The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-12

making up a cast. The combination OF
childish simplicity. occurrences and
naturalness Is a hard trio to embody
| In such characters when they are to
be acted by women of %.
| The trouble with all women in such
| parts is that they want to act. If they
\ would just play themselves, many
would oe successes. but the acting spells
| failure.
No less than ten different well known
actresses have played MAZDA in 70
| Top O. TIL World the past two sea-
sons. and with one exception Miss
Bobbie Roberts who has been playing
The part all this season is the best that
has ever handled the character. She
| is petite, cunning, cute, simple and
| looks the little girl of 8 years who is
so impatient to forsake the joys of
childhood to be a grownup woman.
Miss Roberts success has been won by
simply being herself and not attempt
ing to act
Henry B. Harris will present at the
Grand two nights commencing Thurs
day, March II, THE Travelling Sales
man. James Forbes latest comedy.
with the same cast that appeared in
this success during its long New York
and Chicago runs.
The locale of the play is Grand Cross
ing, middle west village. The story
opens on Christmas day, and in the
first act is shown the interior of the
railway station, where Bob Blake. the
travelling salesman, and Beth Elliott,
the pretty ticket agent, meet and are
speedily attracted to each other.
Beth owns plot of seemingly worth
less land that suddenly acquires value
because it is necessary to a scheme of
improvement planned by the railroad
company. Martin Drury. Blake's en-
ployer. becomes cognizant of the cor
pOration'S plans through a leak at
headquarters. and attempts to defraud
the girl of her property by perver-
L. cc
land by the township for unpaid taxes.
1t is Blake's aim TO Illustrate the
scheme and the predicament in which
he finds himself through his impetuous
and misguided efforts supplies the
necessary dramatic thread of the com
edy, which aims chiefly at a humorous
exposition of the characteristics of the
present day drummer.
The second act takes place in Blake's
room in the Elite hotel and is said to
be as novel in its depletion of life on
the road" was the second act of
The Chorus Lady in illustrating ''life
behind the scenes
The story is related by widely con-
trasting types of villagers and drum
mers. Without question 1.-The Travel
ing Salesman" embodies more laughs
than any play seen in years, and to the
jaded theatergoer, tired of dry disserta-
lions on intricate problems of sex, the
advent of Mr.. Forbes comedy success
in this city should be awaited with in
terest.
Among the names of the original
company which will appear here are
Mark Smith, James O'Neill, jr., Clifford
Stork, Lawrence Sheehan, Theodore
Kehrwald. Daniel Jarrett, Guy B. Hoff-
man. Emmett Shaelleford.- Robert
Hamilton, Miss Miriam Nesbitt Miss
Diana HuneI1er. Miss Marion Stephen
son and Miss Virginia Hamilton.
There is an atmosphere around the
peculiar comedian, W. B. Patton. that
signifies success. There is something
about him that asserts itself in every
character he creates. 1t is the Won
derful magnetism of Mr.. Patton's per-
sonality. 1t is the force and artistic
refinement of his methods that reaches
out over the footlights and con1pels adj
miration. and in the character of PROF.
Theodore BlockSon Heddington,' the
slockhead, he has unlimited opportuni-