The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-03-12
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The Archaeological society is issu-
ing invitations for lecture Wednes-
day even of next week at O'Clock
in Washburn chapel by Professor
Charles Knapp of Barnard college,
New York city. His subject will be
"The Roman Theater'' and the lecture
will be illustrated by stereopticon
Again the s. R. feels compelled to
dissent from the opinion of the To-
peka dramatic critics and bring in
minority report on 'sThe Rejuvena-
ton of Aunt Mary which May Rob-
son and her company presented at
the Grand last night. With the
single exception of Amelia Bingham
in 1.-The Lilac Room" no duller,
stupider and more exasperatingly i'm
possible theatrical entertainment has
been given in Topeka in the last six
years. and this applies to vaudeville
as well as the legitimate and Goodness
Knows the vaudeville bills are fierce
enough sometimes. But amateur
toire companies can be SO bad that
they are good ana thus furnish
amusement and an endless source of
wonder that such things can be in an
alleged enlightened age. Miss Rob
son is said by people who ought to
actress, but 1.-THE Regeneration of
Aunt Mary gives her few opportuni
ties and the members of her sup
porting company absolutely none.
The play Is trite, conventional and
tiresome to the last degree. 1t makes
rural drama even to the pairing of
all the actors, for the strangle-hold
on which the final curtain descends.
There are hours at a time when not
one thing happens on the stage and
not one clever line is spoken. The
mis- 9 a xvid
Harum' (Which was just about the
limit) and Miss Robson is no William
H. Crane to save an improbable and
impossible medium by superlatively
good acting. The one good feature Of
1.-The Regeneration of Aunt Mary" is
the stage setting and the dressing.
The acts are better staged than we
are used to seeing them in Topeka,
Kansas, and everybody wore good
looking clothes. Miss Robson es-
pecially dressed her part with dis
tinction. The two scenes in her New
smaller details of furnishing. but the
S. r. knocks on that woodwork and
staircase. wealthy old New Eng
land family such as Aunt Mary repre-
sented, lives in a big, spacious and
handsome households ashioned, of
course, but very well built and the
woodwork and staircases of those old
Colonial houses are famous for their
beauty and elegance. There was a
crooked, rickety staircase in Aunt
Mary's house last night and the wood
work was battered and disreputable,
entirely out of keeping with Aunt
Mary's position of solid responsibility
and wealth. In the second scene. too,
the oak Dianoforte in a room other
wise Louis Quinze, was Earring
note. Of course 1t isn't easy to Sc
cure a gold piano in Topeka, but
the company ought to carry an
appropriate instrument or cut out
the piano altogether, although that
would be a shame, because, irrelevant
as it is, Mr.. Proctor's piano stunt is
one of the best features of the play,
although it is hardly sufficient as a
raison Petre. of course this is
the opinion of a mere S. R. and as
has been said before. it is q minority
report. The audience seemed de-
lighted with the show and there were
curtain calls after every act. One To-
peka man saw the play in Chicago
and liked it so we'll that he went again
last night. There's no accounting for
tastes.
The graceful costume shown was de-
ve1oped in mauve chiffon cloth. The
sleeves and body Of this coat are in one.
1t is trimmed with Persian border.
The vest worn with this coat is made
"a.