The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-02-22
DID WELL INDEED.
Washburn Students Present Woodbar-
row Farm Admirably.

Ralph Johnston. a sturdy son of Icha-
bod firmly established himself in the ad-
miratiOn of the clientele of the wash
burn Dramatic club last evening. 700 of
whom gathered, in the Grand to hear
the club present WOOdbaTrOW Farm.
johnson was the bright particular por-
ton of the oasis in the play last year
and last evening succeeded in adding a
rev more waving palms to the oasis
and increasing sits bounds Miss Nettie
Zimmerman, who ,Iayed opposite to
Johnston, received a large share of the
effulgence which en1al. ated from the
limelight. Suffice to say Miss thinner
man stOO the ordeal # the glare in a
happy manner and shared with John
ston in the applause WI en- Numbered
across from the parquet.
The members of the club showed a
distinct Improvement in their training
over last year. CleVerness was not so
jealous and succeeded in clothing four
or five others beside the leading role
with some Yestige of her5elf Miss I4u
Grace Whitmer and Mr.. Eldon Tice act
ed naturally and in a convincing man
ner. The play which is from the work
mans bench of Jerome K. Jerome is
laid in Devonshire, Ell land. and shifts
from there to London. 1t is largely a
rural play with considerable of the dia
lect of the rural district thrown in to-
gether with a snatch of the Scotch.
love thread runs through the whole and
adds touch of interest while light evil
Allen Rollitt. Ralph Johnston, as the
hero, falls heir to a fortune from rel
ative who dies in Australia. He falls
in love with Clara Dexter, daughter
of Colonel Dexter, a member of a gang
of sharpers who attempt to prey upon
Rollitt and fleece him from his fortune.
Clara Dexter is the wife all the while of
Luke Cranbourne also member
of the same gang. She plays with AL
lens love and for a time furthers the in
terest of the gang in separating Allen
from portion of his wealth. Her po-
sition is easily read by Deborah Dea-
son a Scotch lassie, who is herself deep
" in love with Allen and who charges
Clara Dexter with a mercenary motive
in encouraging the attentions of the
DeVOnshire lad Of wealth. In scene 1 OF
act three Miss Dexter reveals herself
and her position to Rollitt and urges
hi INTO marry Deborah.
The curtain rings down on the ulti-
mate outcome of Deborah and Rollitt
engaged and back on tie old Deyonshire
There were several incidents of note
during the evening The villain said,
.Oh curse YOU but once. The farmer
boy said by gosh and this hardly
locks as If it could wax and grow trans
planted in English soil.
Miss Zimmerman handled the Scotch
dialect with ease and looked her part
with but the simple aid OF scotch paid
hair ribbons Miss Iu Grace Whit
rner. who was Mrs. Rollitt the mother
of Allen. had a makeup which ac-
corded we'll with her assumed posi-
ton. Fldon Tfce played two roles,
one as the French valet to young
Rollitt and the other as the country
farm hand The first named gave
him his opportunity and he played
up to it in capital fashion. Hal
Hotchkiss did the small part Of Peters
admira bly,
Washburn is not an institution
which iustins guile into the souls of
young manhood, so it was hard to
conceive of Omer Smith, John Van De
Mark. Ray Ufford, Rudolph Downs
and Hal FIotchkiss as shRrpers intent
on fleeing a young man of wealth
Black moustaches were assumed to
give this effect, but the disguise was
not sufficient to permit Of the feeling
that they were as bad as represented.
Miss Daisy Neil. who had the part
of Clara Dexter. acted in an accept
able manner. Quinton Adams, who
had an old man part kept within the
bounds Of his part. Miss Mabel Rem
wick had the minor role of Rachel
A large measure of the success with