The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-12-05
ar THE THEATERs.


A large audience was drawn to the
Grand last night by Thomas Dixon's
The ClanSman and it must have been
disappointed in the presentation of the
play by the company. of which such
great things were promised. 1t has
been said that the same company is to
be taken on a three years tour of Eu-
rope and other distant places on the
globe. Surely this is due to the mag
ination of the advance agent. If it is
not then it is due to remarkably poor
judgment on the part Of those who are
backing the show. For it is just as
certain as anything can be that the
company interpreting the piece this
season will never make any kind of
hit abroad and it will not make many
hits at home. Only three5or four of the
large company approached acceptable
work in their efforts last night, and
Mr.. Franklin Richie, as Ben Cam
eron," the Clansman, was easily the
best of these.
1t is needless almost, to speak of the
play. So extensively has the book or
the same name been advertised ana
read, as has the play, for the last three
years, that every man, woman ana
child in the country knows something
Of it. There are few persons VINO Will
not admit that the story is powerful
one, much stronger in the novel than
in the play, but at the same time 1t
tells a brutal tale, one that might per-
haps have better been left untold and
unplayed. The play is interesting IN
depicting certain conditions in the
southland Immediately after the great
war but interesting as it is in some
particulars, the average person viii
leave the theater, after seeing it, with
a bad taste in his mouth.
'In The Bishops Carriage" Chan
ming Pollock's stage story OF Miss
Miriam Micheison's famous novel,
which will be presented at the Grand
tonight, is destined to be more than
a ripple in the seasons dramatic
events 'In The Bishops Carriage"
serves adequately the purpose OF pro
viding entertainment for those who
like strong, natural plays, played by
good actors with plenty of heart IN
terest, ard the phantom of psychol-
ogical problem. 1t is variant OF the
Leah Kleschna and Raff1es themes.
with much virtue in construction, ana
any quality of brightness of dialogue
and tenseness of situation. Inc play
opens just after Nance Olden has
robbed Edward Ramsay, the tipsy
broker, at the Grand Central station,
and has made her escape in Bishop
Van Wagenen's carriage. Inc good
bishop. in his solicitude for the girl
whose brain he believes to be affected,
and who has won his kindly heart by
pretending to mistake him for her
father, takes her to the Pelham nome
of his friend. Mrs. Ramsay Nance
goes Willingly enough, liIllO O@APCSNiAAo
that she is being taken to the home
Of the man she has just robbed, or
that she will find there her friend
Tom Dorgan, playing the role or
waiter, and keeping his eyes and pock- |
cts open for any stray articles of val |
ue that may be left lying about#The |
only one of the party at Ramsay's VINO !
sees through Nance's and Toms little |
game is Latimer, an up-to-date man |
CT the world, with plenty of money
AMI too much leisure which he de-
votes chiefly to the study9ofs er1minol-
ogy. Interested as he is in the sub
tect, he is peculiarly attracted to
Nance He compels Nance and Dor
gan to disgorge their thefts, thereby |
gaining the hatred of the man. but as
he also permits them to depart I'M
molested, he gains the thanks of the
Girl. In the next act Nance exhibits
her gratitude by admitting Dorgan
to Latimer's apartments. whittier she /
has come to be reformed. but Latimer
catches them in the act of looting his
rooms and turns the man over to the
police.
One of the exclusive features offered
by Manager Charles H. Yale in the
twenty-sixth edition of his "Everlast-
ing Devils Auction which will be at
the Grand on Friday night, is new
illusion entitled The
Dance of the Baby Elephants" The
dresses in this number have been de-
signed and manufactured by Mr.. Ed
ward Seidle of London and New York.