The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-15
ADJUSTMENTS
At the Play Last Night.

Nothing more truly delightful in the
way of theatricals has been seen in
Topeka in years than the performance
at the Grand last night of Miss Mary
Mannering and her capable company
in Rida Johnson Young's stirring ro-
mantle drama, GLORIOUS Betsy 1t
was Miss Mannering's first appear
ance in this city and she more than
fulfilled the great expectations which
most folks hereabouts had of her abil-
things they had read and heard of her.
There's marvellous charm about her
acting 1t seems to be peculiarly her
own for no other actresses who have
come this way have had anything like
it. 1t is MISUNDERSTANDING. And Of
course it is heightened by her great
physical beauty and grace. And she
seems to have been made for just such
a part as she has in GLORIOUS Betsy"
AS the famous Betsy Patterson whose
name is woven in the history of the
times a few years removed from the
Revolutionary war she Is cOquette,
most alluring, until her love is won by
Jerome Bonaparte, brother of the
emperor, Napoleon. He wins her while
he is posing in the guise of a penni-
less tutor and they go back to France
TO gain the consent of the emperor to
their marriage. This is refused. Ma
poleon has plans to make his brother
the king of Westphalia- In a personal
interview WIFI QeT napoleon lmpr6SSeS
upon Betsy the fact that she will best
show her great love for Jerome by CIV
ing him up to France. This scene oc-
ours on the ship in which Betsy has
reached the shores of France and on
which she is not permitted to set foot.
1t is really great one and in it Miss
Mannering shows herself to be an
emotional actress Of unusual power. But
1t is not in this sort of work that
she shines preeminent. She is at her
best in her portrayal of the light
hearted. care-free, fascinating fiirt,
that Betsy was until her love for Jer-
ONE became a reality And then in
her love scenes with him her acting
is Of the sort that may possibly be de-
scribed by but the lone word, exquis-
lite. There is happy denouement to
the story. Jerome Bonaparte gives the
mighty emperor the slip and hurries
back to America after his love, get
ting there within a few minutes after
she arrives heartbroken. GLORIOUS
Betsy is a proper characterization fol
Betsy Patterson as she Is portrayed
by Miss Mannering but Jerome Bona.
parte was bit of a glorious chap him
self. It's not every fellow who would
pass up kings crown and the riches
and power that goes with it for the
sake of girl. But then it must b.
, admitted that there are few girl.
:. quite as enchanting as "Gloriou.
Betsy and any man might well give
up kingdom for one of them. Mis-.
Mannerings support was all that could
be desired. Frank Gilmore, as Yer
ONE Bonaparte'' almost divides frs
honors with her. He has been doin,
good things on the stage for years
Nothing he has done Is any better o.
has been more acceptable than hi
work in this character of the brothe
Of Napoleon. All Of the members o
the company seem to fit perfectly ii
their roles and especially clever ar
Gertrude Clemens, Clara Lester an,
James A. Dickson as colored servants
They put on some delicious copGedy II
the second act when they had tie stag