The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-01-18

playlet called 1.-THE Visitor and in
which he presents psychological
study of a strange creature Of today.
The character has in it the satirical
and bitter strain that characterlzes
There is one fixed rule for the
successful vaudeville sketch. 1t is
found in the one word action"
Whatever else must be sacrificed, the
playIet that wins applause must move
from the rise to the fall of the cur
tain. The trouble with most actors
who take a flyer" in vaudeville is
that they think the conditions of the
vaudeville stage are the same as
those that exist in the legitimate
drama. They put on playlets that are
| talky and full of pretty but ineffec-
tive love scenes. This is all right in
the house where the audience has
hours to get acquainted with the "at-
moSphere" of the play. In vaudeville
the act must interest from the i'm
mediate rise of the curtain. 1t must
appeal at once to the people who are
amused by song and dance acts, as
well as it must grip the attention of
the people who fancy serious piece
Of acting. Porter J. White has this in
mind in the presentation of "The
Visitor" And in twenty-five minutes
make four act play. His act lis
bound to be one of the best vau6e-
Vile sketches that will be seen in To-
peka this season.
Mr. Wells has been able to secure
a number Of other good acts for next
weeks bill and the show promises to
be even better than the one which
has been at the house this week and
which has met with such popular ia
vor. Included in the acts for next
week are Rickrod, an aerial ring
artist; Cummins Thorton and COM
in div clx
Mail Order Wife," Fonti Boni
Brothers, Italian street singers and
Mike Quinn and his educated dog.
For the illustrated songs Miss Lii
liam Parfitt will sing Sweetheart
Days" and Mr.. F. N. Irwin will sing
Red Wing" A couple OF new series
Of moving pictures will be shown.
Beginning on Sunday evening there
Will be but one performance nightly
at the New Novelty. 1t will commence
at SIS o'clock. There has also been
a re-arrangement in the prices of
seats, all of which will be reserved
except those in the balcony for all per-
formances but the week day matinees.
The new prices, which will also main
tain for Sunday matinees are: Lower
box seats, 35 cents; upper box seats,
25 cents; seats in the first two sec
tons on the parquet floor, 80 cents;
seats in the three rear sections Of the
lower floor, 20 cents; balcony seats
10 cents The prices for the week
day maun ees will remain as they have
been at 10 cents for all over the house
and there will be children's matinee
on Saturday afternoon at five cents
for the little ones.
At the Play Last Night.
Rose Melville, in her inimitable role
sis Hopkins" entertained a large au-
dience at the Grand last night Miss
Melville is something of a remarka BILE
woman. She has been playing this part
for nine long years and it is part that
would tire the ordinary actress unto
death. isis Hopkins is excruciatingly
funny on first acquaintance but a repe-
tition of her antics and quaint sayings
is bound to bore one. And how an
actress can go on playing the part week
after week for a number of years is be-
yond comprehension. Miss Melville has
the part with just as much vim and
care as she did years ago. AS a matter
of fact her work is more finished now
than it ever was and 1t is likely that
she will continue to appear in the piece
for years to come.
Miss Melville's supporting company is
not much to brag over with two or
three exceptions. J. T. Ray, as "Oba-
diah Odium,'' the Indiana undertaken.
does the best work Of the cast outside
of Miss Melville. The latter's Shaken
tine dance continues to be one Of the
big hits of the production.
Amateurs Perform.
Robert Lee, better known as Robert
Alexander, deservedly got the most ap-
plause and therefore the five dollar
prize in the amateur end of the vaude-
Vile show at the Majestic last night.
There were four numbers on the bill