The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-16
ADJUSTMENTS

Small at the Grand on Saturday af-
ternoon and evening in the presenta-
ton of Frederick Paulding's little
comedy, 1.-TWO Men and a. Girl"
Mr.. Murphy is one, of the few really
true comedians on the American
stage. His abilities along this line are
well known to Topekans, who have
had an opportunity of seeing him Of
plicable, therefore, why larger crowds
did not turn out to see him Perhaps
1t was because of the .'panicky'' con-
dit1ons which prevail This sugges-
curtain speech at the end of the first
act in the evening performance when
he took occasion to thank the few on
hand for the hearty manner in which
they had received his work and that
of the company in the pretty play.
During this little talk Mr.. Murphy
told number of humorous stories,
which were by no means the least
feature of the entertainment.
In 1.-TWO Men and a GIRL Mr.. Muir
ply has an ideal part for the express
sion of his drol1 humor. 1t is also a
part that calls for force at times and
| Mr.. Murphy was equal to all of the
demands which it made on him. Some
of the best work, outside of that of
| the star, was accomplished by Miss
Maud Neal, Walter Wahl, an antique
physician and Olney ]. Griffin, an an
tique valet to the physician.
| A really meritorious presentation of
| the DeKoven-Klein-Coo excellent
| comic opera RED Feather" was given
at the Grand on Sunday night before
only fair sized audience by a COM
petent cast headed by Miss Cheridah
Simpson.
RED Feather" has been before the
public for a considerable time, but
| like most of the DeKoven efforts it is
worthy of the long life which has
been accorded it. The music of it,
/
koven, is attractive and exceedingly
refreshing in standard when compar-
ed with the jingle jangle tunes that
are prevalent in most of the comic
opera successes of recent days.
Miss Simpson is entitled to the high
place which she occupies among th.
comic opera queens. She has a good
soprano voice. She knows how to sing.
Her abilities as. an actor are of no
email dimensions. And her form, physi-
cal be it borne in mind, is of the type
divine" that only the inspired are able
to cloth. with properly expressive
words and phrases. There are Il lot of
other excellent singers in the company
besides Miss Simpson, among them be-
ing Miss Sarah Edwards. a contralto,
and Richard Karl, the we'll known basso
and talented comedian. Mr. KarPs
song 1.-The Humorous Ghost" with a
quantity CARRIED chorus, was the big
hit of the show. There are comedians
a plenty in the company, the best of
them in addition to Mr.. Karl being
William H. Copely and Frank H. Smith.
Mr.. Copely can hold his own COM
edian with the best on the comic and
light opera stage. In fact two or three
comedians who have been seen here
this year as stars in comic operas are
not nearly as clever as is Cope1y. An
individual would have to be much dead
from whom Copely would have trouble
in drawing a hearty laugh. Miss Julia
Curtiss is another real star with the
Oh y, rCf0 III i'm
itations of Anna Held, George Conan
and Eddie F'oy.
Supporting this fine galaxy of enter
tainers was a large and able chorus of
men and women who are able to give
most opera choruses cards. spades and
trumps and then beat them out. The
coStuming of the chorus is nothing
short of gorgeous and the piece is mag
nificently staged Taken all in all the
production was a most distinctive one
among the shows of a similar character
which have been here this year, and
there have been some exceptionally
good ones at that.
A good average vaudeville show, with
some decidedly entertaining and in
teresting acts is furnished by the bill
secured for the Olympic for this week.
1t was welcomed with more than ca
pacity houses at the four performances
yesterday afternoon and last night |
1n6TG seems
ularity of the Olympic with Topekans |
and this popularity is most deserved |
for Mr.. Bryant is putting on shows |
each week which are the best that can |
be given for the money. They are far |
better than the run of vaudeville shows !
in similar priced houses in other cities |
1t would be hard to pick out the fea-
ture on this weeks bill for the acts
presented are of such variety. THE
Great Lawrence" made a decided hit
with the crowds yesterday with his
bugle calls of the principal armies OF
the world, which he gives in the uni
forms of these different armies Nc
Cabe and Mack talking, singing and
dancing comedians made another hit
as did Olive and Mac in an up to date
act. Bert McGarvay, female
furnishes the other act
on the bill. He has something excep-
Lional in the way of a falsetto voice.
C. o. Gailbraith sings Love Me and
the World Is Mine for an Illustrated
song and many of the pictures for this
song are really beautiful. A couple
of series of Interesting moving pic
lures are shown.
One Of the youngest stars on the
American stage, Miss Jane Corcoran,
the portrayal of the hardest of roles,
that of Nora in Isben's "A Doil
House, which she will present at the
Grand tonight
Miss Corcoran's New York appear
ance in this part was hailed with de-
light by the dramatic critics who
found in her another Rachael and who
ikened her work to that Of Duse and
Bernhardt.
Isben makes great demands on the
strength of the player. His dramas,
Intellectual, brilliant and sparkling as
he SHOWS of his Norwegian home, re-
Iuire a master mind and an emotional I
Iuality His work. written after years
If searching in the breasts of men !
md women, years in which he dis I