The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-02-28
Music and Drama
Coming Attractions for
Wichita Amusement Lovers,
At the Crawford.

At the Crawford.
One of the largest and most fashfona BILE
audiences of the season attended the
Crawford last evening 10 see the pre-
sentation of Tolstoys masterpiece Res
direction by Miss Blanche Walsh and a
most evenly balanced and excellent cast
1t would be difficult TO speak too warmly
OF the piece which is far above the or
binary in its literary merit and is equally
remarkable in its Interpretation by Miss
Walsh and her talented support a criti-
cism of it necessarily must be a common
dation of the play and players, collectively
and individually. For the benefit OF those
who are not familiar with the piece and
who were unable to attend last night s
performance, brief synopsis may prove
interesting: Dunitri Ivanvoitch. young
sual men mother countries, America in
cluded, seduces a pretty and innocent
girl of his household named Katusha.
whose blind love makes her an easy VIC
tim. Many years later he meets her again
but under very different circumstances;
it is in the criminal court. which he is
attending a juror and she is the ac-
cused. She has become a social outcast,
a most degraded and debauched type of
fallen woman. The awful fatality that
has overtaken here he considere is in
directly perhaps, but nevertheless ac-
tually due to his own guilt in having or
iginally betrayed her. and when. though
innocent of the crime Of which she is
accused is condemned TO Siberia, he feels
in his breast that the verdict is for HIM
self The play, although immortal. shows
on many scenes among the lower class Of
people which not only appeals TO ones
sympathy. but makes one pity those
who have fallen. There is about the play
a charm that fascinates il is so intensely
interesting that one smiled and laughed
and cried unconsciously. Although this
is Miss Walshs first appearance here it
would be safe TO say that the house
would be filed to utmost. she should ever
return. Her artistic work in the part of
kantusha Maslova will always be remem-
bered by the theater goers who are lovers
OF the art of the drama Miss Walsh was
very strong in this character and she
won many admirers who will always
speak of her in warmest terms
Mr. Alexander Won AItzel as Prince
Dunitria Neckhludoff was excellent. In
delineating this character he seemed
naturally to drop into a part of this kind
and he rises steadily until the climax
when he finds Kautusha foves him, but
will not marry him after what has hap
pened in the past, bids her fairwell never
to meet again. Miss Jessie Ralph as
Theodosia carried her part in IA manner
that was charming and natural she
possesses real merit, and with il has a
dainty appearance that cannot but i'm
press itself upon an audience. Mrs. Henry
Vandenhoff as Princess Sophia. was pleas
ing and presented the part in a most
creditable manner As Princess Marie
Miss Williams imbuded the part with all
the gayety and sadness it called for and
to say the least was pleasing. The little
vein of comedy was well taken care of
by Mr.. William Wadsworth as the Mer-
chant Juror and Miss Ethelyn Clements
as Carrots. In fact there was not mem
Der of the company who does not deserve
the high praise for the creditable man
ner in which each part was presented
The scenery and costumes were most ap-
poreiate. The prison scene was produced
In a manner that was horrible to think
Of people suffering. and moaning and the
officers who treated them like dogs. every
bne giving A sigh of relief when the cur
tain dropped Each scene was exception
ally strong and the applause was so loud
that the curtain was forced up again and
again until every actor in the scene ap-
peared In all this was undoubtedly the
theatrical event of the season and to say
every one was pleased would be only
mild way of expressing it after hearing
the many remarks made by everyone
leaving the theater.
Next attraction, The Punkin Husker.'