The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-23

|@NUSENENIS9
In the presentation of that rather
famous old play, Uncle Toms Cabin,
| 1t may be in accord with those ideas
of the times, that seem to demand ex
pansion in all things, to amplify it witt
couple OF Topsies and two or three
of each of some of the other charac-
terS in it, but that is no reason or ex-
cuse for cutting out it's most vital fea-
ture in the way of thrills. An Uncle
| Toms Cabin production without the
hair-raiSing flight of Liza across the
| ice and a pack of bloodhounds after
her in full cry is about satisfying
as lemon pie that has been made
| without lemons. That's just the kind
| of a show that was put on at the
] Grand for two performances on Satur-
day by the Stetson organization. This
| aggregation had the bloodhoundS with
them, at least they had some dogs
! built on the plan of Great Danes, which
| were visible in the street parade prior
| to the performances. But nary nose
| of the dogs was seen during the shows,
| that is during the evening performance
at least. Neither did Liza negotiate her
| perilous trip across the ice. And as
suggested, what is an ''Uncle Tom S
Cabin show without Liza crossing the
ice with the bloedhounds chasing her
1t is inadequate. That's all it is and
that is just what the Stetson production
was. Maybe the show was cut because
of the light attendance but even that
is not a fair excuse for the elimination
of the Liza episode. It's too bad that
Uncle Toms Cabin cannot be resur-
rected just once again in its pristine
glory.
If
attendance to stimulate or encourage
the members of the William H. West
minstrel troupe to put on rip-roarlng
performances at the Grand yesterday
afternoon and last evening. But not
withstanding this condition which is
always diSheartening to any company
of players a rather creditable minstrel
show was provided.
A number of high class singers and
entertainers are with the West crowd
this season and they provide a show
which will fayerage@sap, we'll with any
minstrel shows that have come this
way. What is decidedly the most In
teresting feature of the show, as We'll
as the most entertaining, is the singing
and comedy work of a quartette which
has been dubbed THE Battleship Four
and which consists of Messrs. CantweH
De Forest, Ballet and Renaud. Their
efforts are of high order and well
sustain the enviable reputation that
they have made in the vaudeville field.
An unusually good vaudeville show is
provided by the bill which has been
secured for Christmas week at the Ma
iestic by Mr. Crawford, the manager
of this house, which has been so popu-
lar with the amusement loving pubic
of the city during the past few months
This weeks show will rank with any
of the best that have been seen at this
theater during the season and that
means something for many OF the ollls
have been the strongest which nave
been seen in vaudeville in this city.
There were capacity crowds at both OF
the performances yesterday and they
gave most hearty approval to the show
from beginning to end.
Wright Huntington and his company
in the comedy sketch "A Stolen Kiss,
present an act of real merit in its line
and these are few and far between in
vaudeville in these parts. 1t is one OF
the highest salaried acts on the Vaude-
vile circuit which takes in the Males
tic and is deservedly so. Mr.. Hunting
ton and the members of his company,
w. W. ST. Clair and Miss Louise Gerard
are most capable actors ami present
most finished performance OF ueHSnl-
full little comedy.
There are a number of other good
acts on the bill. including THE Raven
Trio" who are acrobats of the sensa-
tional order and who have some stunts
that must be original with them for
none like them have been seen here be-
fore and there has been no dearth of
high class acrobatic acts during the
present vaudeville season. Then there |
is q real novelty dancing act put on |
hv Milton and Evans, one feature of |
which is the use of 5000 feet OF ribbon |
in one dance. ]. Bogart, a clever black
face comedian, is another clever en-
tertainer on the bill. He has some or
iginal parodies on popular songs which
are good. Kathleen Potter, a serlo-
comic singer, displays good contralto
voice to advantage in a number OF good
songs and Charles Ellsworth furnishes
some good entertainment in the musical
comedy line An excellent series OF
pictures is also shown
What is without doubt by far and
away the best vaudeville show that has
been seen at the Olympic in a long,
ong time is the one which has been
booked for this week by Manager Bry-
ant and which was greeted with loud
acclaim by the large audiences that at
ended the four performances yester-
lay afternoon and evening. There is
lot a single act on the bill which is
Tot meritorious one and ENJOYABLE
,ne and especially entertaining is the
circus miniature which is given by
Great Mantelps Marfonettes. These