The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-11-07

Overshadowing in it's Importance all
the events of the week to come is the
appearance here of Herbert Kelley and
Effle Shannon. Their play is sherlock
Holmes" and interest is all the more
keen on that account. They come to
the New Crawford Thursday night.
1t is not difficult to understand the
success made by Mr.. Kelley and Miss
Shannon. since they began their star
ring career over six years ago. Every
play that they have been identified
with as stars has seen them doing the
same consistent and artistic work that
marked their connection with the
Famous Frohman Lyceum stock COM
pany, and earned such high praise at
the hands of the press of New Xork
eitv.
In all their years before the public
they have never been received with
such acclaim as they have in William
Gillettes dramatization of Conan
Doyle's Sherlock Holmes" The same
SUPPORT which earned such high 'enco-
miums last season has been retained
Intact
Daniel V. Arthur. who is managing
these artists, has provided them with
an entirely new production, far exceed
ing the one they used in their previous
tour in massiveness and beauty.
The setting of the first act is an ex-
act reproduction of the drawing room in
the London mansion of the late Dis
Taell, earl of ReaconSfieId whose liter
airy contributions alone would have
made him famous, had he not been
prime minister of England and founder
of the Conservative party Its rich COL
or1ngS and tapeStried walls are a. sight
worthy of the lovers of the beautiful
The fourth act setting is a reproduction
of the surgery" of the late Sir Morrill,
Mackenzie, England's greatest physl-
clan, who is no doubt well remembered
as the surgeon who attended the father
of the present emperor of Germany in
his last illness. The first scene, second
act, is the reproduction of an under
ground room in the notorious White
chapel district in London, which time
after time has given to the world the
most startling horrors in the annals OF
criminology. Every effort has been
minutest detail with the atmosphere
and coloring suggested by Conan
Doyle's masterpiece of fiction, "Sher-
lock Holmes"
William L. Roberts new play ION
the Bridge at Midnight which he has
written for George Klimt and Alma
Hearn is full of interest and abounds
with bits of comedy. While bordering
on the melodramatic at times the play
is free from the conventional devices of
the ordinary melodrama. Scenically it
is the greatest production of its kind
ever put on. One scene from which the
play takes us udIlle represents a Jack
knife" bridge in operation, the huge
halves of the bridge rising to permit
the passage of a steamer. One of the
main episodes of the comedy drama is
laid in this scene which is wonderful
example of the stage settlers skill. This
production will be seen tomorrow night
at the New Crawford. 1t tells the story
of a kidnapped child and the search by a
blind mother to recover the lost child,
the play, of course, ending happily.
Miss Hearn in the part of "Reddy'' the
mirth provoking urchin who afterwards
proves to be the lost child, gets many
a laugh as well as eliciting tears for
the pathos in some of the scenes. Mr..
KIimt in a German character study is
delightful.
THE Chaperons, a comic opera, which
made an enviable reputation last season
in the east and middle west, and which
was the big musical hit of Broadway
at the New York theater, will be offered
to theater-goers at the New Crawford
Wednesday night This popular musical
melange, with it's wealth of catchy
songs. bright comedy and entertaining
novelties, its fine company of singing
artists and chorus of trained voices,
has attained an enviable reputation