The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-12-20
AT THE THEATER =.
The "Wizard of Oz'' No. 2 Com
pany Here.
Draws Fair Audience and Play
Is Satisfactory.
MORE BOOM PRICES.
Hanford to Play IN Topeka at
$3.50.
At Other Kansas Towns Scale
Is Only 81.

Railroad Jack is the attraction at
the Crawford theater one night this
week This play was given at Craw-
ford's theater at Lincoln, Nebraska, at
the same prices charged for it in To-
peka. The dramatic critic of the Ne
braska State Journal thought the play
was so bad that it was unworthy of
mention. He gave it two or three
lines in passing. He said:
1.-THE performance of The New
Railroad Jack, was so thoroughly bad
as to almost make it respectable"
Railroad jack was given at the
opera house at BeIoit, Kan, Saturday
night. The Beloit Daily Call of Mon
day yesterday, calls it "atrocious."
The Beloit Call says:
1.-THE Railroad Jack show at the
opera house on Saturday night was
so atrocfously bad, as to be positively
funny, for which reason it was prob
ably enjoyed as much by the audience,
as though it's histriOnfc merits had
been of the highest. 1t was a good
natured crowd that was present and
it peaceably accepted all it was get
ting for it's money. 1t took pointers
from the performers of how not to
act according to the traditions of
after generation of Thespian heroes,
and accepted all the world over as be-
ing the proper caper.
However, people who pay their
money to see a show. do so to be
amused, and this being the case, they
got all that was coming to them on
Saturday night, from the very grotes-
queness of the exhibition. in spite
feeling somewhat aggrieved this
morning over the laceration of his
feelings. He made a special trip down
to the Call Office to assure us that it
mill n nf q in
''The Wizard of or had it's first
presentation in Topeka last night at
the Crawford theater. The play is
four seasons old. 1t was UP to the an
nouncements made in the State Jour
nal prior to its presentation, which
were that it was a good No. COM
pany.
The Kansas cyclone and some of the
other scenic effects were a disap-
pointment, probably due to the fact
that scenic productions are hampered
from lack of room and facilities on the
Crawford stage. The stage settings
seemed to be- considerably worn and
were not so fresh and strong as was
anticipated. az .
Opinion seems to differ in regard
to the question as to whether lsert
Swor is as good in the part of the
Scarccrow as Fred Stone who created
the part: Those who have seen both
companies realize that Fred Stone is
that there may be imitators but no
duplicates to Stone. While the re-
mainder of the principals of the No. 2
road company have more or less
merit. it seems that none are the
equals of the principals in the original
company who were the ones who
crea ted the various parts.
The principal grievance of the To-
peka theatergoers was in the matter
Of prices. Many preferred not to see
the play rather than to pay higher
prices for the privilege than New
Xcrkers pay to see the original COM
pany and higher prices than are paid
in other cities to see the No. 2 com
pany.
Topeka theater goers need no intro
duction to Charles B. Hanford. He is
quite well known here. For several
years Hanford has had date in Topeka
on holiday, either Thanksgiving,
Christmas or New Years. People who
could find no other sort of amusement
but to attend the theater upon those
occasions had no alternative but to go
and see Hanford.
Hanford comes to Topeka the day
following Christmas and inasmuch as
Christmas falls~on Sunday this year,
Monday becomes the legal holiday. Bus
mess houses, banks, offices and all in
duStries will be closed down on that
day and as heretofore, amusement low
ing people will have no alternative in