The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-02-03
"a prince There Mas."

Topeka passed up the real comedy Of the
season last eTening at the dear old Grand,s
chueked and screamed at the wonder COM
edy of the day Mr.. George NJ. Cohan. VINO
built the new comedy, "A Prince Ihere
Was" has developed very delightful and
altogether a charming vehicle. 1t is play
of moods and characters, rich with whoie-
some humor and almost flawless in psychol-
ogy and technic. The story is typical
Cohan fable, keen in character analyses,
witty and well turned. 1t is altogether
theme, and perhaps the likeiiest of the
Conan efforts, as collaboration or otnerwise.
The fun comes easily. and naturally, the
lines are not planted" for laughs, and no
dubious. deliberate and premeditated wit
mars the conversational Illusion. In
Prince There Was rare combination Is
found. First of all it is comedy, com
edy which depends upon the lines, not sit
uations, for its merit.
Then again I found a flawless cast going
third the three acts without single Earring
moment. And If this were not enough.
found irresistible James Gleason. Never
once did he jar the facile rhythm of his
performance with n motion out of place.
His acting is technically brilliant and au-
thoritative, and has showmanship and
taste to lend it eloquence and merit. There
is little chance for emotional display in
his role, ard judgment as to his possession
OF this attribute must be withheld He
is a remarkably clever young man.
l simply must not consume too mucn
time upon the cast. 1t was perfection to
the smallest detail. Every type, every in
dividuaI member gave their talents to the
utmost and such teamwork L have yet to
see In any play.
But I must speak for a moment about
Miss Muriel Nelson, who played Comfort,
the waif. She is but a child, just u years
old. But-she is the possessor of a talent
teeming in natural beauty, carefully school
ed and skilfully used. Her talent is Of good
power and capable of effective dramatic
expression. Her dietion is clear and ac-
effectations, she grasps the dramatic mean
ing of the text and makes 1t potent to her
audience. She made very visible i'm,
preston on her audience last evening and
her lines and her laughs proved strong
ly of reality born of natural talent Her
impersonation of the little waif had a ring
inspiration. She has deep clinging nature
Of combining technical precision with
To those who did not go. can say, you
missed the light comedy hit of this won
derful season of successes. Artistically
staged, intelligently acted and produced in
George NJ. Cohan's iniInitable way, and last
evenings audience was much happier than
any others who have been this season at the
dear old Grand" And / guess that will
be about all. n. s. A.
At the Novelty.
The bill at the Novelty the first half of
this week is q reStful one-not much to
disturb the audience after the little girl
part of the vaudeville offering. Pearce and
Golf, two young ladies who performed on
the xylophone and cornet, were entertain.
at times. Dale and Boyle present a fair
feminine imperson1tion act. The fmper-
senator's falsetto cracked but the crowd
seemed somewhat to like it. The third act,
Vicar Sisters and Dillon, has the fouRda-
tion for nifty offering. The setting and
costuming of the act are the best seen at
the Novelty for some time; Dillon handles
the worries very effectively. Browning and
Davis present a typical blackface act. The
last course on the Novelty's menu" rouses
one from his slumbers-and it's an aero
battle offering, too. Keno, Keyes and Mel
rose have an act that is different. They do
some good stunts and the fat man adds
the comedy usually lacking in this kind of
performance.