The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-01-23
AT THE PLAY LAST NIGHT.
John Cort With Max Figman Shows
Topeka What He Can Do.

Topeka -theatergoers will not go fal
astray in making mental note OF the
name John Cort and attending the
performance of any attraction that Is
heralded as being under his manage
ment. no matter whether they haVt
ever heard of the attraction or the stal
featured therein before or not rms
is a sweeping statement, but one tha'
Will doubtless in time be vouched TOT
by as many as are now Wiling 70
swear by any attraction under the
management of such well-known
producers as Charles Frohman, Henry
w. Savage. David Belasco and others
even before having seen the proouc-
ton.
The name of John Cort is not we'll
known throughout this section of the
country, but in the northwest from
the Dakotas to the Pacific coast, you
cannot talk theatricals without asso-
ciating the name of John Cort IN the
talk in some manner.
Cort controls circuit of theaters in
\ the Dakotas, Montana, wyoming
Colorado, Utah, Nevada, Washington.
Oregon and California, embracing IS
houses. One cannot enter those states
with a theatrical production without
playing .Cort's circuit of theaters. I'm
til quite recently Cort has SATISFIED
himself with charging his circuit and
entrenching himself thoroughly in the
territory he has pre-empted But
within the past year or so MS. am
abnormal desire to be recognized as
one of the foremost of the successful
producing managers of the United
States as well to be called the
Theatrical king of the northwest"
Cort's- headquarters are at Seattle.
Washington. but the fact that he is
two or three thousand miles from New
York. doesn't seem to dampen his
spirit or his ambition to conquer that
same effete New York.
TOneEa fhPat6rPOprS NAV testify in
regard to two of the Cort attractions of
this season, the last of which was the
production of The Man on the Box.
presented at the Grand theater last
evening, with Max Figman in the title
role which was staged and dressed
better than most of the attractions
that come to Topeka with New York
trade mark. 1852
The first things that impress one in
Mr.. Cort's attractions are the all
around excellence of the cast. and the
finesse with which every detail of the.
production is staged.
Mr.. Court now has three produc-
lions on tour, Maude -Fealy. who was
seen here recently in 1.-THE Illusion of
Beatrice and Florence Roberts in
THE Strength of the Weak" being |
the two women who are starred under |
his management. and Max Figman. |
who was seen here last night.
Florence Roberts. although d Fwest-t
ern actress. went into New York and /
captured the town Mr.. Cort's first /
venture in the field of dramatics had |
Miss Roberts for the star. She opens /
her New York engagement. of this |
season soon.
Maude Fealy and Max Figman are !
both starring for the first time this /
year, and both are meeting with Won {
derful success. Both their productions I
We're among the most carefully staged |
that have visited Topeka this year. |
Cort, although not -extrava gantly reck- I
less with his money. is on the other
hand, not niggardly with it. and he
has started we'll in his desire to be- |
come prominent a producer.
The Man on the Box as drama
tized by Grace Livingston Furness; !
McGrath. the action of the play start
Ing off with the scene in police court I
where as a result of a practical joke /
that turned out wrong Lieutenant |
Robert Wharburton MAX Figman) is /
facing charges of abduction reckless !
driving and disorderly conduct. Wash /
fngton. D. c.. is the scene of the plot. |
Lieutenant Wharburton thinks it will |
be great sport to inpersonate the
coachman and drive his sister and her
guest home from the embassy ball, |
giving them a ride for their life In
the confusion of the people leaving
the ball he mistakes the brougham |
and drives off with two ladies. other
than his sister and her guest. He /
l3shes the horses into a gallop and is
pursued by the police for reckless T
caught and drives up to the curb.
Jumps down from the box and opens
the door while the frightened wonaensI
inside endeavor to get out of the car
riage. Mfstaking one of the occupants
for his sister. the driver grasps her IN
his arms and kisses her. when he
makes the discovery that it is a girl
he had seen heretofore and with whom
he had fallen in love at first sight 1
although he had not had the privileges
other acquaintance. He was arrest
ed and Betty Annesley the girl an
pears IN police court against him. He
is fined $50, or thirty days in Jail Too
late he discovers he has no money in
the coachman's clothing he has don
ned and he is taken back to the cell.
Betty pays mis- fine and offers hin
In the spirit of adventure he accents
The complications and amusing inci-
dents arising during the following two
acts are exceptionally clever and en-
tertaining.
True. the first act is somewhat
sluggish. and a scene in police court
is not the most attractive subject for
decentralization, but it is necessary
part of the piece, and serves admirably
for the Introduction of the subject
that is handled so we'll in the second
and third acts. He is taken to the
Annesley home, and Mistress Betty
learning enough of him to be quite
certainsof his identity plans many de
licious schemes for his confusion.
which usually react to her own dis
comf1ture. She falls in love with him.
and of course they marry in the end.
after he has saved the iAnnesley name
from disgrace through the treason of
the father who had planned to sell
plan OF the United States coast fortf-
hcations to the Russian government.
Through a spy who also is in love with
Betty -
The Man on the Box is one of the
most refreshing comedies on the stage
It's humor is odd and quaint, nothing
risque. and at all times abrupt Pos
sibly II is the many surprises that
IL 6 -infRr1Sa1nr