The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-11-15
Joseph c -Myr0n.

companies to reduce rates next week.
At least one of these attractions is play
ing other cities at 81 prices. The pre-
tentious production of the week is The
Princess Chic" at the Grand onera
house Saturday afternoon and night.
This is the second visit of the big comic
opera to Topeka. Joseph c. Miron, the
baSsO, with talents as a comedian, Will
be the leading member of the company.
The farce comedy. "A Bunch of Keys, .
Crawford. It is one of the late Chas.
Hoyt's plays. One of the secrets of the
continued success of "A Bunch of Keys
is that Manager BOthner has guarded
against weakening it.
The Secret Dispatch" is comedy
drama from the pen of David Higgins.
Those who have seen his plays "A Piney
Ridge and up York State" can be as
they will find a drama of interest and
merit. It deals with the civil war. but
the great struggle is brought in as in
cidental only once This il in the sec
Ond act, representing a union outpost
in Tennessee. The stage setting is I'M
usual Against skylin2, in the early
dawn lust as the first faint strealzs of
sunrise top the mountains. the sharp
shooters of two cOntending armies are
shown firing at each other and filling
in the pauses with gOod-natured raillery.
A scout rides on. News of an imDend-
ing attack from an unexpected quarter.
A retreat must De covered DY tue
blowing W of a bridge. The departure
of the force, leaving a solitary VOlun-
teer alone in the mountain pass. a
doomed fOrlorn hope. The rush of on
coming rebels. The mine is fired. One
bridge and one soldier less. That's all.
But his comrades are saved. The
handling of this intense scene not only
by the playwright but by Edgar Ad-
ans, the Edwin Gray" of the play. is
excellent. This attraction will appear at
the New Crawford Monday night.
The new production, Just Struck
| Town." which appears here Wednesday
evening, November 10, under the man.
agement of julie Walters, has been pro
nounced meritorious. There is a moving
freight train, an old grist mill and a
dam which gives way and the rushing
waters carry away the mill, nearly
! sweeping the heroine to her death in
the flood. but she is saved by the
prompt action of "Handout King" the
/ tramp. There is also a scene of a street
/ fair at Bedford, Ind, with its side
shows and spielers, it's fakirS and
| crowds of sightseers and it's balloon as
cension in which, while trying to escape
from the law. the villain is killed; the
balloon being shot at and brought down
! by the tramp.
There is always a welcome for Uncle
Toms Cabin" People go to see it over
/ and over again. Stetson's production of
the play, which will be at the New
Crawford theater Friday night, is well
of this drama. It is promised the Stet-
son company of this year will not suffer
by comparison with those of fomer
seasons
"A Jolly American Tramp" will be
seen twice Saturday at the New Craw-
ford.
The only chance the $3.50 theater goer
will have next week will be at the
I Grand on Saturday. The Princess
/ Chic is said to have the production this
/ season that it has had in it's several
/ seasons of success. Memphis, Tenn, is
a city that has a great many high class
productions, and this is part of what
I the Memphis mmercial-Appeal said
I of the performance:
I The Princess Chic given at the Ly-
ceum last night was the best musical
/ performance offered here in several sea-
sons 1t is fitting to remark and it can
be said without any particular fear of
contradiction that the Princess Chic OPP
/ era company is the best singing organi-
cation on the road. There is not a
great deal in the score or the book of
the oHera to make it live among the
/ classics, but it is an extremely attrac-
tive effort, filled with the brightest and
the catchiest of songs and Offering a
/ splendid opportunity for spectacular
| display. The scenery is of that massive
sort that is described as rich. and the
| costumes this season are Of the newest
make. In the selection Of fabrics and
color some very artistic mind has exer-
cised itself, for the combinations are as