The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-03-02
BACK TO OLD HOME
Mabel Day Revisits Topeka After
Long Absence.
Now Prima Donna of the Isle of
Spice.
ON THE WAY TO FAME.
Has Attracted Much Favorable
Attention in East.
Smallness of Stage Greatly Ham,
pers Production.
IN THE WAY TO FAME.

I
of one Of the successful comic operas.
Mabel Day, the Teresa of last
nights performance, is the daughter of
r. w. Day. who was formerly assistant
chief engineer of the Rock Island rail-
road at Topeka, and she spent most of
her childhood days in Topeka where she
began her musical education at Bethany
college.
! Since she left Topeka. about eight
years ago, Miss Day has been abroad
where she completed her voice culture.
She returned to this country, and turn
ed her attention to the stage, and has
quickly fought her way to the front.
Travelling with Miss Day. is her
mother. Mrs. Day. They reached TOT
peka yesterday about noon and spent
the afternoon, or the portion of the
afternoon which wasn't taken up by
rehearsal. in walking and riding about
the city.
| Although Miss Day is "A. and a prima
donna. she was as pleased as a school
girl at getting back to her old home,
and she could hardly restrain her ex-
uberance.
| Miss Day declares that the road to
success is long and discouraging, but
her patience has had its reward. The
poSSeSsOr of a pleasing voice and charm
ing manners, she has found her oppor-
| tunity to appear in a stellar role and
| she has developed the ability which will
keep for her the place she has won,
and which will doubtless in years to
| come, bring her far greater success
| Miss Days first engagement after re-
| turning from Europe was in Francis
| Wilson's company presenting "A Little
1 Corporal" She was engaged for the
chorus, but her spirited acting and fin
ished talents attracted attention and
it is said from the time she first appear
ed in the chorus it was predicted that
she would be heard from in a higher
| capacity.
Following her engagement in Wilson's
! company she was given a place with
Frank Daniels in The Amer AL
| though she was cast in the chorus she
was singled out as one to be placed in
the most important work of the chorus.
The season following her engagement
with THE Amer" she entered grand
opera and sang In grand opera in New
York, for several seasons o,s--z-s
When Mr.. Appleton began to look
around fora leading lady for his west
ern Isle of Spice company his atten-
ton was particularly attracted to Miss
Day because of the fact that. that her
type of beauty was, especially suited for
the part of Teresa" and that she could
also sing we'll and what was more es-
sential that she had unusual histrionic
ability. She was engaged at once and
she is paid a handsome salary
The song. THE Little Maid of Nico-
bar" which serves to introduce Miss
Day to the audience will be rememb er-
ed as one of the sweetest bits of music
of the whole score. She comes on the
stage riding in a rickshaw, gaily decor
ated is fitting for the ward of the
King. and she sings the solo parts of
the song assisted by the chorus of court
ladies.
In the duet. You and. L. sung by
Miss Day, and Jethro Warner who is
cast as Lieutenant Katchell, Miss Day
i -T-&r En,1T -
heard her. You and T. was one of the
hits of the evening. The verdict of the
audience was that Miss Day is one OF
the best if not the best of all comic
opera stars heard here this winter. Her
grace of manner. personal charms and
pleasing voice will be long remembered
by both her friends and others who
heard her.
THE Isle of Spice is a frothy mix
ture of a little of this and a little of
that, thrown together and bound up
with several of the catchiest songs
heard this year. Parts of it are very
dull, and at times even borders on the
common and coarse, but taken altogeth-
er it served as one OF the most amusing
pieces of the season. All the songs
were hits. but THE Goo Goo Man. and
Peggy Brady took the honors
1t was unfortunate that 1.-THE Isle of
Spice had no other place to appear in
Topeka but at the Crawford opera
house. While by patching up and by
ingenious makeshifts, some of the
scenery of the company was used in
the performance last night, it is fact
that only a part of the equipment was
put on here
one of the prettiest and most effec-
tive climaxes of the play is brought
about by the use of a huge set piece in
the shape of a star decorated and made
effective by the clever use of electricity.
- Nj
At the proper moment 1t opens 10 Nis-
close little Cupid" The stage was hot
large enough to make use of this piece
and it had to be left out The rickshaw
which Miss Day used in the first act
was but of ordinary size, but II was so
large that a portion of it was in sight
of the audience even when it was sup
posed to be off the stage and out of
sight The small stage of course is to
blame for that and not the travelling
company Had the stage been ade-
quate the company would have been
able to use the scenry effectively Upon
the proper showing of the scenic equip
Isle of Spice" is as important as the
lines of the play. depends in measure
the success of the production,
1t is indeed. to be regretted that To-
peka with a population OF 4O,ooo cannon
have an opera house where attractions
may be seen with some degree Of salts
faction, as is the case in almost every
other city.
William J. McGraW, as Mickey - VI a.
dy, and ChaS. W. Van Dyne as Stupsy
Mackinavs. formed the comedy team.
McGraw has been seen before in Tope-
ka. He was here with the Princess
Chic" company two seasons ago. There
was no criticism of either of the mem
hers Of the comedy team and in fact
they are responsible for major por-
ton of the evenings mirth.
Jethro Warner was liked, and How
ard era rnutoryas the King was passing
fsi1 ABIDE from those mentioned the
principals were hardly worthy of mem
ton unless exception be made on ac-