The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-06
AT THE PLAY LAST NIGHT.

} One of the very best attractions that
has played at a ToDeka theater this
season was the production of Hon.
John Grigsby'' at the Crawford last
night by James Neill and company, and
it was greeted by one of the smallest
audiences so far recorded.
Barely enough people occupied seats
on the first floor last night to pay the
hotel bills of the players in Topeka. The
prices for the engagement ranged from
81 down to 25 cents. In comparison with
the prices charged for other plays the
scale should have been from $3.50 to so
cents. The opera house management
some times puts the high prices on very
poor attractions with the idea that the
theater going public will rush to see
most anything that comes high. From
the way Mr.. Neill was received at live
and let live prices it seems that he made
a mistake. Mr.. Neill has sent his com
pany to Topeka twice before. last sea-
sOh and season before. and each time
triumph was scored in ''Aristocracy,"
AN American Citizen and Barbara
Frietchie." But the public seems to be
forgetful. On the Pacific coast the name
of Neil stands for the best 1t ought
to be the same sort of trade mark in
Topeka The cool reception the COM
pany received was enough to give even
old players nervous dyspepsia, after
riding all day from Lincoln, Neb., to To-
pelza, getting in at 5 o'clock and leaving
at midnight for Wichita.
Hon. John GriSsby'' was written for
the late Sol Smith Russell and the part
of the honest, kind hearted Illinois law
yer of the period when Abraham Lincoln
had first been heard Of was especially
adapted to his peculiarities For anyone
else to interpret the part as did Russell
would be an impossibility. There should
be no comparison between the "osrigs-
by of Neill conception and the inter
probation of the role by Russell.
Neill has improved since he was first
!
and he sustained the role of the perse-
cuted lawyer in a thoroughly capable
manner. Perhaps he did not make quite as
much of a so-called character part as
| he might but he was not stacy, he was
not over jealous in the heroics nor too
sentimental in the quieter lines and all in
all he made the character counterpart
of what might be expected in life. Mr.
Nell always surrounds himself with
very capable company and the support in
Hon. John Grigsby' was no exception.
Every part was carefully cast and
more perfectly balanced company has
ever been seen at the Crawford.
The story of Hon. John GriSsby'' is
that of a struggling lawyer of marked
ability in the before the war period who
takes the cases of pcnniless clients is
slow to collect bills due him and conse-
quently as slow to pay his debts, He is
an anti-slavery sympathizer. He is OPP
posed by the influential men of the town
who are in favor of the Illinois compro-
mise bill. The state convention to nom
| mate a man for the supreme bench is in
session. The two men IN the lead for the
nomination are for and against the COM
promise bill. A deadlock results. The
political schemers who wish the compro-
mise bill declared unconstitutional know
! that Grigsby could be nominated by ac-
! clamation but they do not know where he
stands on the bill Finally they spring
! his name and nominate him unanimously
and five minutes afterward get Mrs
/ Marsden." a very wealthy woman who
would like to marry "Grigsby," to sign
a check for $4,000. unknown to Grigsby.
| to secure his nomination. Ogden" who
plots FOR the nomination, also buys note
for 81, 600 given by Grigsby and thereby
expects to have him in his power -tOg-
den," the editor of the local paper, fights