The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-01-07
AT THE THEATRE.
An Example of How the Public is
Deceived.


| The misrepresentation of most the
atrical productions are quite we'll I'M
| derstood by we'll informed people.
To the average person, however,
much of the gush and prattle Of the
press agent of production IS regard
ed as gospel truth. and the fairy-lilSe
tale seems to cast about the produc-
ton a nalo of glory and glitter which
is supposed to hypnotic the wary and
unwary alike into contributing their
coin to the strong box of the theater-
The coming visit of ''Babes in Toy
land" to Topeka is good illustration
of this fact For the forthcoming pre-
sentation of that play here the price
of all the seats on the parquet floor
of the theater has been placed at
$3.50. The best seats which may be
secured for 81 will be in the front
rows of the balcony.
Judging from the prices charged the
average person would be induced TO
think that something extraordinary
was about to be given here. AS a mat
ter of fact the entire original company
of BABES in Toyland' is at the present
time playing at the Majestic theater in
New York city The company which
comes to Topeka next week is only
a No. road company, and it
comes to Topeka after a trip through
the wild and woolly frontier towns
of Oklahoma, Indian Territory and
From Topeka it goes to Lawrence.
Kan, and to Parsons, Kan, and the
other small tank towns along the
route.
Topeka people have learned how the
people of the small towns have the adj
vantage of lower prices for the So
called high class theatrical produc-
tons, but nevertheless the people of
Topeka are asked to pay prices which
have been showed UP as high as posi-
BILE for Babes in Toyland-
But ''Babes in Toyland' is neverthe-
less good show as such productions
go and the No. 2 road company, by
which it will be given here, will be a
fair company. But it is q fact too that
the ''Babes in ToyIand' company is
misrepresented to the public in point
Of magnitude. The billboard Autograph
paper advertising the show announces
a company of 100 people The first ad-
vertisement to appear in the Topeka
newspapers announced company OF SO
people.
The present advertising running in
the local papers has cut that estimate
down so that it is now stated that the
company numbers so people.
Now how many do you suppose the
company really has2 If another cut Is
made in the same proportion to the
hedging already made on the number
in the company, it would bring the
number down to 40. And 1t is really
more reasonable to suppose that the
company numbers 40 than that 1t num-
bers so.
Very likely the BABES in Toyland''
company will give q creditable enough
performance, Notwithstanding the fact
that apparently the company does Tot
include in it's personnel of players any
well known actors. The advertising
matter has so far failed to disclose the
names Of the principals in the cast.
'Babes In Toyland" was a success in
New York and nearly everyone has
heard of it. It will have its first per-
Torrance here next week, by a com
pany of really unknown quantity, but
the prices have been showed up to the
limit, no doubt, because It is reasoned
that the public will fall over themselves
trying to buy tickets for the show on
the price asked. If il were really big
production think how it would look on
the little Crawford stage.
1.-THE Princess Chic comes for its
third appearance in Topeka. The No.
company is advertised at $3.50 prices.
The show appeared at Pueblo Wednes-
day night and the Pueblo Chieftain
says:
too close attention to the lines to fol-
low the story, thereby distracting from
sufficient regard for the vocal fea-
lures.
+ Miss Sophie Brandt. in the title role.
has a voice of breadth and promise
when confined to its register, but at
tempts at notes beyond her legitimate
scope were disappointing for the reason
that they appeared to lose their round
ness. AS a characterization of the au-
thors idea of a winsome but erratic
young woman. Miss Brandt's work was
good.
THE chorus was lacking IN hsavy
basso and strong tenor voices, but
made up in harmonious blending w:lHt
1t failed to produce in the way of
voices of range and individuality.
d" Princess Chic is a pleasing, frothy,
dainty operetta, well fitted to while
away an evening, but will never be
ranked among the lasting creations of
comic opera"