The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-01-14
SATIRES Own Line
Hackett Pokes Fun at Romantic
Drama in New Play.
Seitz Comedy Even Borders on
MelOdrama at Times.
ONLY FIVE WEEKS OUT.
Bill Not as Yet Presented in
Really Large Cities.
Entertaining Story Simply Told
Proves Pleasing One.

Departure from the romantic drama
into satire on romantic drama-that is
the course that has been taken by Jas.
K. Hackett, long famous as a romantic
actor, who five weeks ago produced for
the first time George Bracket Seitz's
satirica1 comedy, THE Kings Game"
the offering at the Grand last night
seen the bill, Winnipeg, Minneapolis
and st. Paul having been of the largest
in which it has been presented.
Seven years ago, Hackett appeared
in a satire called 1.-The Crown Prince"
It was almost a failure, at least it is
not reckoned among the plays that have
been really successful. Altogether there
have been few satires produced within
the last 20 years-Hackett says only
four, Arms and the Man" done by
Richard Mansfield, 1.-THE Crown
Prince 1.-The Kings Came and an
other. Arms and the Man has evolv-
ed into comic opera and is known to the
theater-going public as THE Chocolate
Soldier
In 1.-The Kings Game" Hackett pokes
fun at his own romantic and success
full line of drama, though it must be said
that in the SeitZ comedy there is much
of the romantic. The bill which is
written by a young author, combines
comedy, romance and in places even
the borderline of nelodrama is reached.
The play deals in a plot against
king of the mythical country, Tarania,
who resembles Russian, who in turn
resembles the king and who is to
throw a bomb into the kings carriage
as a royal parade passes the place
where the anarchists are waiting.
Going back to the time of the kings
father it is found that Sergius OAR
dinillis, the Baron Won Tromp, played
title taken from him, and his wife made
the pet of the king-father. This has
been the result of the refusal of the
baron to obey the wishes of the king.
Papers of which only the king and
the baron have knowledge are found
upon the person of stranger. He is
taken prisoner and as no one would
question the kings own action Baron
Won Tromp is exiled. Later he returns
and steals away his daughter, Kath-
erin Dardinillis, played by Miss Jane
Marbury.
In Hatred of Own Blood.
All the while Darinillis is planning his
revenge. He trains the daughter into
hatred of her own blood, keeping from
her the secret of her Identity. She is
given a thorough education, including
a knowledge of chemistry that reaches
the scientific. 1t is her hand that pre-
pares the bomb planned to be used in
taking the life of the king.
Learning of the plot against the life
of the king, the police arrest Ludwig
Eberhard, the anarchist, played by Ar
thur Hoops, and he is placed in the
royal carriage to be killed by the bomb
of Dardinillis and Pasquali, an Italian,
played by Robert Lawler, who know
Eberhardt only by his reputation in
Russia and through associate anarch-
lists.
The king enters the apartments of
the anarchists. discovers Katherin,
sees through the plot, hears her story
of desire to escape from her bondage
and carries through the disguise of the
Russian. He sends Dardinillis and
Pasquai to the rendezvous, while he
remains to throw the bomb that has
been disguised in a package reSem-
bling bon-bon box. Katherin re-
mains with him. He throws what real
real bomb. The latter he uses later
to escape from the anarchists, who
charge him as being an imposter after
they have found him and taken him
to the rendezvous.
In the third and last act. which
takes place in his majesty's lodge on
the edge of the Forest Tromp, an
other attempt to kill the king is made.
Eberhardt is trapped after the king
has been warned by Katherin that for
the third time an attempt is icing
made to kill him. Again, Dardinillis
and Pasquali are trapped and the
story of Dardinillis' wrong is unfolded.
Dares to Be Despised.
In the meanwhile, Katherin, in ex-
planning her interest in the saving of
the life of the king, has unfolded her
love for him. This she has done with
out knowledge of her royal blood and
without caring that her admission has
been indiscreet. The situation is one
in which she asks nothing, expects
nothing, but dares to be despised for
her admission of her hearts own fire.
After the king has heard the story
90 1ixail n
title as the Baron on Tromp, his lands
and all that was his at the time of his
exile. Pasquali also is given his right
to go unmolested, the~king showing
spirit of kindness that leaves him in
the minds of the playgoer what he
really is, after all-only man with
feelings such as any other man might
have Eberhardt, who has ben tricked
into a closet and held captive in the
meanwhile, takes poison and is deao.
Katherin then hears an answering
tone, soft low and soothing, to her