
''Roselle" is Respondent in satins and
silks and diamonds. for which she paid
the price. Her apartments are huns
with the fitting color of scarlet. She
secretly supports her family in comfort
on the money and diamonds which are
hers for the asking. Her father, played
by w. J. Ferguson knows full we'll of
the life she leads, takes the money and
allows the family to be kept in ignorance
as to his daughters whereabOu and
induces them to think he is making
the money out of insurance. He is will
ing for his daughter to lead her life of
shame so long as he is supplied with
money. While the family lived in
squalid lodgings, Eric Hargreaves,
played by Franklin Roberts. boards and
rooms with them because he loved "Ka-
tinka" and wishes to help the family.
After she runs away he lives on with
them. hoping that she may return.
John Strong" played by Victor NJ.
DeSill1e is a reformer. in love with the
sick sister OLIVIA" He wishes to
marry her, and after the family discover
"Katinka's whereabouts and life they
dread his discovering it for fear he will
call off the cement ttTn6n StTOr3er''
secs to 'Katinkas" apartments for The
avowed purpose of studying the life OF
such social outcasts. There he makes n
attempt to convert "Katinka." but he