The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-09
ADJUSTMENTS

by far the best musical show that has
been In Topeka during the present the
atr1cal season is 1.-The Grand Mogul,"
which was presented at the Grand on
Saturday night. This is saying a good
deal for number of good shows of
this sort have been seen here since
last fall. None of them, however meas
ure up to the general excellence that
prevailed in 1.-THE Grand MoguT' from
the rise of the curtain. for the first act
until it's final fall.
There are any quantity of reasons
why this piece should be called the best
of it's kind that has been seen here.
PropaDly the most potent one is that
Frank Moulan one of the funniest of
comedians and Maud Lillian Berri, one
OF the real shining lights in musical
comedy, who are starred in the piece,
were not compelled to be the whole
show and do all the entertaining. They
were surrounded by an unusually num-
Der of capable principals and the cast
IN turn was supported by large and
excellent chorus, chorus that could
actually do something real in the way
of singing, even to the men In it. A
male chorus which can actually sing
is a rara avis in musical shows.
Then the theme for the play, and its
locale, while not particularly novel, was
interesting and gave plenty of oppor-
tunity for all kinds of clever and enter
tanning work on the part of the prin-
cipals and the chorus. Last but by no
means least was the music and book
of the piece. the work of Gustav Luders
and Frank Pixley, whose last big sue
cess was 1.-The Prince of Pilsen. Mr..
Pixley has provided THE Grand Mo-
gul'' with all sorts clever lines and sit
uations and some really fine lyrics
while Mr.. Luders has furnished some
actually charming music which is sure
to greatly enhance his already enviaple
reputation in the light opera field.
The play opens in Honolulu and hur-
ries the principals on through the me-
dunn of a runaway balloon to the Is
land of Inde where grand moguI
rules in the oriental fashion. q. wash
ington Baker, a former circus sideshow
man, portrayed by Mr.. Moulan, goes
with the balloon party hanging on the
anchor. He lands on the island nrst
by falling into the throne room of the
grand mogul, who has been lost Tor
some time. A tradition has it that the
next grand mogul is to come from the
sun and G. Washington Bakers arrival
is such as to make the natives think
he is the sure enough new mogul. He
has a fine time posing as such until
the real mogul finds himself and re-
turns. Then the spurious one is up
against it but is permitted to have
charge of the fete which is to precede
his being beheaded. He puts on a good
show all right and his life is saved by
the time arrival of q. 8. warsh1p
whose officers were acquainted with the
balloon party at Honolulu. 1t can be
readily seen that such a story in such
localities would give all sorts OF op-
portunities for dazzling stage pictures
and these opportunities were taken
advantage Of to the limit.
Mr.. Moulan was unusually funny ana
clever in all the various phases of his
extremely active career from the time
he set foot on Honolulu until he nearly
lost his head There are few comic
opera stars who are in his class as a
good fun-maker. Miss Rerri showed on
to her usual good advantage in all
ways. She is one of the real beaut1es
af f1,n Tn
singer of rare ability. Among the
others in the cast who help Mr.. Moulan
and Miss Berri to make the piece the
great success are John Dunsmure, Geo.
Moore J. B. Carson, Sarony Lambert,
| A. S. Brown, Clara B. Jerome, ana
Mary johnson. Mr.. Lambert, as Prof.
Muggs," a scientific expert of some
sort, is just about as comical CHAP as
there is in the business.
AS stated, the music OF the piece is
way above the average for musical com
edies. 1t is filled with catchy airs,
many of which will be whistled on the
tie by My Side" The costuming of the
chorus is actually gorgeous and the
piece was beautifully staged
| Joseph E. Howard and Mabel Barrf-
SON. with their decidedly capable com
pany, played a return engagement IN
1.-THE Flower of the Ranch" at the
Grand on Sunday, giving both matinee
and evening performances. II any thng,
the piece scored a bigger hit than II
did on it's first presentation here some
six or eight weeks ago. excepting for
the fact that the audiences at both per-
formances were small They We're
much smaller than they should have
been for ''The Flower of the Ranch
| is a high class musical show and one
which is we'll worth seeing more than
| once. The performances yesterday
| were really better than was the first
I nrOhA,hlV
| fact that the piece is older and the
players in it are more accustomed TO
| its roles Both Mr.. Howard and MISS
harrison played with their accustomed
! vim and cleverness and sang in the de-
| lightful ways for which they are no
| ted.
saThe Flower of the Ranch has en-
! loved a fine success this season and will
| run. 1t compares most favorably with
| Mr.. Towards efforts in his other Dig
| successes THE Land of Nod" The
| Time, the Place and the Girl" the The
| District Leader" and the play has the
| distinction of being the only musical
| show picturing the thrilling incidents
| of life on the cattle ranges or the west.
| Frank H Tinney, "And He Did"
That is all the programme tells OF one
| of tho acts at the Majestic theater Tor
| this week That certainly does not
tell much. Mr.. Tinney must pc seen
/ in order for one to appreciate JUST
what he does But he does it all
right. He puts on a fifteen or twenty
| minute turn with the aid of piano
| a bagpipe and his face, together WIN
a few words once in while, wnlcn Is
far and away the best single act tnat
| has been seen in vaudeville In Tope-
! DVe0E DeIA