The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-26
SEASON 1928.
Short but Good, Verdict To-
peka Theater GOers.
Maude Adams Did the Biggest
Business.
"SMART SET" WAS SECOND
Sublime to RidicuIOus-Othe
Shows That Pleased.
Resume of Season by Manager
and Comments by Critic.
SMART SET" WAS SECOND

D00Il SuOTI, Dul SOOuS IudC OClODST lidu
the fewest plays, and January the
most; that December had the poorest
offerings, and March the best; and
that the productions doing the greatest
business were-sublime to the ridicu-
lous-Maude Adams in Peter Pan"
and the Smart Set with a darby
cast.
The musical comedy giving the great
est satisfaction was Kitty Gordon in
Victor Herbert's "Enchantress-" The
pulchritude Of the ravishing Kitty, the
cast, the score, and the scenic effects
pleased a capacity house. On the heels
of Miss Gordon -rundled Raymond
Hitchcock in his explosive RED Wild
owl which did big business, and Vera
Allen in the dainty Countess Co
quette,' with an inadequate audience.
The poorest shows were undoubtedly
plotted Modern Eve" What of VAL
eska Suratt? Valeska pleased other
cities-won the hearts, you'll remember,
of the bald Californian censors dis
patched to eject her. Topeka didn't
like Miss Suratt. One western man
ager declared the Kiss Waltz his
greatest drawing card. Topeka is con-
servative-very, very conservative; it
objected. Naughty Marietta with
Florence Weber in the title role, was
delicious, but played to a handful of
people Donald Brian called forth half
the town anu disappointed HlO6L u
them. Madame Sherry" came with
the best company Topeka has seen.
Gypsy Dale, the slip of a prima donna,
sailed from England with not much of
a reputation. She has made good,
however, and opens in a new musical
comedy next season in New York. The
Spring Maid" needed Mizzi Hajos, and
was fair.
Maude Adams Great Show.
At the head of the dramatic offerings
stands, of course, Maude Adams in
Peter Pan" He laid siege to the
hearts of all Topekans-winning boy
that wouldn't grow up. The Grand was
sold out weeks before the box office
opened. An extra matinee and an s.
r. o. sign were secured. Rumor has
it that Miss Adams health will not
permit her playing any role except
'Peter;" that Little Minister" What
Every Woman Knows and 'LAiglon"
have been eliminated from her roper
toire After Peter Pam came Every
woman" modern morality play by Wal
ter Brown. 1t was here for four per-
formances with Adele Blood in the
lead "Everywoman" played to large
houses and was a delight to all who
saw it, "Bunty Pulls the Strings
quaint Scotch comedy, was excellent
and did good business. Officer 666"
ditto The first notable drama to be
presented last fall was Walker White
side in the tragic "Typhoon.' Then
came the popular baseball fan and actor,
Louis Mann. in "Elevating Hus-
band" written by Mr.. Mann's wife.
The Aborn Opera company presented
ct aBohen9 in English to a fair au-
dience.
Topeka is wary of the dollar and
half shows. Box office patrons failed
to secure tickets for Tommie Ross,
who has made good in the "Only Son"
and for Fiske O'Hara, delightful Irish
man, in the Rose of Kildare alias
Jimmy Valentine did absolutely no
business.
All the book plays were disappoint-
ing. "Freckles,'' dramatization of
Gene Stratton-Porter's novel, was one
of the poorest productions to be staged
at the Grand this year. 1.-The Shepherd
of the Hills did only fair business.
1.-The Rosary" by the way, had nothing
to do with Florence Barclays story OF
that name.
Fields Minstrels played to a big
house. Neil O'Brian, Primrose and
Dockstader called out the usual min
strel FANS
why One Night Stands Suffered.
"The reason the one night stands
have suffered this year." explained
Roy Crawford, lis because the num-
her of theaters is doubling, and the
number of plays is not. In western
cities where there were two theaters, !
now there are four. Schubert and
Klaw & Erlanger, for instance, nave
supplied so many theaters they have
neglected the one-night stands. Now
they have gotten together In St
Louis they had four theaters; next
season they'll only have two. This |
will naturally throw the stellar at |
fractions into the smaller towns.
Another reason for the scarcity
of plays is the fact of the presidential
year. Everyone holds off. There's
a noticeable decrease in our book |
ings every four years"
The season. however, has been the
most brilliant one, musically, that
Topeka has ever had. The success
full Parkhurst concert series opened
October Is with Alice Nielsen in the
Barber of Seville and closes May
6 with Reinald Warrenrath. Mrs. .
Parkhurst-Gue has brought to To-
peka Schumann-Heink the great con-
tralto; Rudolph CAM. pianist; Evan
Williams, tenor; Kitty Cheatham, /
diseause; Mischa Elnan, vfolinist; i
Adeline Genee, the Danish dancer. /
Madame Schumann-Heink drew the !
largest audience, Monsieur CAM the +
least.
At the Novelty.
The third week of the Sullivan
Considine- Empress circuit opens at |
the Novelty on Monday. The feature |
act is Marteynne, terpsicorean stunt, |
with electrical effects and special |
scenery. Pauline Fletcher and Com |
pany have an up to date playlet en-
titled 1.-THE Girl With the Taking !
Ways Eddie Riley and the O'Nei1l |
Twins, dubbed fashion plate trio" |
have patter songs and neat dances. |
Sharp and Flat are eccentric German /
comedians, popular on city bills. Hec-
tor De Sylvia has a fancy skating /
act carries his own flooring. The [
present a varied class of /
nment and promises to be
1musing The Novelty will close ear