The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-09-19
"Under Southern Skies' at the
Crawford Sunday.
By LOttie Parker, Author OF
" Way Down East
IDA MULE AS "TOPSY
'sTwO Little Waifs'' Booked for
Next Saturday.
Other News of the Plays That
Are Coming.

Unless Austin Latchaw, considered the
leading critic of Kansas City, is pretty
far afeld Topeka will see something
really worth while at the New Craw-
ford tomorrow night. Under Southern
Skies" Lottie Blair Parker's successor
to her Way Down East" closes a
weeks run in Kansas City tonight and
Mr.. Latchaw had the following to say
An Mondays Times of the performance
which will be seen here tomorrow night:
Among the women who are writing
for the American stage few have shown
as clear an understanding of what may
be called the plain and popular values of
theatrical material as has been evinced
NY Mrs Lottie Blair Parker in the sew
al successful works that she has
laced before the public. Mrs. Parker
attempts no problem solutions, does not
write for the smart set" inventS 10
startling novelties and cares nothing
about epigrams. She is attracted by To-
cal color, and she is skillful In trans
ferring it to the stage. Her WAY
Down East" Is a good picture of New
England life, and Under Southern
Skies" with which a weeks engagement
was opened at the Grand opera house
yesterday afternoon. is well designed.
both as to scenes and personages, to re-
fleet the distinctive characteristics of
life in the south.
AIts I al hEA INV al ldOlY UldktS neI
stories interesting to the great majority;
they are probable; they involve conven-
tiOnal not eccentric types, and they ap-
peal to the public. In a good many de-
tails the woman is shown in the work.
manship, but in these days of successful
women dramatists. this is not in itself
a disparagement. In the case of I'm
der Southern Skies" Ii is an advantage,
for 1t Is doubtful whether a man would
have handled the subject as well. 1t is
essentially story of sentiment-roman-
tic sentiment, chivalrous sentiment,
southern sentiment and. more than all.
women's sentiment. Yet it grows into
several very dramatic scenes in which
the strength of a well-equipped company
Is thoroughly tested. The leading per-
sonages of the play are all young and
feverish. Their relations are such as to
awaken the interest Of both young and
old. Even the young man who makes
all the trouble is not a traditional viii
lain, but much more natural person
one who does some interruptions things
because of his overpowering passion for
girl who cares more for some one else.
incidentally two very pretty features
are shOWn-the merry-making of a
birthday party and the celebration of
Halloween. Only two settings are used,
ut they are exceedingly beautiful.
enough black people are employed to
complete the picture of Louisiana life.
In the present cast the three players
who carry the main story are all youth
full. They are not much known, but
they will get good introduction to the
playgOing public in their present I'M
dertakings. Miss Minnie Victorson is
slight, dark and pretty. and is very
strong in the heavy scenes. She gives
very realistic exposition of poignant
suffering, and her acting as Leila Croft
ton Is very impressive at times. MI.
Charles Aveling, the mischief-maker,
gives an intensely earnest performance
of the rejected lover. His voice is bad,
but he plays with much feeling. A
very well poised young actor is Mr..
Cyril Raymond, who is cast for the sue
cessful sutton. The most complete char
acterization is that of Colonel Daubeny
played by Mr.. Willard Perry. Two old
colored people are very well acted by
Mr.. Murray Woods and Miss Susanna
NJ. Wills, and Ida Mule, who used to
disport herself inthe Henderson extrav-
aganzas. does the up-to-date Topsy
amusingly. Mr.. Burr Caruth does not
realize the force and dignity that
should characterize Major Crofton, a
part that could be made very strong.
Miss Laura Oakman is a vivacious lit
tie ingenue and as the clergyman
sweetheart is better worth remember
ing than the rather colorless minister of
Mr.. Lynn Hammond.
The first act was marred consider
ably at the opening performance yes
terday by what seemed to be the nerv-
BUSINESS Of the whole company. Every
body shouted There is nothing in the