The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-09-18
ATTHE new GRAND
James O'Neil Seen in Homie
CristO.
Old Actor in Old Play Is Well
Received.
HE WILL GIVE 1T UP.
Farewell Appearance in the
Masterpiece.
New Play Is The Voice Of the
Mighty
IL WILL GIVE 1T UP.

A fair sized audience attended the
performance of James O'Neil in Monte
Cristo," the attraction secured for the
formal opening of the New Grand thea
ter last evening
Mr.. James O'Neii has been so long
before the American people and has 50
firmly established himself in the good
graces and regard of a theater-going
public, that it were useless to comment
upon his capabilities as a player.
It is hard to comprehend, yet it is
fact that MI O'Nen has appeared be-
fore the footFights in the garb Of the
Count of Monte Cristo upwards Of 5000
times. He has walked down the steps
in the ball room scene in the fourth act
Respondent in satin knee breeehes,
silken hose, and laces and ruffles, ana
later appeared in the beautiful forest
scene in the last act to fight the duel,
more than 5000 times. 1t is equal TO
eleven years continuous playing, every
night in the year including Sundays.
Mr.. O'Nen has occasionally broken
awav from this piece, but the public has
always demanded his return to it, and
like Joseph Jefferson in Rip Van Win
kle." and Denman Thompson in The
Old Homestead and other actors Of
the old school he has come to be viewed
as belonging to the public in the role
of the polished count year after year.
Mr.. O'Neil is of the old school of act
ing, and he looks back upon the halcyon
days Of yesterday with a tender fond
ness which is a pleasure. Mr.. O'Neil
came up during the regime when actors
were not made overnight, and he IS
/ fine type OF the romantic and traditional
player of which the public, though
! tickle, never tires, while scores OF com
mercialIy made stars moulded to order
while you wait, have come upon the
scene and have passed out or their
minds and memories.
To know and meet Mr.. O'Neil IS to
encounter the same smiling, gracious
parsonage. who as the Count OF Monte
Cristo is the life OF the play Nj y 1Nsll
radiates good humor. He is the same
/ polished gentleman of cOurtly manners
! off the stage as he is in the role Of the
1 gallant count. In fact he has perform
I almost become his very life
Monte Cristo' was handsomely
staged with attention paid to detail.
/ Throughout the entire nine scenes OF
the five acts. there was. nothing lacking
| from this standpoint And this Is where
/ Topeka theatergoers are beginning TO
reap a benefit from the opening OF the
/ Grand opera house. 1t IS SAID Inat MI
| O'NeiIs production is so large that II
/ could not be staged in its entirety at
/ the old playhouse, although there was
no cramping to put it on in the new
house.
With the exception of Teresa A.
1 DaIe's Mercedes and possibly the
! performance of one or two others not
much may be said for Mr.. O'Neirs sup
/ port. However, this feature really
| does not mar the pleasure of the piece
for the reason that Mr.. O'Neil himself
occupies so much of the time during
the action of the play, that the others
are only of secondary importance.
Mr. O'Nen has definitely announced
his intention of abandoning Monte
Cristo'' permanently. He declares
positively that this is his fareWel tour
in this piece; that he will never revive
it under any circumstances.
His new piece is called Ihe voice
of the Mighty, and rehearsals are now
In progress preliminary to its initial
presentation at St. Paul in three weeks
The new piece is by young Cali
forniaD. James Slavin, who is gradu-
ate of Santa Clara college. II IS
biblical play in which Mr.. O'Nen es-
saws the role of John the Baptist. Il
is said to be one of the strongest Blbl1-
cal PLAYS ever written.
The formal opening of the Grand
last evening was characterized by the
attendance of many persons wei
Known in local social life, and many OF
whom have denied themselves tbs
pleasure of the theater, locally, unit
recently. The house as 1t has peer
remodeled is an attractive place, ane
all ornens augur we'll for successLu
season.