The Topeka state journal., 1913-09-13
ON OTHER STAGES
Brilliant Spectacle "America'
at the n. Y. HippOdrOme.
"MyLittle Sister" to Be Drama
tiZed-Maude Adams.

One of the performances which has
startled blase New York into apprecia-
ton and wonder is the newest Hippo
drome spectacle. America" 1t is said
to be more gorgeous and pretentious
than any of the Hippedrome produc-
tionS in the past. The prologue shows
the landing of Columbus. Follow
realistic scenes including a New Eng
land farm, a levee at New Orleans, the
Alamo at San Antonio, street on the
East Side. the exterior of a New York
hotel, a fire alarm, fire in the East
Side district, Panama, the Culebra Cut,
Yellowstone Park. Ponce de Leon HO-
tel in Florida, Pueblo village in New
Mexico, the Grand Canon of the Col
orado river and the final big tableau
the Court of Honor.
In the New York Review, Colgate
Baker, who was much impressed by the
piece. declares:
1 was in a daze.
You simply cannot help being
plunged into a trance by America"
the Hippodromes greatest show ever.
You may think that you know your
country and your Hippodrome and you
are perfectly well aware that Arthur
Voegtlin is a kind of modern Merlin
of the stage who is going to give you a
tremendous surprise, and you may try
to discount all this in your own mind
in advance. but. nevertheless, you are
such things as the thrilling rescue
stunts the fire scene and the plung-
ing automobile are beyond the widest
dreams of what could be done on the
modern stage. even by such genius
as Mr.. Voegtlin.
1t was while I was in this state of
wonderment that 1 received the follow
ing note:
Dear Sir: Kindly meet me after the
show and give me the once over. 1t
will be worth your while
Yours for friendship,
''CHRISSIE."
OF course I pictured "Chrissie'' as a
frolicksome kitten with golden curls
and soubrettish ways, and other al
lurements that go with such cute lit
tie monicker There is a "CArissie"
in every front row of Broadway
can imagine my surprise when I was
ushered into the presence of a gentle
man dressed in medieval garb. with a
red face and long white hair, who
might be taken for a first cousin to
Santa Claus.
Are you Chrissie?' I faltered.
Yea, 30, ] am he, at your service
Christopher Columbus, or Chrissie for
short, if you prefer
You mean to say that YOU are the
DiscOverer of America -
The same, old top, the self same.
identical individual who broke that
court of Ferdinand and Isabella.
am Columbus Redivivus, come to see
what | discovered so many years ago
and to find out why it is that 1 have
never before been honored by a repre-
Sentat ton on the stage.
Has it struck you what an incen-
tive to patriotism this show America
is? When you consider this aspect of
the H1ppodrome production the
MeSsrs. Shubert seem entitled to a
general vote of thanks from the ma
ton. Here in New York we have mil
lions of people of foreign birth who
will never be able to see the wonders
of the land of their adoption except
at the Hippodrome. And here at this
playhouse they may see their coun-
try, in all its varied and amazing
splendor, just as we'll, or. better, than
if they took a personally conducted
tour. 1t is an achievement of trem-
endous Importance and converts the
Hippodrome into a great national in
StitutiOn.
"My Little Sister, the startling
story by Elizabeth Robbins is being
dramatized by Cecily Hamilton and
will be produced in New York by
Charles Frohman.
Donald Brain. who was in Topeka
last year in THE Siren.' opens in
New York in ''The Siren" opens in
a play now running in London
Maude Adams is touring in Peter
Pam" goes to New York for the holi-
day season, and commences a cycle of
Barrie plays.
Mizzi Hajos, who captivated To-
peka when she was here in 1.-The
Spring Maid" two years ago, will be
starred in New York this season in
Her Little Highness," light opera by
Claiming Pollock and Rennold Wolf.
Laurette Taylor who created the
role of 'Iuana" in The Bird of Para