The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-04
LESLIE CARTER IN TOPEKA
Famous Actress Presents Du Barry,
Her Masterpiece.

When Mrs. Leslie-Carter broke with
David Belasco on account of her mar
rage to the youthful Louis Payne,
there were predictions in many quar-
tiers that her light as great star in
the theatrical armament would rapidly
become dimmed. She was looked upon
as sort of a Belasco prodigy who
would sink into insignificance when
she got beyond the influence of the
wizard of the American stage. Certain
it is that Belasco developed Mrs. Carter
into one of the great emotional ac-
tresses of the day. She did not amount
to much until he took her In hand.
But she has lost none Of the cunning
that he impaired to her. This was
plainly evident at the Grand on Sat
day night to anyone who saw her pro-
duction of Du Barry then and who
had seen her in that and other of the
tremendous successes that she made
while under the direct tutelage of
Belasco. He may have made her
wonderful actress but she has forgotten
none of the tricks he taught her and
she seems quite as potent now as she
did in the heydey of her career under
sides one of the greatest of Eng
lish speaking actresses. She does not
seem to be getting the notoriety these
days that she did when she was in Mr..
Belasco's tow but that may be ex-
planned by the fact that Belasco is
quite as much of an adept as public
ity artist for his Undertakings as he is
maker of actors and actresses and
maker and stager of plays.
Mrs. Carter's presentation of Du
Barry at the Grand on Saturday night
was a rather notable event in the
theatrical history of Topeka. 1t was
her first appearance here and 1t was
also the first time that Topekans had
had an opportunity of seeing one OF
the wonderful stage productions Tor
which Belasco is famous. The staging
of this piece under the personal d1rec-
ton Of Mrs. Carter is identical with
what it was under BelascO and 1t is
marvel of stage caft. The scenes for
its five acts. ranging as they do from
a dressmaker's shop and the streets OF
Paris to the palace and gardens OF the
famous Versailles as 1t was In the
time of Louis XIV, are rather marvel
ously depicted. There is a wealth of
detail and richness about them that
could only have been planned by
master mind and executed by master
hand. They easily surpassed anything
in the way of stage settings that have
been seen in this city, and for tnat
reason alone, if for no other, the play
was we'll worth seeing. Particularly Is
this true of the scene for the last ACT
when Du Barry is being hauled
through the streets on her way to the
gui1lotine in numbering two wheeled
cart by a revolutionary mob. Thls
was a realistic Renaissance of SINH
lar scene described SO VlVluiy ny DlCh
ems in his "a Tale of Two Cities" But
the play itself is really great one
which, however, does not appeal as
strongly to all discerning and dis
criminative theatergoers as it does to
many of them. 1t is play especially
constructed so that the star can do all
the shining and Mrs. Carter does not
fail to make the most Of her many op-
portunities. She is surrounded by a
large and capable cast of players who
materially help her on the way to sue
cess whenever they get a chance
which is not any too often.
Mrs. Carter seemed to be at her
best on Saturday night and her eff
forts were rather enthusiastically re-
ceived by the large audience which
gathered at the theater. although at
times the applause for some of her
| fine climaxes was not any too vigor-
Gus. Still she was given more cur
| tain calls than usually fall to the lot
| of any actor or actress who visits To-
peka. AS to the audience. it was
about the largest that has been at
| the Grand this season for a profess
| sional production and was representa-
| tive Of the beauty. the fashion and
wealth of the CITY, and then some.