The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-03-10
Music and Drama
Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement. Lovers.
At the Crawford.

Al SIcttIUIOs
"The very best of its kind" is the uni
versal opinion of all who saw Way
Down East" which was presented by a
most excellent and evenly balanced com
pany last night at the Crawford. Al
though this play has been presented here
four consecutive seasons it has never
failed TO have The largest audience of the
season. There is about the play quaint,
rare charm that fascinates. Anna MOore's
simple story; her grief and anguish; her
spirited denunciation of the man who
took advantage of her innocence; her tri-
umph and the prospect of peace and hap
piness for her as the curtain falls. to
gelher make a pretty, unaffected and di-
rect play. The strong moral Of the play
is applicable to all mankind. 1t is abb
sorbed unconsciousIy. The characters
taken from the homely rural types of the
east are not only interesting but anus
ing and pleasing.
The scenery was exceptionally pretty.
the doorway of Squire BarJ1ett's farm in
summer; a winters evening in the sitting
room of the squire's house and the scene
showing the witchen with a terrible snow
storm seen through the window and the
wind bowling when the door was opened
were not only appropriate for the play
but were most realistic and TO say the
least, pleasing. Miss Ruby Bridges, as
Anna Moore, carried her part in man
ner that was charming and natural. She
possesses real merit and with it has a
pretty appearance that cannot but i'm
press itself upon an audience. AS Squire
I,
able. The stern and quiet tempered old
father, whose win was the only way, and
who in the end was sorry for the way he
had turned the poor girl out in the snow,
was a character that was prominent and
clear cut as delneated by Mr. Regal.
As David Bartlett. the son who had fall
en- in love with the strange girl against
his fathers wishes. Philip Drew was fine,
to say the least He divided honoTs with
the balance of the cast Miss Ida Ellis
as Kate Brewster, a niece Of the Bart
let's, is a very prepossessing little lady
and imbued her part with the gayeIy it
called for. II. II. FOrsman as Prof. Ster-
ling, attained the standard of merit set
by the balance of the cast. Rube Whip
pie. the town constable, was portrayed
funny and in all pleasing. His favorile
song. The Hat All Bound Round witt,
a Wooden String, made a decided hit.
John c. Kicking, in the part OF Hi HolleT
kept the house in roars of laughter. Mr.
Kicking was exceptionally good in this
difficult character. Lydia 'OConner. as
Martha Perkins. the gossip; Harry Matt
land. as Seth Holcomb: Adam Yarmouth
as Doctor Virgins and Hal Clarendon.
as LennoX Sanderson, The city man. All
proved themselves capable OF presenting
the several characters in a manner that
was in all respects satisfactory. AS q
whole the company this season was as
good if not better than the preceding
seasons. The quartette was simply fine.
II is not enough TO say that this was one
of the best quartettes ever heard here.
It seemed as though the audience would
never quit applauding until the singers
had responded to four encores. OF the
many attractions visiting this city there
is not one that has turned away more
delighted audience, many having seen
the play two and three times, and are
always ready to see it again the coming
season.
Friday night, Lost Rivers
Joseph Arthur's latest play. Lost
River. is a scenic melodrama somewhat
akin to Blue Jeans in its sensational
scenes and effecs. but much better play
as regards construction and dialogue.
There are a number Of mechanical de-
vices and much live stock used in Lost
River which is described as a poem Of
rural life There are also some ire
mendously strong dramatic situations,
such as a knife and pistol fight between
characters riding at fun speed on their
wheels. The scenery ard mechanical ef-
feets add realism 10 the scene as well
as a wildly portrayed storm. There is
also finely painted scene Of the Baden
toll road. and its cumbersome toll safe
corrsing the stage through which the
heroine dashes at full speed, pursued by
two robbers. all mounted on thoroughbred
horses These horses. bee hives pumpkins
q rural orchestra. a quartette Of hOboes
and the elaborate mechanical effects are
some of the aids TO the success which
Lost River scored during its long run
Of six months in New York. The come
! dy scenes are clever and amusing while
the pathos Of some Of the incidents and
/ dialogue in the Hoosier farm VIII appeal
/ strongly TO all lovers OF homelille scenes
/ ard characters Lost River" viii ap-
pear at the Crawford on Friday. March
18th.
The Herald Square Quartette has travel
ed over and appeared in al the princi-
PIE theatres. The bis New York papers
have lauded them 70 the skies and peo-
+ pie everywhere have them on their minds
s constantly. No quartette ever compared
+ to the Herald Square Four; they shine
supreme. In the gorgeous arst part %
+ the Faust Minstreis they viii sing solos
and in the olso viii offer their latest act,
mingling comedy and melody Manager
Martling of the Crawford Of this city has
! dated the Ted Z. Faust Ministries Tor