The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-12-30
AT The PLAY.

The only complaint that Topeka
theater goers had to make over the Wis
1t of Mcintyre and Heath to the Grand
last night was the limited seating space
of the opera house. Every seat from
the roof to the boxes over the fOOtlightS
was hlled-and. strange to say. in con-
sideration Of the cool critical theatre
cal crust of the show house patrons in
this tOwn-not one regret was expressed
over the deposit at the box office.
Extract the supporting company
from Mcintyre and Heath and it would
have been worth the sitting. Likewise
eliminate the two comedians and the
production would have been worth
while. Topeka has not witnessed bet
ter trained chorus this year. The sing
ing would hardly have borne reproduc-
ton on q victrOla record, to be sure.
but the members had a tickling Of the
feet that placed them far ahead Of
anything that has tramped the Grand
boards this year
And Mcintyre and Heath-they kept
the house gasping for breath. Their
comedy had the pure food label all over
1t. Not once was it necessary for slap
stick athletics, ridiculous situations or
profanity. They. just sat around on a
trunk exchanging personal courtesteS
and facial illustrations.
As q feature, a real mule, whose
bucking at times endangered the seem
cry. put on a sketch with one Edward
s. Holder clinging to his neck. legs and
tail-and the crowd enjoyed a thrill
original and creditable on the musical
comedy program.
The real gem of the performance was
the dialogue between Mcintyre and
Heath when hunger stared them in the
face. The two representations OF the
negro minstrel players have never been
surpassed on the Grand stage. Moth
ing but clean straight-away humor was
I'D
food were discovered the audience was
in no physical shape to Withstand the
comical. situation that followed.
Others in the cast bear mentioning.
Ted Holmes and Lulu Wells furnished
what little light dancing there was.
creditably Mabel Elaine. with an en-
viable wad of close cropped thick hair
shook the locks to the accompaniment
Of the bass drum and played the part
Of a colored domestic with favor. Ar
thur Barry as q lord portrayed
.likable part with naturalness. George
C. Youngman in the part of a detective.
who looks like a baseball catcher, fur
nished a vaudeville touch cleverly. Mil
dred Beverly wore clothes that made
many q stout woman In the orchestra
circle look for pointers.
The plot was the same old story. "A
girl, Her lover. A rich lord An am
bilious mother. Mother favors lord
Father favors lover. All ready for the
engagement announcement when-bing
everything is -smoothed out in lovely
shape with the aid OF the comedians
while the entire company grfns in tired
satisfaction as the curtain falls. There
Just has to be spool Of come kind &c
use in winding up the details of must
cal comedy. The Ham Trees trans
formation from vaudeville to musical
comedy il a success. A little more
music would not hurt the performance
Mcintyre and Heath have been work
ing together in the Matchmaking bust
ness for forty years. They met II
vaudeville In Atlanta. Ca. and were
married, 20 to speak. Heath got his
start in black face by performing fol
so-many-pins-eachi in a barn in Keno
sha, Wis He was only a kid then. He
developed into a clog dancer. then tG
a circus "awctor'' and Joined Mcintyre
in vaudeville. Mcintyre was a cigar
maker in Dallas, Tex. He also knew q
T, few foot stunts. The Katie Putnam
company picked him up one day and
soon he was playing Willie in East
Lynne"
Mcintyre and Heath always are vel
come in Topeka. The patrons nevel
! will tire Of their droll humor.