The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-04-29
Novelty

Majestic.
North Brothers Stock company in
"a Stranger in a Strange Land
Grace Van Studdiford, who has
charmed our theatergoers often be-
fore, will come to the Grand Tuesday,
May 2, in the comic opera bouffe, The
Paradise of Mahomet," that Manager
Daniel V. Arthur is producing. This
play has scored tremendous success
at the Herald Square theater in New
York city, and everything will be seen
here just as it was there. The book
and lyrics were adapted for the Ameri-
can stage by Harry B. and Robert B.
Smith from the French version of
Henrie Blondeau, while the music is
by the famous composer, Robert Plan
quette.
The story that the new Van Studdi-
ford vehicle tells is one of love in the
Orient. 1t has to do with the intrigues
of a prince who has been fascinated
by a young widow, of whom he caught
but fieeting glimpse as he was start
ing out on a tour of the world. He
returns to Constantinople just as she
is about to marry a scheming English
marriage broker who is after her
dowry. The prince discovers gypsy
girl whom the Englishman has for
saken. He enlistS her aid in spiriting
away the widow while all the wedding
guests are stupefied from the punch
which has been drugged. When the
widow RECEIVERS from the stupefaction,
she is made to believe that she is in
Paradise instead of in the gardens of
the princes palace. He masquerades
as her first husband, who was lost at
sea. His American chauffeur. an able
abetter in all his schemes, mas
querades as the missing husband of
the aunt of the young widow and alto
gether after many unexpected cOmp1i-
cations have arisen, they accomplish
the purpose of the prince to make the
widow his wife.
more delightful story been told in wit
ty lines and wittier lyrics, while the
music is all the name of Planquette
would lead one to expect.
James T. Powers and the Messrs.
Shubert's Casino Tneater company of
over 100 people in Havana" the musi-
cal play which enjoyed a tremendous
vogue in London, will be shown at the
Grand Wednesday, May 1t closes the
season for the Grand. The parentage
of Havana" if one may refer to the
authors in such manner, is. gilt edged.
Leslie Stuart, who wrote the score of
"Florodora, composed the music of "Ha-
vana," and, although funny enough in
England Mr.. Powers himself has re-
vised the book for this country. Seem
cially the play is a marvel of beauty.
Likewise due care has been bestowed
upon the costUming, and that there
were innumerable opportunities for the
display of originality may he judged
from the fact that all the scenes are
laid IN Cuba.
Seven years before the story begins,
Samuel Nix, bos'un of the yacht Wasp,
has visited this port where he marries
a Cuban belle. He deserts her a few
hours after the ceremony. The Wasp
returns to this harbor and it is with
fear and trepidation that Nix enters
the city. His strange actions cause
him to be mistaken by party of revo-
lutionists as one of their own and he
is made to attend their secret coun-
ellis. While in attendance upon this
meeting. the police break in and ar
rest him as the ringleader and he is
sentenced to be shot.
Meanwhile, his wife has discovered an
old law which says that if a husband
deserts his wife for a period of seven
years, he may be declared dead. There
fore, as Nix has been away for this
period, he is legally defunct and can
not be shot. In this manner his wife
wins him hack, greatly to the surprise
and amusement of Nix.
The role of Nix gives Mr.. Powers
wide range for his abilities as a clever