The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-04-05
AT THE PLAY.

Do you believe in fairies? If you
don't you did not like Peter Pan"
But If you do-and most of the great
audience at the Grand did-you feel
toward him as did Tinker Bell and
Wendy. You will want to fly with him
to the Never-Never Land, and give
him dimple full of "thimbles." You
will tremble with agitation and inter-
est at the approach of Captain Hook
with his iron hand and the crocodile
with the clock in his tunmy.
Once upon a time a man named
Barrie wrote a chapter about Peter who
lived in Kensington Gardens. Then he
wrote a book about Peter and Wendy
in the Land of Never-Never. Next he
made them into a charming play.
Maude Adams, who Is the American
Peter, has played him more than 1000
times. Since she introduced him sew
eral seasons ago in New York, she has
appeared in Barrie's What Every
Woman Knows and Rostand's Chan
ticieer." Then she returned to Peter
Pan" Most everyone loves the fairy
boy who never would grow up.
Now, Peter Pan was written solely
to remind grown-ups what they did
when they were small, when they were
gay and innocent and heartless. It's
about nothing in the world except what
you used to see-'long time ago
when your eyes were shut. OF course
you remember that you used to fly in
the tree-tops?
You were wendy or Michael as the
case might be. Perhaps you were
John. Peter Pan flies into the nur-
sery window in search of his shadow.
Such a cocky. adorable boy in his suit
Of skeleton leaves from the Land of
Never-Never-the land, you know.
that is second to the right, and
straight on till morning." He takes
the three children to the wonderful
island where live the CORY Captain
Hook and-ughi-the hungry croco-
ollie. Then there's Tinker Bell, who's
quite a common fairy" We mustn't
forget the band of boys who fell out
of their peram bulatorS in KenStngton
Gardens. No gfrls-giris are too clev-
er, you know, to fall out of their
prams The pirates, led by Captain
Hook, who hates Pan for his cockiness,
are just like the ones of whom you
used to dream; so are the red skins
with their shivery warWhoops. Into
this delightful land comes Wendy to
mother the little lost boys; she tucks
them in at night, and keeps their feet
dry. Captain Peter leads them into
all sorts OF adventures. The most
notable is the defeat of JAS Hook.
Pan extinguishes the pirates. Am
not" he crows, "the wonderfullest
boyl" OF course he is.
But Wendy and Michael and John
fly home to their distracted mother.
You see, when adventure is done, the
heart of a child wings back to the
nursery. Peter is a tragic boy when
he leaves Wendy alone. But he for
gets it and skins away to his home
in the treetops. He plays his pipes
to the FREELY fairies who blow among
the leaves. He doesn't ever want to
grow up; he wants always to be a lit
tie boy-and have fun.
Some of the people at the Grand last
night went to the play because it was
Rarrie's Peter; others went because
it was Maude Adams. Each was de-
lighted. The audience was the largest
and most enthusiastic that has been
at the theater for years. Not a seat
was empty. When Tinker Bell is
about to die because the grownups
don't believe in fairies, Peter leans
over the footlights. Say you believe"
your hands if you believe. Please,
please" A noble ovation responded
to Peters prayer, and Tinker was
well in an instant.
Peter Pam was the progenitor of
a cycle of whimsical plays. There's
THE Poor Little Rich Girl" "a Good
Little Devil" Snow White Rack
city Packetty House." and, of course,
THE Blue Bird" A byword with New
York theatrical managers has become,
Have you a little fairy in your play?"
Peter still remains nicest-he knows
il himself. After the fall of the cur
tain you leave the happy boy in his
airy treetops. You wish you were
Tinker Bell and could stay with Peter
Pan. And you nod to yourself, "Of
course I believe in fairies!"
A. L. H.
At the Matinee.
Maude Adams, the star who played
in Peter Pan" at the Grand theater
Friday, packed the house for two per-
and there were hundreds of
others who would ha bought seats,
had there been any left to buy. Every
box seat not often filed at a show or
the price of Peter Pan, was taken, and
the lobby, as well, was packed. People
came from the small towns and. even
from Kansas City. The coming of
Maude Adams Oh this, her first visit to
makes the supreme event in
theatrical affairs of the season. Her
fame and her powers are at their best
Topeka is not generally accustomed to
see the greatest actors until after their
day in the large cities has begun to
wane.
Noticeable at the afternoon perform
ance was the number of men who at
tended, that being usually considered
the women's and children's hour. The
house rang with applause after every
act, and Miss Adams received curtain
calls after every act, and even at the
close of the play the usual effort to
get out of the building was stayed |
while the audience waited for the lit |
tie actress to appear again and again. !
The play, Peter Pan" was made |
connection with that little bubble of |
childish fancy, that her name receives |
it's highest praise. 1t is considered q /
childs play. but 1t appeals as strong
y to the older people, because it is re-
mote from the world of reality and be-